Road Of Stars To Santiago
Stanton (Hemingway and Spain, Univ. of Washington Pr., 1989) set out to walk The Road, that is, the Camino de Santiago. The Road is the way to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain, which, the author says, may be the last holy city in the West. St. James's body was supposedly transported there after he was beheaded in Judea. Eight centuries later, a hermit, guided by the stars, found the apostle's tomb. A church was built, and ever since then Catholics and others have made the pilgrimage. The road has always been important but in recent times has become very popular. Stanton starts at St. Jean-Pied-de-Port in France, 500 miles from Santiago. On the way he meets many strangers, makes friends, and has a series of adventures. His guide is not a guide but a series of impressions that are accessible but not profound-nor are they intended to be. For anyone wishing to make the journey, this would be a good place to start.George M. Jenks, Bucknell Univ., Lewisburg, Pa.Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.