First Russia, then Tibet; Travels through a Changing World, Robert Byron (I. B. Tauris, 2011, first published by Macmillan 1933) 254pp., paperback, £17.99 ISBN 978 1 84885 424 6.

Robert Byron was tragically killed at the age of 35 in 1941 when the ship he was in was torpedoed.  He was evidently a remarkable young author especially of travel writing and widely acknowledged; his The Road to Oxiana was said by Bruce Chatwin to be ‘beyond criticism'.

This book, evolved from contributions to such publications as Country Life and the Architectural Review, appeared in 1933.  In his introduction he states firmly that his motive for his journey was to ascertain, at the time when the ideas of the West were held to be inadequate, if other countries could offer more enlightenment. 

The excursions discussed are very diverse.  In Russia the moral influences of the Industrial Revolution had found its apotheosis, whereas Tibet was the only country also influenced by industry and the Dalai Lama rode in man-borne palanquirn.  Byron travelled during several months in 1931-1932 going from one to the other across India where Gandhi was imprisoned and tumults between Hindus and Muslims were commonplace. 

Byron's writing makes compelling reading.  He anticipates the fall of the British Raj and the horrors of Stalin's regime.  He is passionate and honest.  There are no illustrations apart from one on the cover, curiously from the 1940s, and no index, but then the book is meant to be read and not used as a resource of reference.  It is an exceptionally interesting record of the world of the 1930s.