Edith Durham: High Albania. A Victorian Traveller's Balkan Odyssey. Phoenix London 2000. Stron XVIII+352. High Albania A Victorian Traveller's Balkan Odyssey The celebrated account of the late Victorian traveller who became a legend in her own lifetime through her extraordinary travels in the Balkans. Born in London in 1863, the daughter of a distinguished surgeon, Edith Durham began her career as an artist and illustrator. Following an illness and depression, and on her doctor's orders, she sailed to Montenegro and began an acquaintance with the Balkans that lasted a lifetime. In a letter she writes 'It occurred to me that the vexed question of Balkan politics might be solved by studying the manners and customs of each district, and so learning to whom each place should really belong' and thus she cheerfully started on her expeditions which she was well aware ignored the intrigues of the Great Powers which were actively encouraging the dismemberment of the Turkish Empire. High Albania is a passionate and flamboyant account of life in the formidable mountainous terrain of Northern Albania. Travelling throughout the Balkans for seven years - particularly in Albania with which she became intrigued - Durham cut a strange figure in her 'waterproof Burberry skirt' and 'Scotch plaid golf cape', but she won the people's trust, respect and affection and was called 'The Queen of the Mountain People'.