The author tells the story of his adventures during World War II. He and six companions escaped from a Russian prison camp in Siberia and walked 4,000 miles to India. Along the way they picked up a young Polish girl who had also escaped from a camp. Their route took them across Siberia, through Mongolia and Tibet. They crossed the Gobi Desert and the Himalayas. Some members of the party died during the trek.

Tim read this book and wondered if it was true. I think it was. There were many parts of the story that could have been embellished for more excitement, but weren’t. Rawicz told the story 13 years after the event, so some things may have gotten stretched in his mind, but I never had the feeling I was being conned. Of course, one has to wonder about the sighting of the Abominable Snowman, but even there, the author only states what he saw without coming to any definite conclusion.

The writing was clear and straightforward. The story reminded me of LAST OF THE BREED, by Louis L’Amour (which is on the Carp 500), a fictional account of an escaped prisoner’s walk across Siberia.

THE LONG WALK was a quick read, and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys tales of outdoor adventure. I gave it an 8.