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Sahara
- Narrated by: Michael Palin
- Length: 6 hrs and 1 min
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Summary
From a starting point in Gibralter, Michael makes his way to Morocco, then over the Atlas Mountains to the little-known countries of Mauritania, Mali, and Chad. He travels on the longest train in the world, meets with the Paris-Dakar Rally in the middle of nowhere, and sees the world's largest mud mosque before arriving in Timbuktu.
Then it's a journey with nomadic herders and a camel caravan, to Algeria and a recently re-opened Libya. Finally, Michael returns to the classical remains of Tunisia, where Life of Brian was filmed and he was crucified.
The mysterious, barren desert is revealed to be a place full of people, landscapes, and stories, a vibrant land with a history of civilisation, trade, and conquest stretching from the ancient Egyptians to the oil-rich Islamic republics of today.
Critic reviews
"With considerable charm, humor, descriptive power, and informative sidebars, Palin provides a lively picture of the people and places he encounters." ( AudioFile)
What listeners say about Sahara
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- Kathy Bellinger
- 04-09-23
Enthralling listen
Throughly enjoyed this book. It was an interesting listen and a lovely form of escapism.
Would highly recommend.
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- David Filce
- 28-06-21
Not a romantic as hoped
Michael Palin is an exceptional travel writer.But Sahara didn't offer the Laurence of Arabian-esque romance of dunes and oasis.
His Saharan journey was far to urban and not enough remoteness. But maybe I've got Sahara wrong.
Well told, albeit abridged, but enjoyed nevertheless
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1 person found this helpful
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- Peter Curd
- 16-11-21
A shame it is abridged
Very interesting, as always from Michael Palin, and easy to follow. Vivid descriptions of Africa seen in a way, and over a time period, few Europeans will ever see.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Ms Romy Shovelton
- 16-10-19
Vivid descriptions with humour
Such brilliant descriptions - it’s like being on the journey too. And humour of course. Thanks Michael
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Danica
- 13-04-13
Another winner
As always Michael Palin entertains. My boring flight sped by when I was listening to this. Brilliantly written and narrated. I can't recommend Michael Palin's books highly enough.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Shaun Stephenson
- 24-06-22
Profound and entertaining
Another great travelogue from this master of words. Palin delivers yet again. Highly recommended.
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- Stephen
- 06-06-08
Palin going through the motions
If you enjoy Palin and you need some light bedside noise this is fine. Not claiming to be anything more than a diary travelogue the book delivers mild humour and a slow trot through the journey. Touching on colonial histories and trying to describe the cultural diversity Palin has obviously researched this title well.
There are better Palin books out there ( Hemingway ) and Himalaya is a better journey book by Palin. If you have a 4 hour plane ride ahead of you then you could do worse than download this book.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Olivier Fuchs
- 28-03-10
Moderately enjoyable
Like the journey through the Saraha he describes, this audiobook is occasionally funny and rarely interesting. Most of it is more like a dull camel ride, an old Michel Palin complaining quite a lot about the aches he experienced during his trip.
Alhough I'm generally charmed by Palin and rarely disappointed by the audible titles I have bought, this is not one to recommend.
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2 people found this helpful
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- vinotha
- 01-02-23
Good good
A superb story with wonderful narration. The zeitgeist was captured with clarity making this a most memorable novel.
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