THE LAST OF EARTH by Deepa Anappara

5 stars

In the 1860’s when mysterious and remote Tibet had closed itself off to the outside world in a move of cultural protection, two British expeditions sneak in to the country on wildly divergent missions.

A pompous British captain, disguising himself in walnut juice to appear less white and carrying a prayer wheel to pretend to be a monk, seeks to trace the origins of the Tsangpo river. Balram, an Indian school teacher and Dad who has been trained with other Indian men by the British in surveying, leads the large contingent of Indian servants supporting the Captain’s caravan. Balram has agreed to the mission as his best friend Gyan disappeared during a lone survey mission and is rumored to be imprisoned as a traitor in a Tibet monastary. The Captain, who has never been to Tibet before, brings a harrowing combination of his arrogance and ignorance that puts his crew in peril. Balram finds himself in constant tension between what the Captain orders and trying to protect his men and hold the group together.

The second expedition comprises just two people: wealthy Brit Katherine, the bastard child of an English colonial officer stationed in Indian. Brought as a young girl to live with her father in England, Katherine suffers from ill-treatment by her stepmother and anguish at prejudice against her half-Indian heritage. She’s traveling in Tibet when her older step-sister dies, and she finds herself flooded with guilt at not having returned home to be at her deathbed. Katherine’s married a wealthy Brit who’s content to indulge her adventurous travels and has a deeply spiritual goal of being the first Westerner to reach the religious city of Lhasa. She also wants to snub London’s Royal Geographical Society that forbids women members. She’s brought along a single

Dangers abound for both groups in Tibet’s treacherous terrain: impossibly high altitudes, frost bite, un predictable river currents, blizzards, whipping wind, and snow leopards, and Tibet’s military seeking to catch any British spies. Added into the mix is Chetak, a mysterious Indian who tells powerful stories and who seems to vanish at will, who impacts both groups.

An intriguing read that makes you want to explore Tibet yourself.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.