Into the Carpathians: A Journey Through the Heart and History of Central and Eastern Europe
Alan E. Sparks
Paperback
(Rainy Day Publishing, May 5, 2017)
Bronze Medal, 2016 Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Awards: Best Regional Non-Fiction - Europe.Finalist, 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards: Travel.A compelling chronicle of a hiking and wildlife research expedition along the length of the Carpathian Mountains, from Romania to Poland, some 1,700 miles as the crow flies. (This volume, Part 1, covers the first half of the journey, through Romania and Ukraine.) On the trail of wolves, we are led deep into the dark forests, misty hills, and intriguing history of this fabled landscape, where encounters with wolves, bears, and lynx; werewolves, vampires, and witches; lumberjacks, shepherds, and recluses; poets, tyrants, and saints; deities, demons, and sirens; and such imposing historical figures as Attila the Hun, Vlad the Impaler, and Volodymyr the Great provide broad insight into the natural, historical, and mythological forces that have shaped, and continue to shape, the cultures, nations, and psyches along the way. 63 black and white photographs also emblaze this memorable trek. (We also offer a deluxe edition with color photos; see amazon.com/Into-Carpathians-Journey-Through-Mountains/dp/1633931536/.)