Roger Took's Running with Reindeer is a remarkable account of his experiences in the Murmansk region of north-west Russia.
Took, an art historian by training, is almost certainly the first foreigner in more than a century to seriously explore this remote and harsh wilderness, also known as Russian Lapland or the Kola Peninsula.
Living among the reindeer-herding and hunting communities of the indigenous Lapps - or Saami - he follows their lives and recounts their traditions. Although the region itself is bleak and the climate inhospitable, and despite problems with the language, Took finds touching warmth and generosity among the locals he meets, battling to scratch a living from this unpromising corner of the planet.
The historical facts documented throughout the book are long and detailed - at times I felt it detracted from the personal experience of travel writing I enjoy. Despite this, Took's account of one of the last unexplored regions in Europe provides a fascinating insight into a vanishing way of life.
Running with Reindeer by Roger Took, published in paperback by John Murray, priced £8.99
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