On Horseback Through Asia Minor, Volume 1 (of 2)

In this lively mid‑nineteenth‑century travelogue, a British captain sets out on a five‑month horseback journey across the rugged heart of Asia Minor. Covering roughly two thousand miles of mountainous passes, desert plains and bustling market towns, he sketches the everyday scenes he encounters—from caravan camps to remote hill villages. Along the way he speaks with Turks, Armenians, Greeks, Kurds and others, gathering their candid thoughts on the looming conflict between the Ottoman Empire and Russia.

The narrative blends personal adventure with a keen eye on the political undercurrents of the era, noting how the recent Bulgarian massacres and diplomatic tensions echo through tavern conversations and official notices. Interspersed are excerpts from contemporary reports, maps and a few documents brought back by local chiefs, offering a snapshot of military routes and local grievances. Listeners are treated to a vivid, almost photographic, portrait of a region on the brink of change, all told in the author's straightforward, observant voice.