Along the Amber Route: St. Petersburg to Venice Hardcover – November 23, 2020

A travelogue that takes you on an ancient trading route south from present day Russia to the Adriatic Sea.The author, C.J. Schuler, tells the story of amber and how it was used and traded. He follows the path of commerce and describes museums, towns, crumby hotels, while throwing in obscurities of past history. (Does one really need to know that in 351 A.D. a fort was captured by Constantius II in the course of his war against his rival Magnentius?) He is not a big fan of increased efforts in the present day aimed at the exclusion of migrant populations.Most interesting to me were the sections relating to the author's Jewish family history amidst difficult times within the region of the Amber Route.

An amazing journey of discovery which encapsulates also a personal history of the fate of European Jewry.There is so much to be learned from Schuler's fluent narrative, as it weaves the thread of the amber route with a very personal history of his own forebears. Onley one caveat. There could have ben more pictures and maps, but a fascinating book overall.

The Amber Route ran south from ther Baltic Sea through central Europe to Venice. There was an earlier 'Viking' route that utilised rivers through Russia and the Ukraine to reach the Black Sea, which is not mentioned here.The largest amber source in the Common Era was present-day Kaliningrad, an anomalous Russian statelet and military base. Its hinterland today is Poland, but from c.1200 the area was controlled by the Germanic Teutonic Knights (warrior-monks), who were gradually reduced and forced to relocate, eventually to Venice. The Prussians who took over c1450 are described by the author as a mixed 'Baltic people' who allied themselves with the Poles.The author has records of forebears (some Jewish) in towns along the route, they often holding significant roles in local societies, and reports on the endless upheavals and the ghettos and synagogues that suffered the changes. Along the southern part of the route, Roman settlements and towns become significant, as do better roads for the development of all trade. The third city of the Empire was Aquileia at the head of the Adriatic Sea, but it was overtaken by the Huns and citizens fled to Venice, claiming that they had founded it, which is only partially true.

Interesting account of a journey from St Petersburg to Venice following the historic route of the amber trade. Visited several out of the way places as well as well known ones, like Vienna.Only think is that it makes out this was one journey but there were several hints that it may have been a few breaks / restarts.

this book deserved illustration -- albeit authors descriptive powers excellent -- yearned for photographs / drawings

Mr Schuler writes very creatively about his own personal experiences of traveling along the ancient route. He litters his work with articulate detailed histories of the places he has visited and draws very modestly on personal family history which brings life to the whole experience. Could he be a natural successor to Michael Palin. Cant wait until a film version is made. A must read.