Colin Thubron is "a grand master of the travel genre" writes a reviewer for The New Statesman. "His prose is unfailingly poetic and evocative." Admired for his ability to combine panoramic prose, historical insight, and personal observation, Thubron has won awards for both his travel narratives and his novels. A Commander of the British Empire since 2007, Thubron's writing includes the New York Times bestselling travelogue Shadow of the Silk Road, the Thomas Cook Travel Award-winning book Behind the Wall: A Journey Through China, and the books Among the Russians and In Siberia. In his new book, Thubron commemorates the death of his mother by making a pilgrimage to Kailas, a mountain in Tibet sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus alike.