Mirror To Damascus
  • Published: 2 February 2009
  • ISBN: 9780099532293
  • Imprint: Vintage
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 368
  • RRP: $29.99
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Mirror To Damascus

Formats & editions
EBook
8 Jun 2011
Paperback
2 Feb 2009
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A 50th anniversary edition of Colin Thubron's celebrated first book, a portrait of Syria's capital city, with a new introduction by the author

A 50th anniversary edition of Colin Thubron's celebrated first book, a portrait of Syria's capital city, with a new introduction by the author.

Described by the author as simply 'a work of love', Mirror to Damascus provides a rich and fascinating history of Damascus from the Amorites of the Bible to the revolution of 1966, and is also a charming and witty personal record of an extraordinary city.

In explaining how modern Damascus is rooted in immemorial layers of culture and tradition, Colin Thubron explores the historical, artistic, social and religious inheritance of its people. Along the way, he shares unforgettable stories about the enterprising travellers of bygone days.

Mirror to Damascus is a unique portrait of a city now obscured by recent upheavals, by one of the most indefatigable and popular of travel writers.
  • Published: 2 February 2009
  • ISBN: 9780099532293
  • Imprint: Vintage
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 368
  • RRP: $29.99
Categories:
Share…

About the author

Colin Thubron

Colin Thubron is an acknowledged master of travel writing, and the winner of many prizes and awards. His first writing was about the Middle East - Damascus, Lebanon and Cyprus. In 1982 he travelled into the Soviet Union in an ancient Morris Marina, pursued by the KGB, a journey he recorded in Among the Russians. From these early experiences developed his classic travel books: Behind the Wall (winner of the Hawthornden Prize and the Thomas Cook Travel Award), The Lost Heart of Asia, In Siberia (Prix Bouvier) and Shadow of the Silk Road. His most recent book is To a Mountain in Tibet (all available in Vintage). Colin Thubron was President of the Royal Society of Literature from 2010 to 2017.

portrait photo of Colin Thubron

Also by Colin Thubron

The Amur River
Night of Fire
Journey Into Cyprus
To a Mountain in Tibet
The Hills Of Adonis
In Siberia
Shadow of the Silk Road
See all

Praise for Mirror To Damascus

Colin Thubron writes in a classical style of grave beauty, with an intense feeling for place and people

New York Times

From the earliest legend to the latest coup, Mirror to Damascus reflects every discoverable facet of the city... a quite exceptional travel writer

Daily Telegraph

One of the great merits of Mr Thubron's admirable book is that he balances this tribute to a place of which he is clearly very fond with the harsh facts of history... he was always moved by the best motives - curiosity and affection

The Times

Mr Thubron is a man of singular enterprise, and a writer of remarkable distinction. Surely Damascus was never sacked to better purpose

Observer

One of the oldest, most mysterious and fascinating cities in the world has found a worthy biographer: a rare event and one not to be missed

Sunday Times

One of the most subtly beautiful books about a city I have ever read

Jan Morris

A passionate, enchanted and highly intellectual experience, both for author and reader

Richard Church, Country Life