To the Holy Shrines

This is my first reading of a Sir RFB book, and I found the writing style quite wordy and complex. I seldom have an issue with over-description - more the better usually, but this felt - complex - maybe that isn't the right word.

Notwithstanding the writing style, the concept of this book is great - disguising oneself as a pilgrim and travelling into lands which bar entry on religious grounds.

The problem I have with this book (to clarify, this book is To the Holy Shrines a part of the Penguin Great journeys series, which is a series of excerpts from the book Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah published in 1855) is that the suggestion is we will learn of the journey to, and the earn a description of, the holy shrines (which would be Al-Madinah and Meccah). Unfortunately, not the case. The book ends on arrival at the first of the holy shrines, and we receive not a paragraph of description.

Again, let me be clear that this is a criticism of the selection of excerpts, not the original book, which I have not read, but would like to at some point.

There is a certain amount of amusement in the time spent in Egypt, and the events of the journey to Al-Madinah, but not enough for the disappointment of the final chapter.

Only 2.5 stars rounded up.