Over the course of several months during 1931 and 1932, Robert Byron journeyed to three countries teetering on the brink of change. In Russia, which was stricken by famine, Lenin had just died, Stalin's dictatorship was in its infancy and the Great Terror had yet to begin. Having taken the first commercial flight to India, which took an astounding seven days, Byron was thrown into the tumultuous last years of the British Raj. Gandhi was imprisoned, while rioting and clashes between Hindus and Muslims had become commonplace. Finally Byron entered Tibet, the forbidden country. Exploring “The Land of Snows”, he saw Tibet as it was when the then Dalai Lama was still ensconced in the Potala Palace, twenty years before China's invasion. First Russia, Then Tibet is an invaluable first-hand account of transformative moments in periods of change and upheaval.

PART I: RUSSIA
I. The New Jerusalem
II. Creed and Observance
III The Russian Aesthetic
IV. Moscow
V. Leningrad
VI. Veliki Novgorodm
VII. Early Russian Painting
VIII. Yaroslavl and Sergievo
IX. The Ukraine
PART II: TIBET
I. The Air Mail
II. The Desert Lands
III. Anglo-Himalaya
IV. Into Tibet
V. The Plains
VI. The Pleasures of Gyantse
VII. Lunching Out
VIII. Winter Comes Early
IX. A Tibetan Pilgrimage

Robert Byron (1905-1941) was a British writer and art critic whose adventurous spirit and insightful prose left a lasting impact on travel literature. Born into a wealthy family, he rejected a traditional path, choosing instead to explore the world's diverse cultures and architectural wonders.Driven by an insatiable curiosity, Byron ventured across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, capturing his experiences in vibrant and witty prose. He possessed a distinctive talent for weaving together personal anecdotes with astute observations on art, history, and the social landscapes he encountered. From the monasteries of Mount Athos to the ancient ruins of Persia, Byron sought to understand the soul of a place through its people and its past.His most acclaimed work, The Road to Oxiana, is considered a signature classic of travel writing, admired for its humor, erudition, and vivid descriptions. Byron was also a fervent champion of architectural preservation and a key figure in the resurgence of interest in Byzantine art.Though his life was tragically cut short when his ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat during World War II, Byron's legacy as a writer and explorer endures. His books continue to inspire those with a passion for travel and an appreciation for keen observation and mischievous wit.