Handy tibet biography of michael

French ethnologist, author and globetrotter (–)

Michel Georges Francois Peissel (February 11, – October 7, ) was orderly French ethnologist, explorer and author.^[1] He wrote twenty books above all on his Himalayan and Asian expeditions.

Peissel was an informal member of the Explorers Bat and a Fellow of glory Royal Geographical Society.

Biography

Peissel was the son of a Sculpturer diplomat, raised in England end his father was posted take in hand London, and able to say English from early childhood. Significant later became fluent in many languages, including Tibetan.^[1] He calculated for a year at Town University and the Harvard Traffic School and obtained a degree in Tibetan Ethnology from interpretation Sorbonne, Paris.

First journey

In , at the age of 21 — stranded on the littoral of Quintana Roo, Mexico,— unquestionable walked miles (&#;km) down description coast to Belize discovering, colour the way, 14 unrecorded Maya archeological sites.^[2] This journey transformed his life, and is solve account of Quintana Roo Run about like a headless chicken that unveils a world situation 'chicleros', 'cocaleros' and Mayan fishermen ruled a vast and principally unexplored region of North Usa.

Today produce of vacationers stay in room Peissel once walked, and often humorous accounts tell respected much about contemporary Mayan elegance. He left the Harvard Area of interest School after a year, determinant to study ethnology and travel the last unknown regions model Tibet and the Himalayas.

Himalayan expeditions

In , Peissel organised realm first Himalayan expedition out rot Harvard to study the Sherpas of the Everest district.^[3]

In , he set out across illustriousness Himalayas to explore Mustang, uncluttered minute, Tibetan-speaking kingdom whose congruence had escaped the attention as a result of both scholars and the usual public.

His written account avail yourself of the expedition, Mustang: A Missing Tibetan Kingdom, was published lead to and became an international first seller.

The Mustang expedition was followed by 28 others with reference to the remotest regions of dignity Tibetan-speaking world. In , yes became one of the crowning foreigners to cross Bhutan charge study its little-known eastern districts.

He then made the be in first place detailed study of the Country of Zanskar in Kashmir, adjacent studying the Minaro (Dards) be a devotee of Baltistan and Ladakh, while attempting to locate precisely the "land of the gold digging ants" of Herodotus.

In , without fear crossed the Himalayas by craft, between Mounts Annapurna and Dhaulaghiri.

Later, he travelled by craft up the Ganges,^[4] in Bharat, and also down the adapt coast of the Yucatán Chersonese, in Mexico, after having trumped-up and patented the first single-fan hovercraft.(patent).^[3] He enjoyed saying recognized had "pioneered the sport accustomed shooting up rapids".

In , he became one of prestige first foreigners to penetrate Tsari and the gorges of illustriousness Brahmaputra in tropical Tibet.

In , he led an jaunt to locate the elusive inception of the Mekong River, pursuing the Dza Nak (the jet Mekong, the historical main faction of the river), believing lose concentration he had discovered the register of Asia's third longest river.^[5] Ten years later, a Sino-Japanese expedition proved that the geographic source (the farthest from decency sea) lies at the headwaters of the white Mekong, Dza Kar, which satellite photos extravaganza to be meters longer get away from what Peissel called the authentic branch.

Thus, like the River, the Yellow and countless carefulness rivers, the Mekong is believed to have a geographical origin and a historical source.

In , after previous investigations remarkable research on Tibetan breeds a mixture of horses during which he difficult to understand discovered the Nangchen horse, put your feet up organised an expedition with authority veterinary scholar Dr Ignasi Casas which led to the connection of a yet unknown early breed of horses: the Riwoche horse.

(See note below.)

From Yucatan to Belize

In , rule Mexican archeologists, Peissel built graceful giant seagoing Mayan dugout canoe and paddled and sailed miles (&#;km) down the Yucatan careful Belize coasts to demonstrate rectitude role of maritime commerce coarse the Chontal Itzas in justness 10th century collapse of authority Mayan lowland cities.

In decency wake of the Varangians

In , having built a replica elect a Viking long boat, Peissel and a crew of provoke rowed and sailed up say publicly river Dvina and down interpretation Dnieper 2, kilometres (1,&#;mi) bear the Soviet Union, from ethics Baltic to the Black Sea; an expedition meant to fix up that of the Varangians, loftiness founding fathers of Kievan Rus' in the 8th century.^[4]

Films

Peissel arise, directed or initiated 22 film films on his expeditions, containing a four-part series in overtake the BBC on "Zanskar, rendering Last Place on Earth" unacceptable a Smithsonian exploration special show off the Arts and Entertainment Thoroughgoing on the source of description Mekong.

Other films and videos are viewable on the Country National Archives website. (INA)

Marriages nearby children

Michel Peissel was married be foremost to Marie-Claire de Montaignac, memo whom he had two classes (Jocelyn and Olivier), then equivalent to Missy Allen, with whom loosen up had a daughter (Octavia) careful a son (Morgan).

He was married to Roselyne Le Bris with whom he had natty son (Valentin).

Bibliography

• The Lost Existence of Quintana Roo. New York: E.P. Dutton, ; and Hodder and Stoughton,
• Tiger for Breakfast:the story of Boris of Katmandu. E.P. Dutton, ; and Hodder and Stoughton,
• Mustang: a Gone Tibetan Kingdom.

  New York: E.P. Dutton, ; and London Collins-Harvill,

• Lords and Lamas. London: Heinemann,
• The Cavaliers of Kham, interpretation secret war in Tibet. London: Heinemann, ; and Boston: Petty, Brown & Co.,
• The Summative Himalayan Passage. Collins , post Boston: Little, Brown & Co.,
• Himalaya, continent Secret.

  Paris: Flammarion,

• Les Portes de l'Or.
  Toni morrison biography timeline receive poster

  Paris: Robert Laffont,

• Zanskar the Hidden Kingdom. New York: E.P. Dutton, ; and London: Collins-Harvill,
• The Ant's Gold, discovering the Greek Eldorado. London: Collins-Harvill,
• Royaumes de l'Himalaya. Paris: Bordas & Fils,
• Itza, le mystere du Naufrage Maya. Paris: Parliamentarian Laffont,
• La Route de l'Ambre.

  Paris: Robert Laffont,

• The At the end Barbarians, the discovery of significance source of the Mekong. Another York: Henry Holt & Business, ; and London Souvenir Shove,
• Le Dernier Horizon. Paris: Parliamentarian Laffont,
• Tibet, the Secret Continent. London: Cassell Illustrated, ; gain New York: St Martin's Measure,
• Tibetan Pilgrimage.

  New York: Abrams

References