Foreword

Set against the backdrop of World War II and Tibet’s impending invasion by China, Seven Years in Tibet (HarperCollins Publishers) is the self-told story of Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian mountaineer and Olympic ski champion who was on an expedition to the Himalayas. Harrer was arrested as a prisoner of war and sent to internment camp. After several attempts at escaping, he finally managed to do so from a camp in the Himalayan foothills. Thus, along with his companion, Peter Aufschnaiter, begins his epic journey to the forbidden city of Lhasa through Tibet. This is a tale of courage, adventure, hardship and exploration.

The book

A classic in travel writing, this meticulously written book focuses on the perilous journey to Lhasa and Harrer’s time in Tibet before meeting the 14-year-old Dalai Lama.

Filled with gems about Tibet and scrupulous descriptions — from how they printed books to how the postal system was organised — this is possibly one of the most comprehensive accounts of life in pre-China Tibet.

The film

The 1997 film by Jean-Jacques Annaud changes the story considerably, focusing on and dramatising Harrer’s relationship with the Dalai Lama. Harrer, played by Brad Pitt, is portrayed as a somewhat selfish, arrogant and angry character, which doesn’t come through in the book.

“No wonder you’re always alone — no one can stand your miserable company”, he is told by Peter Aufschnaiter at one point. However, ultimately, the film humanises the aloof Harrer, and we are given some context to his life before he sets off on his adventure; it turns out that he had left behind a pregnant wife and now has a son, whom he attempts to contact while in Tibet.

Why read it?

Read it for the detailed accounts of Tibet. It evokes a world that is now but a memory and offers an unparalleled glimpse into the mysterious Tibetan culture before the Dalai Lama was exiled.

Why watch it?

For Brad Pitt, of course! On a more serious note, the film is quite mediocre compared with the book. It will hold your attention but the book has much more to offer in terms of the author’s original intent, which was to spread awareness about the state of Tibet.

t2 says: This is a classic case of the book being head and shoulders above the film. The book is for some serious reading; the film, though beautiful, is an afterthought.