Michael Palin's travel books have repeatedly topped the bestseller lists. In this book he is back at his adventurous best tie-ing in with a major BBC TV series. The book/series will travel through many countries little known to the West, providing opportunities for Palinesque adventures to please the large and loyal audience who followed 80 DAYS, POLE TO POLE and FULL CIRCLE.
Sahara
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Amazon Review
Michael Palin's personality is a combination of some very disparate elements, many of them displayed at their most attractive in Sahara. There's the friendly, avuncular manner; the easy-going charm that women find so attractive; and that vein of surrealistic, sardonic humour that is the legacy of his Monty Python days. All these characteristics combined to create the perfect host for the ambitious travel programmes with which he's latterly been associated. The shows (and the handsome companion books that invariably accompany them) avoid the sometimes over-serious approach of other presenters and show us some very exotic parts of the world filtered through Palin's very idiosyncratic vision. Audiences and readers can't get enough.
Sahara gives us the latest of his epic voyages, and this one possibly represents the most arduous challenge of his career: across the massive and unforgiving Sahara desert. In this beautifully produced volume (studded with some eye-catching colour photographs), we are taken on a unique journey, as Palin reveals the Sahara to us as something considerably more than endless sand dunes. Facet by facet, Michael Palin uncovers a colourful and eccentric panoply of cultures, with chequered histories that stretch back to the dawn of time. Beginning (and ending) in Gibraltar, we are taken from the fabled realms of the ancient Egyptians to the Islamic republics of the present day, as Palin conjures up a journey that alternates between gallows humour and often considerable discomfort. Most of us will never experience the teeming nightlife of Dakar or travel down the river Niger to the fabled city of Timbuktu. But Palin has done it for us, and this book (with or without the accompanying TV series) is a highly enjoyable way to relive that journey with him. --Barry Forshaw
Review
What can I say except WOW! Sales are just wonderful and Michael is in the middle of his November/December two-week tour. His fans are still coming out tothe signings in their droves and buying lots of copies, ensuring that SAHARAhasn't dropped off it's number one slot in THE SUNDAY TIMES - everything looks set for it staying there till Christmas. I hope you all got a chance to see the wonderful one hour film which Michael and David Attenborough put together celebrating David's 50 years in television called LIFE ON AIR which was shown on Sunday December 1st on BBC 1. Just to remind you of all the coverage we've received: * DAILY TELEGRAPH serial and interview* My London in ES MAGAZINE* PARKINSON on BBC 1 Saturday 28th September.* RADIO TIMES - front cover and huge illustrated feature to run week of the 13th October.* SUNDAY TIMES, TRAVEL SECTION - has written a travel front of 2,500 words about his train journeys in the Sahara. Ran 13th October* DAILY MIRROR, LOOK MAGAZINE - interviewran 5th October* INDEPENDENT, DEBORAH ROSS INTERVIEW -ran Monday 7th October* GOOD HOUSEKEEPING - main interview for their November issue, out 14th October* BBC 2 LATER WITH JOOLS HOLLAND - to be broadcast at the end of November* CONDE NAST TRAVELLER -piece about the Paris -Dakar rally for October issue, out now.* YOU MAGAZINE, MAIL ON SUNDAY - Q&A; interview over double page spread ran 6th October* WOMAN MAGAZINE - interview to run week of 30th September.* TV TIMES, TV QUICK, WHAT'S ON TV -* PA NEWS, HAM & HIGH, CAMDEN NEW JOURNAL Reviews for the book have been excellent too: 'An engaging read..... agood-humoured romp through the greatest desert on earth.'Justin Marozzi, THESPECTATOR 'This book is not only an interesting account of his adventures, but also a fantastic pictorial record.'HELLO 'It's brisk, fresh and like the programmes, makes you want to go where he has gone, if not necessarily to eat camel liver'THE DAILY TELEGRAPH 'The book is a classic for the armchair traveller and one is left full of admiration for the good-natured patience of our genial guide, Michael Palin.'Cathal O'Shannon, IRELAND ON SUNDAY 'This is explorer-adventurer Michael Palin at his best.'GEOGRAPHICAL MAGAZINE
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First Sentence
Only 300 miles from the Sahara Desert there is a place where brass bands play, warm beer is served and a blue lamp marks the police station. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Only 300 miles from the Sahara Desert there is a place where brass bands play, warm beer is served and a blue lamp marks the police station. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
94 of 98 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
While I was skeptical of Palin's last effort (Palin's Hemingway Adventure), this book proves not only a delight, but also reflects an unexpected maturity in his writing.
Gone are the quick quips of the early volumes -- welcome as they were then, they would seem like worn-out comedy sketches if he still used them today.
Instead, he's grown into a reflective travel writer of some note, who deserves to be on the best-seller list not only because of the TV tie-in, but on the merits of this book alone.
As a Yank, I won't see the series for a year or more, but after reading his good work here, I can hardly wait.
Gone are the quick quips of the early volumes -- welcome as they were then, they would seem like worn-out comedy sketches if he still used them today.
Instead, he's grown into a reflective travel writer of some note, who deserves to be on the best-seller list not only because of the TV tie-in, but on the merits of this book alone.
As a Yank, I won't see the series for a year or more, but after reading his good work here, I can hardly wait.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By ralabaf
Format:Hardcover
Palin is the master of travelling to wonderful places that even the most ardent backpacker will never reach and yet he manages once again to bring life into the most inhospitable of locations. Whether it’s eating camel with displaced people, watching the Dakar Rally from a sand dune or sharing a meal with a national poet, Michael Palin writes and narrates in a fashion that allows you to drift into complete absorption and feel like you’re right there with him. Don’t be surprised if you find sand in your socks.
Sahara is his latest expedition into the unknown and builds strongly on previous voyages around the Pacific Rim, from North to South Pole and the original grand journey, Around the World in Eighty Days. Best experienced as a follow up to the TV series of the same name, the book allows the reader to relive the places seen in more depth than TV permits and the opportunity to savour some fantastic photography. At Amazon’s reduced price, this book is well worth a buy.
Read it in long absorbed sessions, or read it in short chunks, but read it. Palin takes you to the back of the back of beyond. Far away from the world of the normal travel writer and right into the homes and lives of the people he meets. Whether they’re living in shacks make from old oil drums hammered flat, or sharing a library with a cockerel, all of the characters that he meets are real and full of life. Share their lives. Read Sahara.
Sahara is his latest expedition into the unknown and builds strongly on previous voyages around the Pacific Rim, from North to South Pole and the original grand journey, Around the World in Eighty Days. Best experienced as a follow up to the TV series of the same name, the book allows the reader to relive the places seen in more depth than TV permits and the opportunity to savour some fantastic photography. At Amazon’s reduced price, this book is well worth a buy.
Read it in long absorbed sessions, or read it in short chunks, but read it. Palin takes you to the back of the back of beyond. Far away from the world of the normal travel writer and right into the homes and lives of the people he meets. Whether they’re living in shacks make from old oil drums hammered flat, or sharing a library with a cockerel, all of the characters that he meets are real and full of life. Share their lives. Read Sahara.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
The best of Michael Palin's travelogues by far. "Sahara" takes Palin and his filming crew though countries, districts and towns that feature little in popular travel writing. His explanation of, for example, the isuues and people of Western Sahara is very well done indeed.
Safaran Africa is most often featured in print and on television because of its negative aspects, for example poverty and conflict. Indeed these feature widely in the book but the overwhelming impression left is of amazingly the diverse and complex culture of the area.
Aside from Palin's excellent writing, this book could stand on the quality of its photography alone. It eclipses many "coffee table" art books.
My best Christmas present of 2002!
Safaran Africa is most often featured in print and on television because of its negative aspects, for example poverty and conflict. Indeed these feature widely in the book but the overwhelming impression left is of amazingly the diverse and complex culture of the area.
Aside from Palin's excellent writing, this book could stand on the quality of its photography alone. It eclipses many "coffee table" art books.
My best Christmas present of 2002!
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I picked up this book after having watched the accompanying BBC series, so I wondered if there was anything left to know about Palin's epic journey across North Africa in 2002. I wasn't disappointed. For ninety-nine days Palin trekked through the world's most hostile terrains, whilst experiencing a diverse host of cultures. His encounters are documented in a vibrant, chatty style, which made me laugh out loud in places. You're also transported into Palin's world - a sentiment I lacked whilst watching the TV programmes. Superb colour photographs and a pleasant layout are the icing on Sahara's cake. Top marks to this book. Everyone should have one on their coffee table
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By M. G. Tokyo
Format:Paperback
This time Michael Palin is taking on the Sahara. I am a huge fan of the TV series but as in some of the other books I had read the book gives us a different slant from what we see on TV. In the book there is much more of a personal feel and we often get a glimpse of his thoughts on the good and bad days. We get a lot of political background along with the usual descriptions of places he visits.
Also there are lots of great photos by Basil Pao who has been the stills photographer on each of Palin's travels.
A great travel book. Recommended!
Also there are lots of great photos by Basil Pao who has been the stills photographer on each of Palin's travels.
A great travel book. Recommended!
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By gymbunny
Format:Hardcover
I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful book. Michael Palin's evocative descriptions made you feel that you were travelling with him, at times rib tickingly funny, at times poignant, this book is a must read.
By Rachel
Format:Paperback
Bearing in mind what has happened in the countries mentioned in this book over the past 10 years some of the aspects are a little outdated - the ease of access to gas producing plants, the joking about being kidnapped and Gadaffi.
However, there were some excellent anecdotes and I found myself smiling throughout - the englishman who lived with a cockeral that diliked women for example. The need for armed guards in Algeria, and the constant cowering when large groups of people walked past maybe shouldn't have been as amusing as it was, but it at least gives you an insight into life as a foreigner within the Mediterranean African nations.
The main downside was that I felt Palin focused a little too much on himself rather than the landscape and the plight of the people living in it and despite the frequent mention of bad hotels, he had it far to easy throughout his travels.
However, there were some excellent anecdotes and I found myself smiling throughout - the englishman who lived with a cockeral that diliked women for example. The need for armed guards in Algeria, and the constant cowering when large groups of people walked past maybe shouldn't have been as amusing as it was, but it at least gives you an insight into life as a foreigner within the Mediterranean African nations.
The main downside was that I felt Palin focused a little too much on himself rather than the landscape and the plight of the people living in it and despite the frequent mention of bad hotels, he had it far to easy throughout his travels.
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read
Such a good book, makes you feel like you're there! I could imagine Palin's voice reading every word as I read.
Published 13 months ago by Lady Shamrin of Highbury
3.0 out of 5 stars
Sahara Michael Palin
hard reading but i was on the beach at sharm at the time. seen all his travels on tv but the book was hard going
Published 15 months ago by jv
5.0 out of 5 stars
A brilliant compamnion book
Do as I did and purchase this book to complete your set of Michael Palin's travel tales. A sumptious book with gorgeous pictures and engaging text. Read more
Published on 3 Oct 2011 by Mary
4.0 out of 5 stars
St Michaels Boxed Selection
I love Michael Palin.I'd hate to meet him, I feel like a mate and I most probably wouldn't be.I am though his companion and confidant if only through his writing and TV series. Read more
Published on 3 Dec 2010 by D. Hodson
1.0 out of 5 stars
Doesn't even manage to be superficial
I have to say I dislike Palin - part of Monty Python, and therefore recipient of public money at a time when the BBC was a quarter of a monopoly of British TV. Priceless publicity. Read more
Published on 30 Sep 2010 by Rerevisionist
5.0 out of 5 stars
sahara
yet another great book from mr palin.a really good read,on par with his other books pole to pole,himalayas,full circle and round the world in 80 days. Read more
Published on 19 Oct 2009 by road nomad
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Bit Disappointing
Sahara by and large is a good but it dose get very repetitive. Palin in one of the best descriptive writes i know and you get a good fell for the country's. Read more
Published on 10 May 2008 by C. E. Cox
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sahara
This is another brilliant account of a Palin journey. It has the usual beautifully reproduced photography and is written with Palin's wonderful sense of description and humour,... Read more
Published on 10 Feb 2007 by Spider Monkey
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good book about a not-so-good trip
All of the travelogues made with Michael Palin for BBC TV resulted in a book being published as an alternative account of the trip. Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2006 by Rennie Petersen
5.0 out of 5 stars
sahara
this man amazes me every time,this book is wonderful reading,it delves into the minds and cultures of many many people whom were befriended along this fascinating journey across... Read more
Published on 18 Oct 2003
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