India - The Shimmering Dream: A captivating window to a forgotten world [Paperback]

This extraordinary account of a remarkable journey made in 1933, through Iraq, Iran and Baluchistan (now part of Pakistan) to India is packed full of wonder, adventure, determination and love of travel and motorcycles. But what really sets this book apart are the wonderful descriptions of the people and cultures, now nearly forgotten, yet still hugely relevant in today’s age: all brought evocatively to life by the stunning photos from 1933. At that time, the idea of travelling to India on a motorcycle through the Middle East was considered impossible; there were often no roads, not even any paths, and they were attempting to cross the burning deserts in the middle of August, on a tiny two-stroke motorcycle with barely enough power for the bike and rider, let alone a pillion passenger! This book is more than a fantastic adventure; it also offers some perceptive insights into the peoples, places and cultures of the time, as well as being full of drama, both personal and mechanical, as the motorcycle is urged on across the shimmering sands. A true window on the past – and a book which is definitely a ‘must have’ for all travel and motorcycle enthusiasts.

Maximilian Felix Gottfried Reisch(1912-1985) made his first pioneering long-distance journey when he was still a 20-year-old student in Vienna in 1933. Together with fellow-student Herbert Tichy on pillion, he rode a 250cc Puch light motorcycle from Vienna to Bombay, crossing Iraq, Iran and Baluchistan (as documented in his bookIndia - The Shimmering Dream). In another break from his studies in 1935, Reisch undertook a motorcar expedition into Asia which became the round-the-world trip documented in this book. In WWII he served as a vehicle maintenance officer with Rommel in North Africa (which he later wrote about inOut of the Rat Trap). After the war, Reisch worked in the family wholesale grocery business, but by the 195’s he was again pushing back l!