Dust jacket notes: "This is the uncommon story of the remarkable Alexandra David-Neel, prolific author, inveterate explorer and traveler, pioneer feminist, and world authority on Tibetan Buddhist tantric rites. Lawrence Durrell called her 'the most famous Frenchwoman of her time.' Jules Massenet praised her singing and interpretation of his immortal coquette, Manon. Alan Watts praised her 'wonderfully lucid' writing, and the Gomchen of Lachen (a Tibetan High Lama and wizard) extolled her great courage and determination. Strong, opinionated, domineering, brilliant, rarely compassionate even with those close to her, David-Neel was born in Paris in 1868 and died at Digne, France in 1969, nearly 101 years of age. Bounced on Victor Hugo's knee, she led a singular life marked by adventure, fame, and honor. She was sought after by authors, explorers, presidents, and maharajas. But she is especially celebrated for her daring journey, at the age of 54, through bandit-infested forests in the dead of winter to Lhasa, Tibet. Disguised as a beggar, with a revolver concealed beneath her rags, she became the first European woman to enter the forbidden holy city. Forbidden Journey tells the history of an era and the story of a courageous spirit prepared to risk everything to show the world 'what the will of a woman could do.'" - from Amzon