{"product_id":"9781843913573","title":"Europe in the Looking Glass","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThree rich young Englishmen cross pre-World War II Europe in an old car w\u003cb\u003eith a mixture of laugh-out-loud humor and perceptive commentary on art and architecture\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eTurning a corner we suddenly found ourselves sliding down a precipice, tilted so far forward that it was necessary to hold ourselves back with our hands pressed against the dashboard, as half a dozen Apennine valleys beckoned invitingly below. Here [St Peter’s] Popes with black faces and golden crowns are wallowing twice life-size in the titanic folds of marble tablecloths, their ormolu fringes festooning upon the arms of graceful skeletons to disclose some Alice-in-Wonderland door or the grim hinges of some sepulchral grill . . . \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e Best known as the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Road to Oxiana\u003c\/i\u003e, published in 1937, Robert Byron had developed his considerable writing skills on this travel book which has not been in print since 1926. It describes a journey Byron made with three friends, driving across Europe between two world wars, and mixes political and historical analysis with architectural insights, classical scholarship, and the day-to-day adventures of three young and not very experienced travelers. For fans of Robert Byron’s work this will be a discovery; for others it will be an introduction. Includes nine original sketches made by the author during his travels.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hesperus Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47037992534256,"sku":"9781843913573","price":16.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781843913573_p0.jpg?v=1763741917","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781843913573","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}