Harry Escombe: A Tale of Adventure in Peru

In a smoke‑filled drawing office in October, seventeen‑year‑old Harry Escombe is summoned by his stern chief, Mr Richards, who has been watching the young draughtsman’s steady progress for two years. Instead of a reprimand, Escombe receives an unexpected invitation: a real‑world surveying job in the rugged mountains of Peru, where a new railway network is being planned. The prospect of trading ink and compass for high altitudes and untamed terrain sparks both excitement and a hint of nervous anticipation.

The first act follows Escombe as he prepares to leave familiar London streets for the Andean frontier, learning the basics of Peruvian geography and the enormity of the engineering challenge ahead. Along the way, he meets fellow surveyors, confronts language barriers, and begins to understand the harsh climate and remote landscapes that will test his skill and resolve. Listeners are invited to experience the blend of youthful ambition and the raw beauty of an adventure that promises to shape a lifetime.