High Tartary Paperback – September 26, 2023

Traverse the edge of High Tartary and Chinese Turkestan with a seasoned traveler as your guide. This nonfiction narrative follows a long journey from Ku Ch’eng-tze through deserts, dunes, and high passes, tracing old routes alongside modern traffic and considering how borders, trade, and nomadic life shape a vast region. Two travelers—an author and his wife—navigate frozen roads, parched deserts, and bustling caravan camps, meeting Mongol princes, Qazaq herders, and traders along the way. The book blends vivid scenery with practical observations about travel, logistics, and cross‑cultural interaction, offering a grounded view of Central Asia in the early 20th century. What you’ll experience - Fierce landscapes from Gobi sands to snow‑clad passes and river corridors - Portraits of nomadic life, caravan networks, and the politics of travel across borders - Comparisons of ancient routes with present paths and a look at how trade shapes movement - Maps, routes, and historical context that illuminate the region’s long history Ideal for readers of travel writing, Central Asian history, and explorations of the Silk Road era. Read more