Timbuctoo

Sep 15, 2012 H.M. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you like a story about the oppressed, the downtrodden or the outsider coming through in spite of harrowing events, grave injustices and enormous odds stacked against them; characters you love to hate; and a good old-fashioned love story, then you may well find wonderful resonances and enjoyment in Tahir Shah's epic novel, Timbuctoo. There are some anti-establishment sentiments in the mix and, given some of the characters' proclivities and activities -- such as the Prince Regent's whimsical ex...more If you like a story about the oppressed, the downtrodden or the outsider coming through in spite of harrowing events, grave injustices and enormous odds stacked against them; characters you love to hate; and a good old-fashioned love story, then you may well find wonderful resonances and enjoyment in Tahir Shah's epic novel, Timbuctoo. There are some anti-establishment sentiments in the mix and, given some of the characters' proclivities and activities -- such as the Prince Regent's whimsical excesses and the making of fortunes from trade in unfortunate African slaves -- rightly so, I feel. These themes are timeless.

There's a wise, old saying that you only possess that which would survive a shipwreck. In Robert Adams' case, this was faith, hope, gritty determination and above all the passionate love which fuelled and drove these qualities in him, and to which he clung on for dear life. We're all shipwrecked when we're brought into this world, become enslaved in one way or another and, separated from our "beloved", we yearn to be reunited. There's something about this process that touches on the mystical. In a sense, then, like the old woodcutter in the traditional story of Mushkil Gusha (Remover of All Difficulties), Robert Adams is telling us our own archetypal story and also showing us a way through all this to freedom. The details are very different for each individual, but the underlying pattern is the same.

I found that the author's use of short chapters and often short paragraphs split up the novel into easily manageable "bites", added to the pace of the story and also heightened the drama. With many deft twists and turns in the captivating plot, the book was a real page turner and unputdownable. Knowing little to nothing about the Regency era when I embarked, I also found the rich and vivid description and the adept characterizations educational, informative and also enjoyable and satisfying.

The book is not only about Robert Adams' harrowing narrative, it is of course also about the reception his account received, adding insult to injustice. One thing that struck me was the possible parallel between this and that received by Tahir Shah's own father, the writer, thinker and Sufi teacher, Idries Shah. Both were outsiders and introduced exotic ideas into society, based on first hand experience of the truth. This led both men to become celebrated by many and also dismissed, resented and even undermined by a few self-appointed experts who had their own fixed ideas, largely based on hearsay and what they wanted to believe was the truth. These latter few didn't want to hear the truth but to maintain their vested interests or have their prior beliefs confirmed. This is a point that Idries Shah actually made in the BBC television documentary, "One Pair of Eyes: Dreamwalkers". In it, he says:

"We all think of ourselves as logical people: people who are capable of changing our minds, for instance, if we get superior information, more information which tells us that our former beliefs or prejudices were untrue.

"Doctor Ward Edwards of the University of Michigan Engineering Psychology Laboratory has disproved this in a most alarming manner. He has shown that one third of people are not able to change their minds once they have made them up on the basis of inaccurate information, even if accurate information is subsequently given to them."

A thoroughly enjoyable read -- and well worth re-reading and savouring at a more leisurely pace -- I have no hesitation in giving Tahir Shah's novel, Timbuctoo, five stars; and I can't wait to get my hands on the forthcoming, lavish limited edition hardcover with its bonus features.

Update 15 September 2012: I've since received a copy of the lavish, limited edition hardcover edition, and Tahir Shah's wife and graphic designer, Rachana Shah is to be thoroughly commended for such an exquisite and well thought out book design.(less)

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Jul 23, 2012 Isis rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, revolution-age-1650-to-1837ce-ficti

Well, first thing’s first. I was lucky enough to win a limited edition copy of this book, and I have to say it's a real treat. High quality cover and paper, marbled internal coverings in the antique style, fold out period maps of London, an insert from the Committee’s actual supplement detailing Robert Adams’ account, a leaflet insert with further information, its own attached silk bookmark, complementary card note from the author, and, finally, signed and personalised inside to me from the auth...more Well, first thing’s first. I was lucky enough to win a limited edition copy of this book, and I have to say it's a real treat. High quality cover and paper, marbled internal coverings in the antique style, fold out period maps of London, an insert from the Committee’s actual supplement detailing Robert Adams’ account, a leaflet insert with further information, its own attached silk bookmark, complementary card note from the author, and, finally, signed and personalised inside to me from the author. One thing I will say is that this high quality paper and hardback cover on this edition are rather heavy, thus it’s rather unwieldy to read in bed or to take out and carry around to read, and I wouldn’t recommend taking it into the bath to read unless one wants to risk a dunking!

Tahir Shah’s first foray into historical fiction is based on a true story: the account given by an actual Robert Adams who claimed to have been shipwrecked on the African coast, taken as a slave, and as part of his epic journey, visited Timbuktu. Shah makes it clear that whether or not the real Robert Adams’ story was true is ultimately open to debate, although his descriptions of the city were later found to tally. Shah appears to have invented the character of Christina, as the Society leaflet mentions nothing of her and gives the impression that Adams was not forcibly transported but rather a willing crew member or passenger of the ship. I'm also pretty sure that there was never a plot as forms the climax of this novel - I'll not mention what it is for spoilers' sake. That strand steers the story towards the outlandish and absurd more than anything else in the novel, but it’s done so masterfully, clearly planned out well ahead of time, subtly interwoven throughout, highly thought out, that it never comes off as too silly or ridiculous. In fact, I would almost argue that it enhances the Regency experience offered by Timbuctoo.

This is something that Shah does really, really well in this book. There are two stories being told here. Adams’ travels and trials across Africa, and his retelling and the plots in Regency London. I don’t know how other readers felt, but I felt like the Regency setting took predominance. Adams’ account feels like a summarised retelling, and takes second place to the “present day” strand of Regency London. I quite understandably went into the book expecting a sweeping tale of Timbuktu, but instead I found a truly immersive story of Regency London. It was a surprise, and a delight. Shah does it so well. Jane Austen is often considered classic Regency – written in the Regency, set in the Regency, sublime windows on the contained world of certain sections of Regency society. Shah paints a completely different portrait of the Regency world, but it is equally sublime at capturing the real essence of the times. Timbuctoo captures the modernism of the times, the clash of innovation and convention in Regency society which occasionally produced genius, but often gave birth to creations that we would consider gaudy, outlandish, decadent, or just downright strange. Maybe it helps that I recently watched a series exploring this side of the Regency and comparing it to the 1960’s in terms of experimentation, but Shah captures this perfectly in Timbuctoo and I must say my appreciation of this aspect of the Regency is growing.

Timbuctoo is a melting pot of all these elements, blending the new hot air balloon travel with the Prince Regent’s over the top taxidermy menagerie, the medical and scientific enquiry with the unscrupulous body snatchers, and restrained polite society with the extremes of both greedy excess and Adams’ plain speaking. The character cast is populated by some of the most famous figures of the day: Beau Brummell, Lady Caroline Lamb, Lord Byron, Jane Austen, Joseph Banks, and of course the Prince Regent himself, and yet it never feels like Shah is name dropping, merely an awareness that these characters are all moving in this world, but in their own spheres and independently following their own stories – they’re not brought in simply to impress. It’s this sublime portrait of the Regency that I really love about this book. It’s so spot on. Even the style in which the book is written; the short chapters, the section summaries, the descriptions, emulate Regency style with uncanny accuracy.

Speaking of style, Timbuctoo is a classic example of a story executed with extreme precision and forethought, meticulously planned out, and sparingly rendered, sticking exactly to the design, carefully weaving all the strands together and resisting the temptation to create superfluous material. This is precision story-telling and novel-writing at its finest. With the extraordinarily evocative Regency flavour built in, this is really something special. The care and work that have gone into Timbuctoo are obvious. Others have commented on the universal nature of the moral of the tale, and I would have to agree and recommend that readers discover it for themselves. However, this is no heavy hammer that Tahir Shah is hitting us over the head with. The book doesn’t set out to drum a message into us, and quietly avoids judging the variety of colourful characters within too much. The moral sits unobtrusively in the background, unassuming in its simplicity and universality, the kind of simple life lessons that we all know deep down but need to remind ourselves of from time to time. I really appreciate Shah’s subtlety in Timbuctoo’s writing. A heavy-handed approach really switches me off as a reader. I can’t quite believe this book is self-published, it’s such high quality.

Why on earth am I not giving this book full marks? The conspiracy plot at the end was perhaps a little too neat, a little too contrived. The story didn’t quite engross me as much as I felt it could have, since there are a lot of characters whose strands eventually weave together, and whilst Shah makes an effort to show their idiosyncrasies and individual personalities, many of them have such a small role that I felt like I didn’t get to know them as much as I would have liked. Finally, I still feel hungry for an immersive portrait of Timbuktu, and Adams’ account in the novel really is more of a retelling and didn’t quite suck me in the way the Regency sections did. Don't get me wrong though - dang this book is good, and it's a definite keeper on my shelves. Recommended.

8 out of 10.(less)

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Jun 26, 2012 Sue rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: historical fiction, War of 1812, Timbuktu, Dorothy Dunnett Scales of Gold, Regency England

I don't normally do narrative reviews but I was thrilled to get a digital ARC of this book in return for an honest critical review, which I am providing in good faith.

Full disclosure: I am a fan of Tahir Shah's non-fiction works, own all of them, and count them among my favorite books ever. I value his appreciation for the everyday absurdities of life, his respect for individuals, and his mastery of the storyteller's craft in order to build bridges of understanding across cultures. When I read...more I don't normally do narrative reviews but I was thrilled to get a digital ARC of this book in return for an honest critical review, which I am providing in good faith.

Full disclosure: I am a fan of Tahir Shah's non-fiction works, own all of them, and count them among my favorite books ever. I value his appreciation for the everyday absurdities of life, his respect for individuals, and his mastery of the storyteller's craft in order to build bridges of understanding across cultures. When I read that he was tackling historical fiction, I was curious to see how he'd translate his skills to that genre, as it happens to be my favored reading category. My preferred historical fiction authors are those who respect the historical record and do not deliberately alter it by intent or omission to fit their intended narrative, instead following their imaginations to interpret the trail of real events and fill in the gaps, taking side trips and detours to enhance the journey. Shah approaches his task with obvious respect for historical integrity and crafts an entertaining and compelling tale.

He uses his skills as a modern-day explorer and storyteller to great effect in exploring this world of the past. The reader doesn't need a working knowledge of Regency England to appreciate this book but those who are familiar with the Establishment figures who make cameos and extended appearances will delight in Shah's spot-on portrayals, which I found funny, poignant and everything in between. Shah's integrity to the period is writ large and small, evident in everything from the narrative conceits and stylings of the format to the details of everyday life. Here is where Shah's background as a "travel writer" is a strength, for he isn't simply writing about Regency England: he's on a journey through place and time and takes the reader along for a rollicking good ride. The companion website provides a treasure trove (quite literally!) of supplemental and background info to enhance the trip.

Timbuctoo is a real winner. There's something for everyone: history, mystery, adventure, layered and enjoyable characters, tortured romance, and the promise and lure of treasure at every turn. I'm looking forward to purchasing a hard copy to enjoy the additional special edition design elements but the story stands solidly on the strength of its writing, characterizations, and plot. It's all great fun.(less)

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Jun 26, 2012 Holly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Timbuctoo is a novel that I could not put down. I read it in three days, and it took me that long only because I had work to do. If I had received my copy on a weekend, I would have read through it in one sitting. The story is entertaining, fascinating, and gripping.

This book is so different from the author's previous books, and yet I loved it just as much as everything else I've read of his. First of all, it's historical fiction (a Regency romance, nonetheless), while his previous work was tra...more Timbuctoo is a novel that I could not put down. I read it in three days, and it took me that long only because I had work to do. If I had received my copy on a weekend, I would have read through it in one sitting. The story is entertaining, fascinating, and gripping.

This book is so different from the author's previous books, and yet I loved it just as much as everything else I've read of his. First of all, it's historical fiction (a Regency romance, nonetheless), while his previous work was travel writing, both guide books and amazing real life adventures. Secondly, this book marked the author's move from traditional Big Six publishing to self publishing.

Shah's wife is a book designer, and between the two of them they created a true work of art: a gorgeous hardcover edition, with gilded lettering on the cover, marbled end-papers (when was the last time you saw those on a modern edition?), a silk bookmark, a little pouch in the back cover filled with extra goodies, and amazing paper quality. The book is huge, textbook-sized, and has six fold-out maps included inside. I am a map addict, and can stare at a map endlessly.

Five of the six maps that were included in this book are Horwood's maps of London. I had never heard of these maps before reading Timbuctoo, but apparently Richard Horwood spent almost ten years from 1790 to 1799 mapping the streets of London, down to each individual building. The amount of detail is impressive. If you are a map freak, you must get this book.

I was also not a huge fan of the Regency before this book (with the exception of Jane Austen), but the amount of historical detail in Timbuctoo led me to do a little research online. The Timbuctoo website also has a massive amount of information on the Regency: digital images of Horwood's maps, the original Narrative of Robert Adams, people from the Regency, places from the Regency, things that were stylish during the Regency, explorers who attempted to reach Timbuctoo and failed, a list of suggested reading on Timbuctoo, a timeline of the history of Timbuctoo, and a poem by Tennyson on Timbuctoo. There is so much supplementary information to keep you busy researching topics related to both Timbuctoo and the Regency Era.

Shah makes history come alive in this book. I am not a huge history buff and I was always bored in school by the memorization of battles and dates, but I love hearing stories from times past. Timbuctoo is the most fascinating story of an illiterate American sailor who was shipwrecked off the coast of Africa, enslaved for three years, and survived to tell his tale in London.

It's an endearing love story, and it's also story of endurance: of struggling on when there's no hope on the horizon. And it's a story of survival: redemption when you least expected it. These are timeless themes, appealing at any point in history. Adams focuses on three very clear goals: first, surviving and attaining his freedom from slavery; second, returning to the United States; third, reuniting himself with his young bride. Is he successful on all three counts? I don't want to spoil it for anyone, and in any case, Adams' journey is much more important than the end result.

Woven throughout Timbuctoo is a thread of rebellion, of going against the grain, of not following the pack. Robert Adams is not only a survivor, he insists on keeping true to himself at every turn of the story. Despite the hatred his beloved's father held for him, he insisted on marrying her. Unlike his companions, he refuses to convert to Islam while enslaved in the desert, insisting on retaining his Christian faith. And while telling his tale in London, he refuses to get caught up in the sometimes dangerous politics of Regency society.

The characters are rich and well developed, and the author does an excellent job of drawing you into the world he's created. You'll be rooting for Adams from the very beginning, and you'll stay on his side throughout the book. His companions on his journey are equally fascinating, and have a depth that goes beyond the simple dichotomy of good and evil.

One added bonus is that the author is planning a treasure hunt to promote the book, and has hidden four large golden African heads all over the world. More details on the website, and clues to crack the code to find the GPS coordinates are found within the book itself.

Timbuctoo will appeal to Jane Austen addicts, history buffs, fans of exotic adventure, and underdog enthusiasts. This is one of those books where, when you reach the final page, the only thing you can think of doing is to flip the book around and start back on page one. And so you do. I cannot recommend it enough.

Disclaimer: I know the author personally and work with him through my company, Tribal Publishing, which helps authors build their online platform using social media. I was a reader of this author's books before working with him, and our professional relationship did not affect this honest review. (less)

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Sep 17, 2012 Lolly's rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

4.5 stars

*Disclaimer: I was contacted by the author and given a copy of the e-book in return for an honest review. I've never met or corresponded with the author previously, nor have I read any of his other books. No compensation for this review, monetary or otherwise, was received by me.*

I have to admit, what first drew me to this novel was not its subject matter, although I am a huge fan of the Regency period. No, it was the description of the hardbound book Goodreads had on offer as part of t...more 4.5 stars

*Disclaimer: I was contacted by the author and given a copy of the e-book in return for an honest review. I've never met or corresponded with the author previously, nor have I read any of his other books. No compensation for this review, monetary or otherwise, was received by me.*

I have to admit, what first drew me to this novel was not its subject matter, although I am a huge fan of the Regency period. No, it was the description of the hardbound book Goodreads had on offer as part of their First Reads program. From the brief given: “This is a limited edition hardback, very very high spec, and designed along the lines of the travel books of two centuries ago. It weighs 2 kilos (almost 4.5 lbs), has fabulous marbled endpapers, a silk bookmark, a pouch at the rear with inserts, and six huge fold-out maps. The paper is wood-free, and the cover embossed with raised gold type.” Who could resist that? Lust bloomed in my heart and I desperately wanted to win a copy... which I didn't. So I had to settle for being contacted by the author and given an e-copy (which isn't too bad a deal considering I was thrilled by the offer; yes, I am still geeky enough and silly enough to become giddy when an author contacts little ol' me, a reviewer and blogger of very minor importance). Yet even without the fancy wrappings of the special edition hardback, I fell in love with the book: It hooked me immediately.

Tahir Shah has taken the story of Robert Adams, an illiterate American sailor who spent years in the desert of Northern Africa and saw the fabled city of Timbuctoo, and fleshed it out with fictional elements, expertly marrying the two until it's difficult to tell what's fact and what's fiction. Which is perfect because the result is compelling and immensely readable. The tale of Robert Adams is a true one: He was an American sailor who was shipwrecked off the west coast of Africa. He, along with the rest of the crew, found themselves surrounded by Moors, who stripped the men naked and imprisoned them. Adams spent the next three years as a slave, passed from owner to owner until he was ransomed by Joseph Dupuis, the British Consul at Mogador. At one point, Adams and another white man, a Portuguese fellow, found themselves guests of the king of Timbuctoo, who treated them as oddities and allowed them to roam about the city. After his release, Adams became stranded in London, where he had to survive as a beggar before he was eventually found, half-naked and starving. His tale was dictated to the Company of Merchants Trading to Africa, yet it was widely decried as being untrue due to the fact that Europe was in the midst of Timbuctoo mania. The city had become the center of many a tale concerning its riches, specifically gold. It was the new El Dorado, with streets and houses said to be constructed from the warm yellow metal, and many men had set out over the years in order to find it, men most of whom never returned home. Adams was the first to not only reach Timbuctoo but to also come back and recount what he'd seen, and his description of it as being a simple place, with no gold in sight, was not what those men pinning their hopes on the city's riches wished to hear. Adams, after finally returning to America, disappeared from historical record, allowing his detractors to continue in their quest to discredit Adams' achievement, even though his tale had been reviewed and corroborated by the British Consul in Morocco.

This, all on its own, makes for a harrowing and dramatic tale, yet Shah has managed to infuse it with additional, albeit fictional, details, thereby deepening the pathos the reader feels for Adams, who throughout the novel, simply wishes to return home, in Shah's narration because of the woman he left behind, Adams' wife and the love of his life. Timbuctoo also revolves around the characters with whom Adams interacts, from the secretary of the Company to whom Adams is dictating his tale, Simon Cochran, who first acts as Adams' guide and minder but who eventually becomes a friend and confidante to the American, to Sir Geoffrey Caldecott, director of the Company and a man with a very slippery character, even to the Prince Regent himself, portrayed in all his frippery and buffoonery and empty-headed excess. Not to mention a few luminaries of the period, such as Lord Byron and Caroline Lamb. As a result, the novel is multi-layered, introducing many characters, major and minor, along the way, each with their own tale to tell or angle to add to the main story line.

Make no mistake: Though this is a Regency novel, in the strictest of definitions, it's completely different from those commonly known as “Regencies.” There's romance here, yes, but so much more. There's a depth of detail and magnetic storytelling which truly sets this novel apart. As Adams narrates his tale, we are thrust into the sere and unforgiving heat of the Sahara; we can feel the sand burrowing into our skins, the sun raising blisters on our naked backs and unprotected heads, feels our mouths turning to dust as our saliva dries up. Yet, equally, when we navigate Regency London alongside Adams and the others, we are just as much enveloped in the sights and sounds and smells of that era. When reading those London scenes, what really struck me was Shah's ability to convey the casual, almost off-hand cruelty of that period, the dismissive attitude towards those who were poor or diseased or in any way “other” to those who were more fortunate, not to mention the appalling ignorance towards basic information, whether it be scientific or geographical or medical, which today we take for granted. For those of us who admire the era and become caught up in its fripperies, it's a stark reminder that there was a dark side to the Regency period, an underbelly easily ignored in the face of the wonderful fashions and literature and romance which typically take center stage.

It's a near-perfect novel, yet I had a couple of issues with it, minor, yes, but ones which still affected my reading. The first was how the novel was set up: The chapters were exceedingly short, sometimes only a page long. In a way those short chapters worked when it came to the multiple characters, as they helped keep them all straight and gave a sense of immediacy and animation to those scenes where two or more persons' actions took place at the same time. Yet, conversely, those short chapters often had an abortive effect on the action: Just as things were building up, getting me involved in what was being described, the chapter ended, bringing me out of the story with a jolt and making the reading of the book similar to being in stop-and-go traffic. For those scenes where such movement and action wasn't required, I would've preferred having longer chapters which would've allowed me to sink into the story and really savor it. My other nitpick is truly trivial: Shah interspersed letters written by two of the characters in between some of the narration, which I loved; however, the language used wasn't “flowery” enough, didn't seem “Regency” enough. I know, I know, it's such a tiny, insignificant point, not even worthy of being included. And yet I did. Let the excoriating begin.

In the end, I don't think I can recommend this book highly enough. It's a brilliant imagining of one of the most dramatic real-life adventures in history, creating a wonderfully layered, complex, action- and drama-packed novel. Thank you, Mr. Shah, for giving me the chance to read it.

Update as of 9/17/2012: I've since received the lavish hardcover copy of this novel. Actually, this update is a couple of month overdue--forgive me. Anyway, to the hardcover edition, it is just as beautiful and beautifully-designed as I'd imagined. The marble end papers are simply marble-ous *groan* (I had to do it!), the inserts and maps are fascinating, and the book has such a wonderful heft to it, enhancing the story being read. Just as I had imagined it would.(less)

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Jul 13, 2012 Fiona Lane rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was very fortunate to win this book as a part of the first reads scheme. I am so glad that I have in doing so not only have I had a wonderful time reading but I have also discovered an author who's writing will draw me again and again.

This is a great book. It combines historical accuracy with a wonderful story, attention to details and vibrant characters. I have loved getting in to the lives of Adams in London and Africa and all those who's lives intersected with the story. I was completely d...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Toni rated it 5 of 5 stars

Timbuctoo by tahir Shah.
This is a book to read and re read. Gallop through it and you will miss a lot. Can’t help galloping, or like me beginning in the middle and jumping about then re reads are a must, each read revealing overlooked somethings . A kaleidoscope of a book the shifting fragments of glass redesigning themselves. See many other reviews for the story line, the regency personalities, and pertinent observations about the similarities between the savageries current in Regency London t...more

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Jun 30, 2012 Lauragais rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, favorites

Weltenreisender - Geschichtenerzähler - Zeitenzauberer: Der Meister arabischer Erzähltradition, Tahir Shah, berichtet in diesem Buch die von ihm in der London Library aufgestöberte wahre Geschichte eines amerikanischen Matrosens, Robert Adams, der vor zweihundert Jahren als erster Christ nach Timbuktu kam und dort als Sklave gehalten wurde.

Mit klingender höchster Erzählkunst lässt uns Tahir Shah an der unglaublich anmutenden Geschichte des Seemanns teilnehmen, an dessen buchstäblich fabelhaften,...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Simon rated it 5 of 5 stars

I hadn't really thought much about the Regency period before. I'd seen The Madness of King George and loved it, so that gave me a handle on it: while George III was locked up at Windsor in his bouts of madness, his son, the Prince Regent, was living it up in town. Although Timbuctoo is about an American man's enslavement and journey to Timbuctoo, it's also about Regency London which was fascinated with the fabled African town, rumoured to be paved with gold.

In a way, the royal extravagance of th...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Borut rated it 4 of 5 stars

THE SINGULAR FUTURE OF THE BOOK: AN ARTEFACTUAL WORK OF ART

How else to summarize Timbuctoo, Tahir Shah’s first novel, that has just come out, but by quoting a verse from Kasidah, the long philosophical poem written by Sir Richard Burton, the great 19th century British explorer:

“We dance along Death’s icy brink, but is the dance less full of fun?”

It is definitely Tahir Shah’s most complex project, in which a traditional novel with an almost archetypal plot, new media, ‘reality show’, self-publis...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Reva rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, format-kindle, fiction

Tahir's newest book sucked me in from very early on. He introduces more characters throughout the book, knitting a web that becomes more and more complex with time and also bringing to light the lifestyles of so many different types of people during the time period. While several characters are only heard from very briefly, each one adds depth to the network of people being influenced both by Adam's story and by the deceptions of certain men in the committee. Even though we talk about being conn...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: general-fiction, historical-fiction

Ever since I first read Katherine Neville’s The Eight when it first came out in the spring of 1989, I’ve fantasized about visiting places like Algeria and Morocco and, yes, even Timbuktu (as we spell it in modern English). As well, one of my favorite adventure stories is that of the folks from Citroen sponsoring the first crossing of the Sahara by automobile, specifically their Citroen half-track. You can imagine, then, how eagerly I leaped at the chance to review Tahir Shah’s novel from last su...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Siobhan Pratt rated it 5 of 5 stars

Tahir Shah’s ‘Timbuctoo’ is one of the most wonderful, engaging, descriptive and informative tales I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
Based on truth, and impeccably researched, it is the story of a bedraggled sailor found close to death on the snowy streets of London in December 1815. Robert Adams, an American, is invited to narrate his tale in front of an open audience, and soon all of high society is clamouring to hear how he once came to be the guest of the King of Timbuctoo.
His story c...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Sangeetha rated it 2 of 5 stars

I have read many of Tahir Shah's books and always waited for the next treat with much anticipation. I see that Timbuctoo has received rave reviews and I am beginning to feel a little faint in the heart about my own rather disappointed response to the book.
Here is why.
Whether in India, as the Sorcerer's Apprentice or in Casablanca, trying to appease djinns, Shah's writings call for a suspension of reality, as we know it to be. With Shah we explore the bizarre, the quaint, the unlikely, and most i...more I have read many of Tahir Shah's books and always waited for the next treat with much anticipation. I see that Timbuctoo has received rave reviews and I am beginning to feel a little faint in the heart about my own rather disappointed response to the book.
Here is why.
Whether in India, as the Sorcerer's Apprentice or in Casablanca, trying to appease djinns, Shah's writings call for a suspension of reality, as we know it to be. With Shah we explore the bizarre, the quaint, the unlikely, and most importantly the incomprehensible that touches our every day life and yet escapes notice.
In my reading experience there is a singularly unifying feature that runs through all of Shah's books; It is a unique and compelling madness, the engaging story telling madness.
In Timbuctoo I felt its absence keenly.
Surely it is unwise to nail an author to his previously preferred style of writing and presumptuous to expect that the author to be confined by the reader's notions of where his talents lie. I see the dangerous ground I tread. Nevertheless.

In Timbuctoo history and fiction make for incompatible bed fellows. The trials of Robert Adams is by far the most captivating part of the book. Regency England and the pretentious, depraved culture that marked the era is represented graphically, as was intended, I think. But the characters seem as mere props introduced to authenticate a particularly sordid practice or indulgence of the time.
A short chapter takes us through the life of Emily Watts, an inmate at Bedlam, a place to hide away inconvenient women. Watts is propped up again, towards the end, to uncover her husband's villainous deeds. No more.
We also have Lilly Small, literally blinded by grief because she loses her son to tuberculosis. She is sent to Bedlam, where a Mr. Leech tames her wild ravings with a furious whipping.
These women are subjected to a brutality that mocks all conventions of a supposedly refined and civilised society. This much we are given to understand.
But since we have had only a brief, if dramatic introduction to their plight but none into their character, we forget them quickly, as does Shah, who then proceeds to make many such forgettable introductions. They add little to the texture of the narrative.
I thought that Simon Cochran and Clara Fortescue had much potential as they were thrown into somewhat unconventional circumstances, given their close association with the American.
But then Simon's story rounds off predictably with a 'happily ever after', as does Adam's, and Clara is left nursing a broken heart.
Not much intrigue there.
Shah has compromised fiction for a rather meagre serving of history.
Timbuctoo spreads itself too thin and while it successfully draws parallels between the king of Timbuctoo and his barbaric ways, and the whimsical Prince Regent and his excesses, it fails to spin an engrossing tale.
Credit goes to Shah for the unique way in which this book is published and distributed, even reviewed. Perhaps there in lies its success.
I await the next book with hope and trepidation.(less)

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Aug 25, 2012 Neera rated it 5 of 5 stars

*Disclaimer: I was contacted by the author and given a copy of the e-book in return for an honest review. I've never met or corresponded with the author previously. No compensation for this review, monetary or otherwise, was received by me.*

It was with mild trepidation I began to read Timbuctoo, the first foray into fiction writing by Tahir Shah. I'm a huge admirer of his travel books, especially Sorcerer's Apprentice (if you haven't read it, buy it along with Timbuctoo!) and wondered if this bo...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Gozde rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was one of the people who was fortunate enough to have a chance to have a first read of this book and give my honest review. I have another disclaimer too – I loved reading Tahir Shah’s previous books. And this book did not disappoint me either.

I don’t have a special taste for Regency books or era (still not quite sure what they are!) and I hadn’t even heard of the name Robert Adams before this book. But the story of this American sailor who couldn’t write or read and who was driven to find hi...more

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Jun 25, 2012 Paul rated it 5 of 5 stars

Timbuctoo
It must be said straight off that Tahir Shah’s new, and self published, book Timbuctoo is a triumph of design.Congratulations Rachana. With it’s gold title lettering,sumptious marbled end papers,silk bookmark and large fold out maps, it’s in the style of a 19 Century travel book,indeed, it’s very like the original Narrative of Robert Adams on which it is based.
Whilst the usual Shah energy, the ability to tell a tale, the gallery of fascinating and sometimes grotesque characters are all...more Timbuctoo
It must be said straight off that Tahir Shah’s new, and self published, book Timbuctoo is a triumph of design.Congratulations Rachana. With it’s gold title lettering,sumptious marbled end papers,silk bookmark and large fold out maps, it’s in the style of a 19 Century travel book,indeed, it’s very like the original Narrative of Robert Adams on which it is based.
Whilst the usual Shah energy, the ability to tell a tale, the gallery of fascinating and sometimes grotesque characters are all here this is a very different book from his previous ones. Here he has put Robert Adams, the first westerner to see Timbuctoo and live to tell the tale firmly in the forefront. Adams was found in 1815, half-starved and penniless on the streets of London.His descriptions of Timbuctoo, where he had been taken as a slave following a shipwreck, were nothing like the fantastic beliefs held in London and European society of the time. They believed Timbuctoo to be made entirely of gold and were in a desperate race between nations to reach there and claim it for their country.
The ensuing attempts to supress and discredit Adams are what holds Shah’s tale together.Adams was American and thus less than popular at that time in England.According to some reports his mother was a ‘mulatto’ and he was illiterate .Therefore what hope could he have of putting forward his story against the rich and powerful ,not to mention greedy and corrupt,powers of the day.As Shah says in the foreward,this is a tale looking at the enthusiasms and pre-occupations of the Regency era and is only very loosely based on Adams true story.He has ‘massaged facts and fictions into place,re-conjuring history’.
It is set in 1815, a few years after England lost America, fewer after the first Abolition of Slavery Act was passed but Wellington had just defeated Bonaparte at Waterloo and an extravagant,self indulgent and self absorbed Prince Regent was on the throne. The Regent was passionate in his pursuit of exotica as well as of food,wine,portraits of himself and women.Other great characters and themes are present.Byron, Beau Brummell, Lady Caroline Lamb, Joseph Banks, intriques against the throne,hangmen, showmen, slavery, excess, poverty, corruption, violence and love all make their appearance. There’s no great examination of these themes, even of Adams’ invented great love back in Hudson but it becomes clearer that there are parallels between this glittering age and the view of Africans as ‘barbarous’. In England at the time slavery was still being hotly defended by many and fortunes were still to be made from it.There were public viewings at Bedlam, public hangings, public dissection of corpses, all offered as entertainment.
What Shah has done is to capture the rambunctious Regency spirit.It was a time of huge extravagance , when appearance,absurdity,fiction and reality were all forged together in the heat of Regency profligacy and Shah has written and invented a tale to match. There’s also a hidden treasure within the book, see if you can solve it.If you do you can dig up a fabulous gilded African head, there’s one hidden on each continent.
If this book leads anyone to look at Adams’ story,slavery, the Regency period or anything else that gallops across these pages,then good for you.There’s a wealth of extra stuff on the Timbuctoo website. Otherwise, sit back, hang on and enjoy the ride.
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Jun 28, 2012 Agustin rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've never liked Regency novels...as matter of fact, it was always difficult for me to finish historical fiction novels. I am a fan of this author's previous books, so I decided to give the Regency novel another chance. I'm glad I did. Timbuctoo is far more than just another Regency novel. It's a complete depiction of human kind at its best, and its worst. It's based on a true story of an American sailor taken as a slave in northern Africa. The white Christian slave trade is something we never h...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Julian Hadlow rated it 5 of 5 stars

An excellent book. I read the Kindle version. It is a true story in the form of a novel that follows one Robert Adams in his trials and tribulations, following marriage to the girl he loved in Hudson, NY, USA.

He was packed off to Africa by his new father-in-law by ship, was shipwrecked, then picked up by Moors who killed some of his colleagues, before being parceled off through the Zahara, eventually returning to England, then back home to Hudson.

I won't explore the story in any more detail as I...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Heroek rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved reading this. I sped through it...it's basically the story of an America guy who in the early 1800s inadvertently ends up shipwrecked off African coast and is kidnapped by Moors (actually based on a true story), and then his unlikely adventure begins across the Sahara. The story might have been interesting by itself but the author has the main character tell the story himself within the setting of Regency Era London after he mysteriously ends up homeless there. The book is a great litera...more

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Jul 13, 2012 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

A new direction for Tahir Shah and all I can say is, when is the next one coming out? The BEST thing he's ever written and as good as anything I've read this year... there's so much in this book - a wonderful depiction of the Cabinet of Curiosities that was Regency era England, a great adventure story, a fable about endurance and separation from one's Beloved, all wrapped up in a lovely package filled with amazing maps of the City of London circa 1815 (and one period map of Africa)... and I have...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Ntully rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A beautiful book to have. The maps are a fantastic touch and the cover and colour scheme excellent. The story is centred on the adventures and incredible resilience of Robert Adams who by fate beats the great powers of the time to Timbuctoo which has been mythologised into a city of gold when the facts are somewhat different. There are many layers to the story and I wouldnt like to spoil anyones experience, but the cast of characters is almost Dickensian, and give a wonderful picture of the Rege...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Vera Marie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: travel

In this new novel, TIMBUCTOO travel writer Tahir Shah bases his beautifully produced book on an unbelievable but true tale of travel.

The subtitle of Timbuctoo, which in style echoes the verbose and mannered Georgian Regency era, says it all: Being a Singular and Most Animated Account of An Illiterate American Sailor, Taken as a Slave in the Great Zahara and After Trials and Tribulations Aplenty, Reaching London where He Narrated His Tale.

London society believed that Timbuctoo was literally a c...more In this new novel, TIMBUCTOO travel writer Tahir Shah bases his beautifully produced book on an unbelievable but true tale of travel.

The subtitle of Timbuctoo, which in style echoes the verbose and mannered Georgian Regency era, says it all: Being a Singular and Most Animated Account of An Illiterate American Sailor, Taken as a Slave in the Great Zahara and After Trials and Tribulations Aplenty, Reaching London where He Narrated His Tale.

London society believed that Timbuctoo was literally a city of gold. Before we are too hard on those early 19th century folks, keep in mind that there are places whose names exude mystery–and Timbuktu (as we call it now) still excites travelers, despite the fact that its glory days ended about 400 years ago. However, you may want to think twice about going there right now due to religious conflicts and the destruction of World Heritage sites.

This was the great age of exploration, when men (mostly men) ventured into those areas of the map marked “There dragons be” and survived or succumbed to extremes of heat and cold, uncivilized and dangerous tribes, starvation and exotic disease. Meanwhile, back in London, their colleagues cheered them on, while fretting over wearing the proper cravat, or possibly insulting a lady with a misplaced word. Shah, an experienced explorer of cultures, shows us the contrast of the world of manners and the world of survival of the fittest by packing every page with myriad details.

The printed book– 527 pages printed on heavy paper in the same typeface that was used for the source book from the 1800′s, has that mark of luxury–a ribbon marker. It also includes six large maps that reproduce detailed maps of London originally created between 1790 and 1799. At a scale of 26 inches to a mile the fold-out maps rival Google’s streetview. A folder at the back of the book includes a facsimile edition of an article published in May, 1816 of the original narrative of Robert Adams, upon which this novel is based.

If you are a bibliophile, you may be drooling at this moment. But consider this: even should you decide to save $47.01 by buying the Kindle edition of TIMBUCTOO ($2.99), you can see the reproductions, read the extra copy, and play a treasure-hunt game on the book’s lavish website . The concept is brilliant. Shah and his publishers have created something for everyone. Whether you want to immerse yourself in the make-believe world created by Shah’s novel by looking at a pretend 1816 book or if you are devoted to electronics and the web, they’ve provided something that will please you.

This review contains portions of the review I wrote at A Traveler's Library. Read the entire review here.

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Sep 13, 2012 Joost Perreijn rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have always loved Tahir Shah’s Books, but with this great effort of self publishing Timbuctoo Tahir has surpassed all his other books. Of course there is the obvious: a very, very beautiful, with loving care designed book, rich in every detail. A book that befits a tradition of the making of travel books I thought long lost. In a regular bookshop, you would not be surprised to pay at least a hundred Euros for such a grand book. Something you’re proud of to have in your library…

Timbuctoo is ve...more

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Apr 03, 2013 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, 2012, books-i-own, reviewed

This review also appears on my blog acascadeofbooks.blogspot.co.uk
I won a signed copy of this novel in a Goodread's giveaway.
I really liked this novel, hence the reason I gave it 5 stars. I loved the historical setting of this novel, I thought the author's accuracy to the setting was great, giving the reader a sense of exactly how it was, and allowing us to imagine it in depth.
The novel is separated into lots of small chapters, making a very large novel a lot more manageable, with each chapter b...more

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Sep 29, 2012 Anette rated it 5 of 5 stars

Based on truth, and impeccably researched, this is the story of a sailor found close to death on the streets of London in December 1815. Robert Adams, an American, is invited to narrate his tale in front of an open audience, and soon all of high society is clamouring to hear how he once came to be the guest of the King of Timbuctoo.
Tahir Shah has a very definite gift for telling stories in a way that it sucks you in and makes you believe every word for gospel. Even though I knew this was not 100...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Ana rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed very much reading Timbuctoo! The story is amazing, full of surprises, full of great images! I felt like being taken inside a movie. Perfect rhythm! Once I started reading it I couldn't stop! And it is a beautiful object in itself. It is a pleasure to hold it in my hands. The layout is fresh and very elegant. It was very carefully conceived, every little detail considered meticulously. I cherish my copy!

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Aug 20, 2012 !Tæmbuŝu marked it as owned-not-read

Shelves: ebook-available

KOBOBOOKS

Reviewed by The Independent (18 Aug 2012)

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Jul 04, 2012 Robs rated it 4 of 5 stars

First reading: Shah has a talent for lulling the reader into believing that within its context everything is fine, and then ambushing the mind with the completely unexpected, whereupon one laughs, weeps, gaffaws. A delightfull reading experience.

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Aug 02, 2012 Jodi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Alright, I love Tahir Shah. Enjoyed the book. Was certain, however, the main character would be shot dead in the final scene simply because he could NEVER catch a break! Fun, different read.

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Q&A with Tahi...: Self Publishing	26	64	Jun 06, 2013 05:02am
Q&A with Tahi...: Timbuctoo (July 5, 2012)	8	50	Jul 17, 2012 05:01pm
Goodreads Librari...: Different editions; review not counting	3	40	Jun 25, 2012 01:30am

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