An Incredible Journey: The lost world of the 1930s circled by two men in one small car

by Alison Falls, Alison Falls (Translation), Peter H. Reisch (Contributor)

In May 1935, twenty-two-year-old Max Reisch and nineteen-year-old Helmuth Hahmann set out in a small motor car to find a land route from India to China. Their journey across Asia took them from Haifa to Tokyo. In this lively account, the author regales us with one story after another, struck with wonder or struggling against disaster in countries which deeply concern us Iraq with its oilfields, ancient Iran in the throes of modernization, proud Afghanistan, and British India with its stunning variety of civilization. Before the building of the Burma Road, driving from India to southern China meant sinking over the axles in mud on forest tracks and crossing torrents on rickety ferryboats. It also meant encounters with strange and fascinating peoples and places. Originally written by Max Reisch in German, this brand new English translation of An Incredible Journey by Alison Falls captures all the excitement of the journey, and features fascinating historical photos of the journey from the Reisch archives.

288 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2017

Reviews

[Gencis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good old travels when there were no roads, no fuel stations, and the unknown is always in front of you. Reminds methe First Overland Expedition, but this one almost 30 years earlier.

[Julian Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible to think that such a journey could have been undertaken even today, let alone back then.

Well written and highly descriptive, the author brings to life the world through which he travels and gives us a slice of life that must have seemed utterly extraordinary at the time.

Great adventure and a cracking read.