High Endeavours: The Extraordinary Life and Adventures of Miles & Beryl Smeeton [Paperback]

Miles Clark (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 28, 2002

Miles and Beryl Smeeton were the most accomplished traveling and adventuring couple of the 20th century, living a charmed existence filled with passion. Armchair travelers will embrace their exceptional story, which visits exotic locales ranging from Poona and Patagonia to Alexandria and Cape Horn. With maps and photographs. ".a remarkable book.intimate and affectionate.engrossing.A life told here in such poignant and well-described detail that it has something of the luminous quality of a myth."--Jonathan Raban.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Miles and Beryl Smeeton were perhaps the most adventurous couple of the 20th century. Separately and together, they traveled around the world by boat and on foot along some of the most dangerous routes, trekking across China and sailing around Cape Horn. While the couple wrote several travel books, little has been written about their lives. Writer and photographer Miles Clark, who died in 1993, documented the couple's adventures in High Endeavours: The Extraordinary Life and Adventures of Miles and Beryl Smeeton, first published in Canada 10 years ago and now being released in the U.S. The biographical portrait incorporates some of the couple's own writings.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Greystone (May 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550540580
• ISBN-13: 978-1550540581
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #352,343 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a book that will change the way you look at life!, February 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: High Endeavours: The Extraordinary Life and Adventures of Miles and Beryl Smeeton (Paperback)

I saw High Endeavors first recommended by a couple of sailing magazines and picked up a copy.

The book goes far beyond a sailing adventure, which is a component of this couple's lives but by no means the whole story.

Miles Clark, the author, is the stepson of Miles and Beryl Smeeton, the subjects of the book. He has told this story with as much accuracy as records and personal experience would provide, along with the affection of a loving son who knew this story had to be told.

It's really about Beryl. She walks/trains/hitches across India, through the Middle East, Europe and back t the UK. In the 30's!

Later she decides that she has to ride horseback through Patagonia, by herself.

During WW II they served separately in Asia, ending up together in Burhma.

It is only after Miles retires from the Army that they bought a sailboat and set out for British Columbia.

Just an amazing story and it's true!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing tale of adventure!!!, March 30, 2006

By 

Sammy Madison (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: High Endeavours: The Extraordinary Life and Adventures of Miles & Beryl Smeeton (Paperback)

The subtitle of this book really sums it up: The Extraordinary Life and Adventures of Miles and Beryl Smeeton. Beryl was born in 1905. Miles was born in 1906. Their early lives were straight out of Rudyard Kipling. They both followed family tradition and were part of the British overseas military life. Beryl was not a shrinking violet. Her brother is quoted in the book as saying "she always regretted that she hadn't been born a man, and that was really what she was trying to make up for all her life. In everything she did- sports, riding, steeple-chasing- her motto was 'Anything you can do, I can do better.' She had this tremendous urge to surpass... She was quite fearless and would never rest or relax." Early in life she married a British officer and travelled with him to India. Beryl had many daring adventures in spite of the expectations of the time. She met and started an affair with Miles, a very tall and handsome younger officer, and her first husband let her go to pursue the life of adventure which she was destined for. Together, Beryl and Miles saw the end of the old British colonial system. The book contains fascinating stories of the "Lancers", which evolved to a tank corps. Miles learned to drive a tank and fly an airplane before he learned to drive an automobile. Beryl travelled extensively, often hiking up mountains in exotic locales, even after she gave birth to her daughter. The baby was lugged around by lackeys and natives, and often left behind to survive as best she could. Part of the more amusing stories in the book are about how cavalier a mother and how horribly bad a cook Beryl was. After Miles left the military, the two set out to explore the world on a sailing vessle, a whole new chapter to their life of adventure. Even in old age, the two continued to live remarkable lives. This book is really just riveting. It is one of the most exciting adventures I have ever read.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, August 13, 2011

By 

EGR (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: High Endeavours: The Extraordinary Life and Adventures of Miles & Beryl Smeeton (Paperback)

Loved this book. Beryl Smeeton was a truly amazing and strong woman. What a life she had. You will enjoy reading about her adventures with and without her husband.