Sahara
by Michael Palin
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Book Summary Information
Author: Michael PalinEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-07-01
ISBN: 0641779720
Number of pages: 272
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Book Reviews of Sahara
Book Review: Great Descriptions of People and Country along with Palin's Friendly Disarming Humor
Summary: 5 Stars
Another great travelogue by Michael Palin who beyond being a comedian is also a very detailed, although typical humorous, professional writer. Always with a gift for detailed descriptions, as noted in his recently released Monty Python Diaries, Palin captures the people, the land, history and customs while traveling from Gibraltor in a broad circuit through numerous countries along the Sahara. Perhaps not as light, as one reviewer notes, in contrast to earlier books but that is not relevant as Palin and his film crew (usually made into a TV series) migrate from Morocco, the disputed western territory of Western Sahara through numerous countries along the desert and infamous Niger River among people who are friendly but with limited means. What makes Palin's travelogues so unique is aside from his excellent observations, he has a self deprecating humor that amuses the different people along the way, generally creating bonds that the typical explorer or tourist could not have. This travelogue is a bit more serious as Palin and crew observe and experience some extreme levels of poverty along the way. However, virtually all the people they make contact with share their resouces no matter how simply or limited. Palin crosses the desert at one point in a camel train for 5 days and one of the many great pictures along the trip demonstrates the unique bond that palin forms with all who he meets as there is a picture of Palin being playfully grabbed by the camel drivers trying to keep him from leaving. From intermingling with the Polisario military in the disputed Western Sahara through Algiers and their Civil War and into Libya, the trip covers multiple cultures, modes of travel and an uncanny ability to stay supplied thgat could use some explanation.
Athough being quite careful with water they consume, Palin and crew often share food with their guests with Palin ocasionally making the gross error of using both hands as opposed to the restricted single right in the land of limited water. The latter of the book turns serious, as it does when learning of the horrific 9/11 terrorist attack, when they re-enter Algiers along the coast with the increased security required of any level of celebrity. As always, well written, excellent color phtographs and Palin even quotes the notable explorers that had come before him including those that did not survive the journey. Also comes with a two page large map to help you figure where the crew is along the way.
Summary of Sahara
Michael Palin's epic voyages have seen him circumnavigate the globe, travel from the North to the South Pole and circle the countries of the Pacific Ocean. This was perhaps the greatest challenge yet: to cross the vast and merciless Sahara desert.
Shrugging aside the perils of camel stew and being run over by the Paris-Dakar rally, he travels through some of the most spectacular landscapes on earth. For the Sahara is no empty wasteland, but home to a diversity of cultures whose long history stretches from the time of the ancient Egyptians to the oil-rich Islamic republics of today.
Shrugging aside the perils of camel stew and being run over by the Paris-Dakar rally, he travels through some of the most spectacular landscapes on earth. For the Sahara is no empty wasteland, but home to a diversity of cultures whose long history stretches from the time of the ancient Egyptians to the oil-rich Islamic republics of today.
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