The Station. Athos: Treasures and Men

London: John Lehmann, 1949.

With an introduction by Christopher Sykes. Reissue of 1928 first edition. Original dark blue cloth with the excellent dust-jacket by Keith Vaughan, with a couple of short, closed tears. Thirty three photographs through the text. A VG+ copy. A lively account of the a visit to twenty monasteries on Mount Athos in 1927. They examine treasures, photograph frescoes and sketch the courtyards and those who live in them. Byron and his cohorts swim ecstatically off the sparkling, deserted beaches, climb mountains, talk and share meals with monks and transcribe these conversations with relish. "No better portrait of the Holy Mountain exists than this: nor is it likely to be surpassed in the future. Here in short is a classic. And a classic it will remain," - John Julius Norwich.