Among the Tibetans (Equestrian Travel Classics) [Paperback]

Isabella Bird (Author)

Book Description

Series: Equestrian Travel Classics | Publication Date: December 1, 2001

Webster's edition of this classic is organized to expose the reader to a maximum number of synonyms and antonyms for difficult and often ambiguous English words that are encountered in other works of literature, conversation, or academic examinations. Extremely rare or idiosyncratic words and expressions are given lower priority in the notes compared to words which are ¿difficult, and often encountered¿ in examinations. Rather than supply a single synonym, many are provided for a variety of meanings, allowing readers to better grasp the ambiguity of the English language, and avoid using the notes as a pure crutch. Having the reader decipher a word's meaning within context serves to improve vocabulary retention and understanding. Each page covers words not already highlighted on previous pages. If a difficult word is not noted on a page, chances are that it has been highlighted on a previous page. A more complete thesaurus is supplied at the end of the book; synonyms and antonyms are extracted from Webster's Online Dictionary.

PSAT¿ is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation neither of which sponsors or endorses this book; SAT¿ is a registered trademark of the College Board which neither sponsors nor endorses this book; GRE¿, AP¿ and Advanced Placement¿ are registered trademarks of the Educational Testing Service which neither sponsors nor endorses this book, GMAT¿ is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admissions Council which is neither affiliated with this book nor endorses this book, LSAT¿ is a registered trademark of the Law School Admissions Council which neither sponsors nor endorses this product. All rights reserved.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

Among the Tibetans is a record of Isabella Bishop's 1889 journey into Ladakh. It is a fascinating account of her encounters with the region's natives and her observations of their lifestyles, as well as an insight into the difficulties of travelling in such areas in the late nineteenth century. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Isabella Lucy Bird (Mrs. Bishop) was born in 1831. She won fame in her own time as surely the most remarkable woman traveller of the nineteenth century. She published nine books about her travels, and her writing is guaranteed to produce a thirst for adventure and travel. She died in Edinburgh in 1904. Among her books are Korea and Her Neighbours and Six Months in Hawaii, both published by Kegan Paul International.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: The Long Riders' Guild Press (December 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590481143
• ISBN-13: 978-1590481141
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,029,598 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Left Out in the Cold in Tibet, February 15, 2006

By 

T. C. Horan (Old Saybrook, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Among the Tibetans (Paperback)

I was somewhat disappointed in this book. Certainly, the noble Ms. Bird had made this remarkable journey (and many others) in a time (the late 1800s) when 'women didn't do such things'. For that I applaud her spirit and determination.
While interesting, in my opinion, most of the book comes across as fairly uninspired. She seems unable to share the sense of wonder one must feel when in the presence of such dramatic physical geography. Her description of the local citizenry is, to my mind, also fairly unimaginative. While her narrative is certainly straight forward and no doubt accurate, it seems she never really 'gets into it'.
There are several moments in the story when we are given an insight into Ms. Bird's character and we see her as an enormously resilient and self-reliant person. There are also interesting glimpses of her Victorian roots as portrayed in her comments regarding local Tibetan customs and habits.
All in all, I would recommend this book but I would caution the reader not to expect 'Lost Horizons'.

3.0 out of 5 stars Incredible journey - but too much baggage!, January 11, 2012

By 

Harry - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Among the Tibetans (Kindle Edition)

First, a minor quibble - the journey does not actually take place in Tibet, but rather in Ladakh (or Little Tibet, as the author refers to it). That matter aside - what an incredible journey - it is just a terrible pity that the author carried so much unwarranted baggage with her - elitism, racism, distaste for anything Moslem-related and a contempt for Buddhism and the Lamas, who treated her with such kindness and high regard during her journey. She could have learned and enjoyed so much more if she had truly opened her eyes. It really does reflect all our worst perceptions of the British-Raj - Ms Bird 'luxuriating' in her massive tent while her servants and 'coolies' were at times required to sleep without cover in the snow.

There are wonderful descriptions of this, for us, remote territory - incredible scenery, villages, towns, people and customs. Unfortunately the book is written in a peculiar 'distant' style, as if the author was an observer from afar - Ms Bird never draws us into the adventure or journey, giving a feeling of actually being there. Perhaps the original edition, which presumably carried the many illustrations of which the author speaks, was better able to convey the grandeur and the trials of the very difficult terrain.

Still, it is a great period piece and a true eye-opener on the character of Ms Bird, the adventurer, as well as conveying a picture (albeit not fully engaging) of a time and place past.

0 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lovely Look at Hawaii at the Turn of the Last Century, March 4, 2009

By 

BBR "BBR" (Pikesville, MD United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: THE CHRISTMAS PEACE (UPDATED w/LINKED TOC) (Kindle Edition)

Isabella Bird's travel writing is a wonderful look at the world at the turn of the last century. Her writing is fluid and clear and her insights into people and places are gentile but pointed. In this travelogue we travel with her through uncomfortable steamer voyages, interactions with other travelers and exposure to practices and culture endemic to Hawaii at that time. She introduces us to the flora, fauna and food she encounters as well as the variety of people she meets.