The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom

click here for more details, find new or used items	Slavomir Rawicz Used from £3.85 Pages: 256 (Paperback) ISBN: 1558216847 Pub: The Lyons Press Pub date: 1988-05-31 Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 400643

Reader Reviews:

a hard one (0/0 people found this helpful)

Contraversial this subject! Many have pointed out that much is missing from this book, not least several major mountain chains and a desert that seem to have gone walkies somewhere- but if its true its very inspirational and moving. Certainly you want it to be true, not least because the author is an extremely likable host throughout the book and its very well written.

A Cracking Read But Not A Cracking True Read (0/0 people found this helpful)

Read this book about 10 years ago when I found a copy in a second hand shop. It is a great story but come on, you cannot take it seriously! Across the Gobi with no water? He saw some Yeti's? Yeah whatever. Also if you had been saved by the wife of your Gulag camp's commandant, would you tell the world about it in your book,therefore putting her in serious danger from the CCCP security forces? If you would then you are a halfwit and deserve to be eaten by the tribe of Yetis.

As I said it is a great read but please take it with more then just a pinch of salt.

A GOOD READ, BUT... (0/0 people found this helpful)

I found this book an amazing read, however I wish it had been told in more detail, I mean , you are left with the feeling that the whole amazing journey only lasted a few weeks, rather than years. You espesially feel this after they enter Mogolia, this is the part of the journey that is the longest, yet it not described in as much details as the first part of the escape.
I also felt that the story wasn't finished and that something was missing. It ended with the journey, but what happened to these people later, did they survive the war? Did he ever meet them again?

if you only ever read one book in your life, this should be the one! (2/4 people found this helpful)

as my title suggests, this is the ultimate book to read. When i read it, i kept expecting to find out at the end that this wasn't a true story and just a cruel joke on the reader, I was so inspired after reading this book, that i tracked down Slavomir, found his home address and wrote to him to tell him how his book had such an impact on me. Once you read this book you will never forget it. It is priceless and a lesson in humanity. enjoy.

Superb escape story.... (1/2 people found this helpful)

I picked this book up just to pass the time, I am so glad I did as this is just about the best 'escape' story I have ever read. Its a an amazing story of adventure, survival and hardship in the most extreme of circumstances.

Slavomir Rawicz was a young Polish cavalry officer when in 1939 he was arrested by the Russians and after brutal interrogation in Moscow's infamous Lubyanka prison and a farce of a trial, he was sentenced to 25 years' hard labour in the Gulags for 'spying'. After a three-month journey to Siberia in the depths of winter he arrives at his Gulag and realising that to stay in the camp would eventually lead to his death, In mid 1941, Rawicz escapes with six companions. They start their incredible long trek to freedom along Lake Baikal and cross into Mongolia where they have an epic crossing of the Gobi desert before climbing into Tibet and finally over the Himalyas into India where they arrive into the arms of British soldiers in March 1942.

This 4,000 mile march to freedom took nine months over some of the most inhospitable terrain in world. By the end Rawicz weighed just five stone and 3 of the 7 had died (they picked up a sixteen year old girl). It is a gripping tale of survival and brotherhood tinged with moments of sadness as some of the 'brothers' died along the way...simply an epic story of an extraordinary hike to freedom...brilliant!

Similar Products

As Far as My Feet Will Carry Me

Surviving with Wolves: The Most Extraordinary Story of World War II

We Die Alone: A World War Two Epic of Escape and Endurance

Shallow Graves in Siberia

Man Is Wolf to Man: Surviving Stalin's Gulag

Categories

Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories: