Customer Reviews

Syria & Lebanon, 2nd

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had never been to Syria or Lebanon before, but when I flicked through Michael Haag's guide at the bookshop my appetite was immediately whetted. The question was whether these countries were really as good as they were made out to be -- and whether the book really worked 'on the ground'. I was not disappointed. Syria especially was marvellous, so full of staggering things to see, beautiful landscapes, charming people. And Michael Haag in his descriptions, his facts, his marvellous writing style, the wide-ranging authority of his knowledge, brought everything to life for me and made this a journey of a lifetime. By the way I used the second edition, published in December 1999.

This is an excellent guide in every practical sense, but it is also something very much more, for it entirely draws you into Syria and Lebanon, it paints them before your eyes and immerses you in their atmosphere, so that like reading a good novel you feel you are actually there. I cannot praise too highly the artistry with which Mr Haag has composed this book, and I thank him for having provided me -- in the person of his guide -- with his knowledgable and most enjoyable company throughout my visit.

I like this guide for its detail about Syria, but the information about Lebanon is sketchy in comparison. If you plan to visit both countries I recommend getting a separate Lebanon guide in addition to this one. I also agree with another reviewer who said that this guide is less practical than others, such as the Lonely Planet or Rough Guides. Still, it's very well-written and pleasurable to read while you are viewing the sites.

I like this guide for its detail about Syria, but the information about Lebanon is sketchy in comparison. If you plan to visit both countries I recommend getting a separate Lebanon guide in addition to this one. I also agree with another reviewer who said that this guide is less practical than others, such as the Lonely Planet or Rough Guides. Still, it's very well-written and pleasurable to read while you are viewing the sites.

The one existing review of this title refers to the first edition; the second edition, to which you have erroneously appended the review, has not yet been published.