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Sahara

By: Michael Palin
Narrated by: Michael Palin
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Summary

Michael Palin is off again, this time to the seemingly desolate Sahara Desert. There's no easy way across, as he and his team discover on their most challenging expedition yet.

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.

©2014 Michael Palin (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
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Critic reviews

"Engaging, detailed insight to the Sahara." ( Publishers Weekly)
"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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Enthralling listen

Throughly enjoyed this book. It was an interesting listen and a lovely form of escapism.

Would highly recommend.

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    3 out of 5 stars

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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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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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

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

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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    5 out of 5 stars
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Profound and entertaining

Another great travelogue from this master of words. Palin delivers yet again. Highly recommended.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

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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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

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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Good good

A superb story with wonderful narration. The zeitgeist was captured with clarity making this a most memorable novel.

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