Bruce Chatwin reinvented British travel writing with his first book, In Patagonia, and followed it with four other books, each unique and extraordinary. He died in 1989.
As much a voyage of the imagination as a truthful description of a journey, this extraordinary book, first published in 1978, changed the landscape of travel writing forever. As Paul Theroux discovered, in a later attempt to pursue Chatwin's course, the Patagonia he recorded, was not easily revisited by anyone else, save in this book. Chatwin's encounters with Welsh descended farmers, his tales of Butch Cassidy's Argentine hide out and the general sense of awe at the harsh beauty of Patagonia should fire the imagination of most readers. This is a short but wonderful ramble of people, places and thoutghts. As well as being a writer of magnficent style, Chatwin was a connoisseur of the unusual. None of his characters blend into the surroundings; all are bewitched and multifaceted, shining like a brilliantly cut gem. A jewel amongst travel books. (Kirkus UK)