Both a literary evocation of the arid lands of the Middle East and a rousing account of Stark's discovery of traces of Assassin culture (hashish-eating terrorists from 11th and 12th century Persia), Freya Stark's first book sparkles with wise and fresh observations, like this one about moving through high country:

"A little narrow valley, coming down from the north-west, opened up into ours at the end of the defile, and showed at its head behind us a bit of the cliff table-top of Barazard, to which we had looked across all day yesterday as we came down from our pass. This meeting and meeting again, from different points and other lights, of the same landmarks, is the charm of hilly travel. The mountain shape, first seen as a dream in the distance, alarming as you approach, lost perhaps altogether as you become involved in its outworks and ramifying valleys, appears again suddenly, unexpected as some swift light on a face beloved to which custom has blunted our eyes. Like a human being, the mountain is a composite creature, only to be known after many a view from many a different point".