The Road to Samarcand

A young American orphan, left in the care of his uncle's sailing crew in 1930s Asia, sets out on a perilous journey across the continent toward the legendary city of Samarcand. Guided by a ship's captain, a resourceful sailor, and an expert in Oriental archaeology, Derrick must master everything from horsemanship to survival as the group traverses the Silk Road. O'Brian's richly detailed prose captures the vast scale of the journey, and the story has been praised for its enduring sense of adventure and atmosphere.