In The Footsteps of a Roman Legion: Walking the Via Egnatia

In 2016, two friends, Kim and Pat, embarked on a foot journey from Durrës, Albania, to Istanbul, Turkey, tracing the route of the Via Egnatia. The trek became more challenging than expected due to a guidebook that overstates amenities. However, they faced hurdles, tested their endurance, and encountered human smugglers and feral dogs with resilience, cold beer, and hot coffee. The Via Egnatia holds over two thousand years of stories, and this is a gripping one. Kim Letson explores some of the bumpier corners of humanity while celebrating life's small, simple pleasures. She has written a page-turner that is brimming with passion for the road less traveled.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 342 pages
Publication date: 26 October 2023
Publisher: The Self-Publishing Partnership Ltd

In the Footsteps of a Roman Legion: Walking the Via Egnatia (2021)

On a scorching September morning in 2016, a pair of adventurous friends in their sixties, Kim and Pat, embarked on a remarkable journey from Durrës, Albania, to Istanbul, Turkey. Their mission? To raise funds for refugee relief by tracing the route of a Roman road, the Via Egnatia. However, their adventure took an unexpected turn due to a guidebook that exaggerated the amenities along the way. As they navigated hurdles, tested their endurance, and encountered human smugglers and feral dogs, an indomitable sense of humor, a personified GPS, and an imagined Roman legionnaire became their steadfast companions, guiding them through daily adventures.

The Via Egnatia, with its rich history spanning over two thousand years, holds countless stories of soldiers, merchants, farmers, refugees, and travelers. This particular tale is a captivating one, as two or sometimes three travelers encounter both generous hospitality and surprising hostility with resilience, cold beer, and hot coffee. With an atlas in one hand and this book in the other, I was transported to the heart of this remarkable journey. Evelyn Gillespie, owner of the Laughing Oyster Bookshop in the Comox Valley, praised it as "fun, funny, and endlessly thought-provoking." Kim Letson, the author, does not hold back as she delves into some of the more challenging aspects of humanity while also finding moments to celebrate the simple pleasures of life. If you have ever dreamt of embarking on a grand adventure from the comfort of your favorite reading chair, Kim Letson is the perfect guide. Her passion for the road less traveled shines through in this captivating page-turner.

Joshua Levy, a CBC/QWF Writer in Residence in 2018 and the recipient of numerous prestigious awards in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, hailed Kim Letson's Via Egnatia journey as "a triumph of storytelling." He praised her ability to blend humor, introspection, and a deep understanding of human nature into a narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. Levy concluded by stating that "Kim Letson has written a book that is both a pleasure to read and a testament to the power of human resilience and determination."

In conclusion, "In the Footsteps of a Roman Legion: Walking the Via Egnatia" is a captivating and thought-provoking journey that takes readers on a trip through history, culture, and the human spirit. Kim Letson's writing is filled with humor, resilience, and a deep appreciation for the beauty of the world around us. Whether you are an adventure seeker or a lover of history, this book is a must-read that will leave you inspired and uplifted.

Dimension: 215 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839527159