I have previously posted this on HN to good response, my Father (83) has been transcribing publishing his letters written over a 10 year period (1956-1966) traveling the world while in the navy, a diplomatic courier, and the consulate in Saigon leading up to the War.

https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Mom-Odyssey-World-Travel-ebook/d...

Ah, I was actually wondering what became of that project :)

I first saw it when you posted a couple of letters to gauge interest. Looking forward to read it.

Fermor is part of a whole cast of adventurers, like Richard Halliburton who lived life to the hilt. They lived in a certain time in place, where technology, access, risk, and the unknown nature of the world made classical adventure possible. Really good stuff.

More details on the kidnapping of General Kreipe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidnap_of_Heinrich_Kreipe

And if you want some ideas on how they managed, it fitness-wise: http://www.chrismcdougall.com/buy-natural-born-heroes-from-t...

(Written by the author of Born to Run).

The amazing thing is that Paddy himself (the leader of this daring raid) was just a normal English schoolboy, until he set off on his walk across Europe at age 16 or so...