Reviews

Black Lamb and Grey Falcon by Rebecca West

davygibbs's review against another edition

5.0

Reading Black Lamb and Grey Falcon over the course of the past 14 months now stands as one of the most profound interactions I've had with a book in my three decades of life as a bibliophile. So much so that I now feel at a loss for words to sum it up. "The greatest travel book ever written" seems a natural place to start, but "travel book" is an awfully humble label to stick on a 1150-page book that takes on history, war, politics, religion, philosophy, science, and the nature of man with such wisdom and emotion and cleverness ... and which does so in prose as clear and elegant -- and with a cast of characters as rich and complex! -- as you'll find in any Victorian novel. Written on the very edge of World War II, the dangers West describes are also frighteningly and depressingly familiar. So in addition to being insightful and beautiful and funny and compassionate, it's entirely relevant in 2019.

So, yes: Black Lamb and Grey Falcon is one of the best books I've ever read. Maybe it's The Best. It is surely as true a literary masterpiece as has ever been produced. My mind is full to overflowing with thoughts and ideas now that I've finished, and I'll be sorting those out long after I place it back on the shelf. Once it's there, I know I'll soon be pulling it back down, flipping through it, locating passages, consulting my margin notes, snapping pictures of paragraphs with my phone and texting them to friends. It's that kind of book. It'll be with me forever.

carabla's review

challenging informative slow-paced

merv_d's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

5.0

thatonewhoreads's review against another edition

5.0

Finally I have finished this beast which was over 1100 pages. An effort it did take but I really enjoyed reading this book. Is this my favourite book of all time? No! But I still loved it. It’s such an experience that someone from England comes to the Balkans with an open mind. Does west have flaws in her writing? Sure, she has a bias towards Serbs which is very evident. She has some odd takes on other cultures in the Balkans. But what makes the so interesting that it’s more than a travel book, it’s mixed with the rich history of each nation. This book is a treasure chest for anyone interested in learning about Balkan history. I highly recommend it if you have an interest in history specifically in Balkan history.

nataalia_sanchez's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative lighthearted reflective slow-paced

4.0

rhaines46's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

4.5

Good for when you want to work hard and be rewarded with a revelation (except not really that hard because Rebecca does all the big thinking but you've gotta stick with her through a long ride.) I took down a lot of quotes, some of them profound I think, and others very clever. 
I mean ultimately there's a reason people read this big ass book about Yugoslavia but you don't get to know the reason until you've read it for yourself!! sorry

I will say Rebecca West holds some views on Islam and on homosexuality that leave a bitter taste, and she is absolutely fearless when it comes to making broad characterizations about how groups of people behave and think. On the other hand: she's got the guts and the intelligence and the knowledge and the powers of observation to (a) make for a good traveling companion and (b) take a stab at describing the nature of Good and Evil

debbiecuddy's review against another edition

5.0

I have wanted to read this book for a long time and am glad I finally took the time to read it. I enjoyed everything about it-the beautiful writing, the descriptions of the land, the people, the art & architecture, history, & religion. This book is so much more than a travelogue and gives one insight into the history & politics of Eastern Europe right up to the present time.

andjeluh's review against another edition

Its slow, and im not a big fan of static descriptions,
this book would probably be a good choice for someone older and patient, and someone who knew these countries and their history better 

jaredpence's review against another edition

3.0

This book was grueling to get through. It is just so, so long. And as a travelogue it doesn't have a driving plot or a lot of character development. It is often descriptions of Serbian cities and Bosnian countryside. And lots and lots of history, often with mysterious sources and a lot of 1939 commentary. And yet it was often incredibly enjoyable to read. The writing was at times fantastic and the wealth of what I was learning was overwhelming. Would I read it again? Never. Am I glad I read it? Yes. Did I skim/skip some parts? Also yes.

I think the only way to the read this book is with a book club. It would definitely not have happened without some form of accountability and pressure to keep reading.

kah's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

4.5