Patterson of Tibet

This is the autobiography of George Patterson, the colourful Scot who has linked his life to that mysterious mountain kingdom. The Long Rider author was a Scottish medical missionary who went to Tibet shortly after the second World War. There he became Tibetan in all but name, adapting to the culture and learning the language fluently. When the Communist Chinese army advanced into Tibet, the country’s leaders knew a plea for help had to be taken to India. The only way to achieve this was by riding through the snow-locked Himalayas over a mountain pass even the locals were afraid to try. So Patterson undertook an emergency equestrian journey across the wildest parts of Tibet. “He was a superb horseman whose body was as efficient as the Tibetans,” reported London’s Times. Years later, with the Red Chinese still occupying Tibet, and with a bounty on his head for his role in rescuing the Dalai Lama, a band of determined Tibetan guerrillas invited Patterson to witness their attack on the invading Communist army. No other westerner could get into Tibet, except Patterson, so the outside world was still oblivious to the Chinese invasion and the atrocities being perpetrated on the Tibetans. So Patterson went back into his adopted country – illegally – and with a film crew! This intense autobiography goes on to reveal how Patterson crossed swords with India's Prime Minister Nehru, helped with the rescue of the Dalai Lama and befriended a host of unique world figures ranging from Yehudi Menhuin to Eric Clapton. This is a vividly-written account of a life of high adventure and spiritual odyssey.