LEADER 03361nim 2200469Ka 450 001 9910136012803321 005 20250814103526.6 010 $a1-942894-07-4 035 $a(CKB)3710000000908693 035 $a(BIP)058726202 035 $a(ODN)ODN0005016553 035 $a(EXLCZ)993710000000908693 100 $a20191008d2015 uy 0 101 0 $aeng 135 $auruna---||||| 181 $cspw$2rdacontent 182 $cs$2rdamedia 182 $cc$2rdamedia 183 $acr$2rdacarrier 200 14$aThe path to rome /$fHillaire Belloc 205 $aUnabridged. 210 $aSolon $cFreshwater Seas$d2015 215 $a1 online resource (8 audio files) $cdigital 300 $aUnabridged. 330 $aAs Hillaire Belloc explains it, one fine day while walking about the town in norther France where he was born, he suddenly decided to take a pilgrimage to Rome. Not just any pilgrimage, mind you. He not only decided to walk the whole way, but he decided to make a beeline for the Holy City, doing everything possible to avoid leaving the straight path - a path across France to the Vosges Mountains, from their across Switzerland, across the Alps like Hannibal, across the Apeninnes into Italy and thence down the boot of Italy to Rome. All on foot, he vowed. Well, he very nearly did it. He did make it to Rome, but he wound up riding on carts or in trains for about ten percent of the way. However, all the mountain travel was on foot, and he gained by it, for he constantly found himself in unexpected places, seeing unexpected things. He takes us with him all the way, sharing his heart and mind with us in the most guileless and pleasant fashion. He was a devout, somewhat conservative Catholic, and his faith suffuses the book, but he does not proselytize, nor preach. Catholicism for him is a deeply rooted habit of mind and soul, not something to be dumped onto someone else like a load of firewood. Nor does he allow his faith to impose any load of solemnity on him. He is lighthearted, digressive, full of stories, perceptions, wisecracks, smart remarks and general playfullness. Underneath it, however, lies a will of iron; neither hunger, fatigue, lack of sleep, lack of money, lack even of decent footgear or the ability to speak the local language stops him. He is thwarted only once, and his tale of that time is thrilling. An audiobook cannot do justice to the elegant, yet simple maps and drawings in the book. Fortunately, his discussions of them are as clear and direct as the maps and drawings themselves. There is a reason why this book has been in print for over a hundred years, and it is a simple one: it is delightful. His journey through the heart of Europe is both a lark and a true pilgrimage, and we are his boon companions along the way. 606 $aNonfiction$2OverDrive 606 $aReligion & Spirituality$2OverDrive 606 $aTravel$2OverDrive 610 $aTravel 610 $aHumor 610 $aTravel And Geography 615 17$aNonfiction. 615 7$aReligion & Spirituality. 615 7$aTravel. 676 $a914.042 686 $aREL010000$aTRV009050$aTRV009110$2bisacsh 700 $aBelloc$b Hillaire$01845029 702 $aBethune$b Robert$f1954-$4nrt 906 $aAUDIO 912 $a9910136012803321 996 $aThe path to rome$94428368 997 $aUNINA