Where can I find Walter Starkie's "The Road to Santiago"?

[Sam Hardman]

I would love to read this book to learn what the Camino was like before it's modern revival but I can't find it anywhere. Amazon has second hand copies but 46 pounds is a bit beyond my budget. There was a reprint in 2003 but I can't find any copies for sale.

Given it's now over 60 years old I also thought maybe it would be out of copyright and there would be a free or cheap downloadable version available but I can't find anything.

Does anyone know where I might find this book?

 

[rustyhollow]

My Amazon search shows it available for 502.00 USD



It is available from the library here in Pittsburgh, PA, USA!!! Might be in a special collection as the electronic card has instructions to "ask for assistance".

 

[Sam Hardman]

My Amazon search shows it available for 502.00 USD



It is available from the library here in Pittsburgh, PA, USA!!! Might be in a special collection as the electronic card has instructions to "ask for assistance".

That is a crazy price! I checked my local library's catalogue and they don't have it unfortunately

 

[Tincatinker]

Mr Starkies book will remain in copyright until at least 2026' fifty years after his death. If the Starkie estate re-publish they might choose to re-assert their rights of ownership. If enough people write to John Murray's they'll maybe reprint the 2003 edition.
Meanwhile try your library or the library of a further education establishment, or throw yourself on the mercies of the "collectible books" market.:0(

 

[KinkyOne]

I have found many books that were not available on the market (or only for crazy amounts) in second hand/antiques stores lying on some shelf all dusty. And for acceptable prices. Maybe try that also?

 

[Purky]

I found a copy of the 2003 reprint for € 22,-. Secondhand, in good condition and for sale here. I'm not sure if they ship to the UK, but I can help out if you want.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Go to https://used.addall.com and put Starkie in as author and Santiago as the title and click Find the book.

 

[Martyduc]

I was lucky recently to find in a second hand bookshop , Walter Starkies " Raggle Taggle in Spain " his account of wandering on foot with his violin across Northern Spain,,,hoping to find his Road to Santiago one day !!

 

[Sam Hardman]

Thanks all for the help! I had a good trawl of the internet and have now found it for 27 pounds which is not so bad for a classic book.

 

[David Tallan]

That is a crazy price! I checked my local library's catalogue and they don't have it unfortunately

I realize you've already got the book but others who have a similar experience in a library might want to try asking if they can get the book through inter-library loan. Many libraries have reciprocal agreements with networks of other libraries that enable them to bring in books that are not in their own collection. You just have to ask and fill in a form.

 

[KinkyOne]

I realize you've already got the book but others who have a similar experience in a library might want to try asking if they can get the book through inter-library loan. Many libraries have reciprocal agreements with networks of other libraries that enable them to bring in books that are not in their own collection. You just have to ask and fill in a form.

Speaking of which country???
I guess USA.

 

[Bradypus]

Speaking of which country???
I guess USA.

I don't know which country @David Tallan is posting from but here in the UK we also have an inter-library loan system. I have used it myself occasionally for particularly rare or expensive books which my local library does not stock. Quite how willing local library staff are to use it on your behalf does vary from place to place though. Sadly library services are often amongst the first to be cut back in hard economic times

 

[David Tallan]

Speaking of which country???
I guess USA.

In my case, Canada. But the reciprocal agreements are not limited to Canada so I expect inter-library loan may be available in other countries.

 

[walkingstu]

Good luck with your search, in the mean time
"The Pilgrimage Road to Santiago: The Complete Cultural ...
Book by David Gitlitz and Linda Kay Davidson" is a very good book on what your looking for.

 

[PeconicBill]

If you go to worldcat.org and indicate your location it will tell you the nearest libraries with the book. Also, try addall.com, which has some used book stores not available through Amazon. It’s a wonderful book!

 

[t2andreo]

I just ordered a used, but in good condition, copy of the first American Edition (1957) from a used bookseller. My wife is not going to be please...but she has her passions and I have mine...

The Road to Santiago: Pilgrims of St. James / Starkie, Walter
New York: E. P. Dutton and Company, 1957, Hardcover...

Once I get it and read it, I am open to loaning out for postage. I mail it to you. You mail it back. Send me a P/C with direct email, contact info, etc.

As I am in Florida, I think I need to keep the loan offer to the Continental US. I really don't want to chance losing the book in a pissing contest with customs officials in Canada, or the EU. Been there, done that...

Once I have the book, I will consider loan requests on a FIFO basis, chronologically. Presently that I am thinking that a one-month overall loan period would be good. I loan it to you via the post. You return it not later than 30 days later. I figure that provides a good 2 -3 weeks to read the book. At 339 pages, I can get through it in a day or two. the sooner you return it, the sooner the next person gets it... Whaddya'll think?

Also, I am thinking that once I exhaust my American loan requests, I might consider leaving the book with a friend living at Santiago to do the "loan by post thing" on the EU side of the pond. Let's first see if the book gets here, then gets returned from the initial loanees...

Hope this helps.

 

[peregrina2000]

I realize you've already got the book but others who have a similar experience in a library might want to try asking if they can get the book through inter-library loan. Many libraries have reciprocal agreements with networks of other libraries that enable them to bring in books that are not in their own collection. You just have to ask and fill in a form.

Just checked my State of Illinois library system, and there are 8 copies available in different university libraries. I just put in for a copy. We may be dismal failures at public transportation, but we sure can do public libraries!

 

[OTH86]

I got it thru inter-library loan thru my public library in Seattle. Delighted to know ILL system works in so many countries!!

I also found The PILGRIM'S GUIDE TO THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO by ELÍAS VALIÑA SAMPEDRO thru the Inter Library Loan system.

I've also found bookfinder.com invaluable - have found books - new & used - all over the world.

 

[Sam Hardman]

If you go to worldcat.org and indicate your location it will tell you the nearest libraries with the book. Also, try addall.com, which has some used book stores not available through Amazon. It’s a wonderful book!

These are both really useful websites to know. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Sam Hardman]

Good luck with your search, in the mean time
"The Pilgrimage Road to Santiago: The Complete Cultural ...
Book by David Gitlitz and Linda Kay Davidson" is a very good book on what your looking for.

I have Gitlitz and Davidson's book already actually and agree it's great! I learnt a lot from that before I set off on my Camino last August

 

[Sam Hardman]

I just ordered a used, but in good condition, copy of the first American Edition (1957) from a used bookseller. My wife is not going to be please...but she has her passions and I have mine...

The Road to Santiago: Pilgrims of St. James / Starkie, Walter
New York: E. P. Dutton and Company, 1957, Hardcover...

Once I get it and read it, I am open to loaning out for postage. I mail it to you. You mail it back. Send me a P/C with direct email, contact info, etc.

As I am in Florida, I think I need to keep the loan offer to the Continental US. I really don't want to chance losing the book in a pissing contest with customs officials in Canada, or the EU. Been there, done that...

Once I have the book, I will consider loan requests on a FIFO basis, chronologically. Presently that I am thinking that a one-month overall loan period would be good. I loan it to you via the post. You return it not later than 30 days later. I figure that provides a good 2 -3 weeks to read the book. At 339 pages, I can get through it in a day or two. the sooner you return it, the sooner the next person gets it... Whaddya'll think?

Also, I am thinking that once I exhaust my American loan requests, I might consider leaving the book with a friend living at Santiago to do the "loan by post thing" on the EU side of the pond. Let's first see if the book gets here, then gets returned from the initial loanees...

Hope this helps.

This is a great idea! Too bad I'm in the UK, but it seems there are lots of other people that want to read this too who might be interested.

 

[t2andreo]

This is how the first lending libraries we established...

 

[Michael Gray]

www.abebooks.com is a site that aggregates thousands of second hand bookshops around the world. It has four second hand copies up to USD60 plus postage. It was five copies before my visit . I have bought hundreds of books on this site and found them safe and reliable.

 

[John Finn]

I got my copy from Amazon.uk in 2017 for £19.97. No longer available though.

What is available is another classic by Edwin Mullins - The Pilgrimage to Santiago.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1902669312/?tag=casaivar-21

 

[Paladina]

I would love to read this book to learn what the Camino was like before it's modern revival

I’m glad you’ve now found a copy at an affordable price, but if you are looking for an informative account of the Camino before the advent of mass tourism, I fear you may be disappointed. This is not a criticism of the author’s wandering scholarship - Starkie was inter alia a professor of Romance languages at my own university - but an observation that his travel writing reflects his eccentric personality and eclectic interests. He wears his learning very lightly, so it’s a lively and highly engaging account, but it’s idiosyncratic and reads at times like gullible travels. Enjoy it at your leisure!

 

[Sam Hardman]

I’m glad you’ve now found a copy at an affordable price, but if you are looking for an informative account of the Camino before the advent of mass tourism, I fear you may be disappointed. This is not a criticism of the author’s wandering scholarship - Starkie was inter alia a professor of Romance languages at my own university - but an observation that his travel writing reflects his eccentric personality and eclectic interests. He wears his learning very lightly, so it’s a lively and highly engaging account, but it’s idiosyncratic and reads at times like gullible travels. Enjoy it at your leisure!

This is good to know, although it sounds like a book I would enjoy in any case. I love travel books and am looking forward to reading this!

 

[Sam Hardman]

I got my copy from Amazon.uk in 2017 for £19.97. No longer available though.

What is available is another classic by Edwin Mullins - The Pilgrimage to Santiago.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1902669312/?tag=casaivar-21

Well that‘s another book on my wish list!

 

[Former member 69452]

Although this still may be expensive, it is for me, I found one for $45 US ... a little better than 45 pounds...
https://www.alibris.com/The-Road-to-Santiago-Pilgrims-of-St-James-Walter-Starkie/book/5778388

 

[Davey Boyd]

I got my copy from Amazon.uk in 2017 for £19.97. No longer available though.

What is available is another classic by Edwin Mullins - The Pilgrimage to Santiago.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1902669312/?tag=casaivar-21

Crikey! Just bought Edwin Mullins book for 1p!

Thanks for the info,
Davey

 

[KYBirdman]

For all of you looking for out of print books, try bookfinder.com. It searches different outlets for the wanted volume. This Starkie search had both US and UK sources.

 

[Former member 69452]

For all of you looking for out of print books, try bookfinder.com. It searches different outlets for the wanted volume. This Starkie search had both US and UK sources.

Thank you so much!!

 

[Farcryliz]

I would love to read this book to learn what the Camino was like before it's modern revival but I can't find it anywhere. Amazon has second hand copies but 46 pounds is a bit beyond my budget. There was a reprint in 2003 but I can't find any copies for sale.

Given it's now over 60 years old I also thought maybe it would be out of copyright and there would be a free or cheap downloadable version available but I can't find anything.

Does anyone know where I might find this book?

 

[Farcryliz]

I have the 1957 version and would like to find it a good home. It is a withdrawn library book. Let me know if still interested. Liz

 

[Sam Hardman]

I am still interested Did you want to sell it?

 

[Farcryliz]

Yes. Are you in the continental US? email me farcryliz@aol.com.