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Aimé Tschiffely - Long Rider |
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The Tschiffely Literary Estate Articles by and about Tschiffely |
This is what Aimé Felix Tschiffely wrote on June 3rd, 1937, to his American friend Herbert Faulkner West. Don Roberto’s “Life” – one of his major works – is, of course, the biography of his great friend and admirer Robert B. Cunninghame Graham.
A few weeks ago I also wrote “FINIS” to a biography, to the one of Aimé Felix Tschiffely’s “Life”; and there are no words more adequate than his to describe my own feelings … the task has been a long and difficult one, but in a way, I am sad to think it is finished.
There is, evidently, no need to explain to the Long Riders’ community who A. F. Tschiffely is. But many will wonder that, though he is the most important Long Rider, there is no biography of his interesting life, his other travels and fascinating books. And, amazingly, few people in his native Switzerland recognize his name or realize how much of an impact Aimé had on the outside world.
I became interested in A. F. Tschiffely in the early 1960s, after a friend of mine and I were inspired to ride in Argentina thanks to his book Tschiffely’s Ride. We also had the chance to meet his widow, Violet, and became her friends.
Fate brought me back to Argentina in 2001 to do delve a bit more in the unique history of the Argentine Criollo horse, of which A. F. Tschiffely has become an integral part. In the course of my work, I began to know the man more thoroughly, not only as the Long Distance Rider, but as an unusual, interesting personality, and, above all, a kind, charming and unassuming chap, with a great sense of humour.
The idea of “doing something” biographical on him was borne after the Gods made me fall on a track leading to a trunk of “Tschiffely material” which had been stored for many years in an old stable in the English Cotswolds. I took this as a sign that a biography definitely had to be done.
The book is in German, will have about 400 pages, include more than 200 pictures, and several maps. It is based upon years of research and access to Aimé’s papers. The “Museum for the Swiss Abroad” in Geneva are the publishers, in cooperation with Infolio editions. The title will (probably) be: The Swiss Gaucho.
The book could be printed by the end of the year, provided we can raise the remaining 22,000 Swiss Francs ($29,000 ), a task on which we are bent right now. Readers who would like to contribute towards this goal would be warmly welcome, the same as suggestions which institutions could be contacted for sponsoring.
Anyone wishing to contact me can reach me at:
Benno Affolter Switzerland Email: monique-benno@duc.ch |
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