Why a Booktrail?
1869: the mountainous territory of Tibet is closed to foreigners
The Last of Earth
What you need to know before your trail
In 1869, the mountainous territory of Tibet is closed to foreigners, an infuriating obstacle to Europeans racing to expand their empires. In response, Britain begins training Indians – permitted to cross borders that white men may not – to undertake illicit, perilous expeditions within Tibet.
Balram is one such surveyor-spy, recruited to guide an English captain on a foolhardy mission. His path will soon cross with that of another unlikely explorer, Katherine. Fleeing a life of frustrated ambition, belittled by her male peers, Katherine has a plan to secure her legacy as the first European woman to reach Lhasa and the legendary Potala Palace.
As they battle to survive, Balram and Katherine face storms and bandits, snow leopards and soldiers, fevers and frostbite. But nothing is more dangerous than the secrets that snap at their heels, in this unforgettable story about the obsessions of the colonial enterprise, and the ways we endeavour to leave a mark on the world.
Travel Guide
Tibet
Tibet is a high-altitude region in Asia known as the “Roof of the World,” currently an autonomous region of China, though historically it had periods of independence.
It’s capital is Lhasa.
A novel about the various ways humans try to leave a mark on the world—from the enduring nature of family and friendship to the egomania and obsessions of the colonial enterprise
BookTrail Boarding Pass: The Last of Earth
Destination/location: Tibet Author/guide: Deepa Anappara Departure Time:1869
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