This one came as a natural follow-up to last week’s review of Peter Fleming’s voyage through China.

Here is his companion Ella Maillart’s story:

A fanatic spark

First things first: A lot about EM’s and PF’s voyage has already been said in the other review, so go there if you want to know what this book is about.

I read these one right after the other, and I feel that both of them are definitely worth reading. Also, I didn’t feel bored despite the fact that I was reading about the same journey twice. I think this is due to the fact that both EM and PF have very different characters, which shows in their way of observing things – and of course, in their writing.

Anyway, I am going to rate this one slightly higher than PF’s account, even though he is clearly the superior author. He is better at storytelling, finds metaphors that are more memorable, and he is way funnier than his companion EM.

Why is her book better then?

It is better because she showed me something that I am almost always prune to fall for: a sensitive, compassionate and honest soul with a spark of fanaticism.

While her writing isn’t as strong as that of PF, and while some of her remarks admittedly have a tendency towards tackiness (“…I feel distant and separated from everything that I know, like being immersed within myself…”), this book is very touching, and I felt like I could strongly relate to her desperate need to go out by herself and explore everything, all the time.

In short: PF is out there because he wants to, EM is there because she HAS TO.

Read this, and you will know.

An 8/10 at least.