Sands of Death

by Michael Asher

In December 1880 a French expedition attempted to map a route for a railway that would stretch from their colony in Algeria right across the Sahara desert to reach their territories in West Africa. 'Paris to Timbuctoo in Six Days' was the slogan. It would do for the French colonies what the American railways were doing in the western states at the same time. No native opposition was expected. As one of the expedition's organizers said, 'A hundred uncivilized tribesmen armed with old-fashioned what is that against the might of France?' Four months later, a handful of emaciated survivors staggered into a remote outpost on the edge of the desert. Although armed with modern rifles, the column had been lured to destruction by the self-styled 'lords of the desert', the Tuareg. At this, the highpoint of European colonialism in Africa, this story of treachery, massacre, torture and even cannibalism made headlines around the world. Attacked by the Tuareg in their remote heartland, the survivors had been pursued for weeks on end, driven into the waterless desert to die. The desperate lengths they resorted to shocked Victorian sensibilities. They do not make easy reading now. This grisly story, told by our greatest living desert explorer reveals what happened when the conceit of western colonialism met the equally arrogant Tuareg, who had dominated this remote region, and anyone trying to cross it, for a thousand years.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Algeria, Travel, Africa

304 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2007

About the author

Michael Asher is an author, historian, deep ecologist, and notable desert explorer who has covered more than 30,000 miles on foot and camel. He spent three years living with a traditional nomadic tribe in Sudan.

Michael Asher was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, in 1953, and attended Stamford School. At 18 he enlisted in the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, and saw active service in Northern Ireland during The Troubles there in the 1970s.

He studied English Language & Linguistics at the University of Leeds. at the same time serving in B Squadron, 23rd SAS Regiment. He also studied at Carnegie College, Leeds, where he qualified as a teacher of physical education and English.

In 1978-9, he worked for the RUC Special Patrol Group anti-terrorist patrols, but left after less than a year. He took a job as a volunteer English teacher in the Sudan in 1979.

The author of twenty-one published books, and presenter/director of six TV documentaries, Asher has lived in Africa for much of his life, and speaks Arabic and Swahili. He is married to Arabist and photographer Mariantonietta Peru, with whom he has a son and a daughter, Burton and Jade. He currently lives in Nairobi, Kenya.

Reviews

[Jrohde]

Quite a harrowing tale, written by a friend of Cole Dodge with whom he suggests we do a 2 week camel trek through the deserts of Sudan. The story is well told, but the names of people and places hard to remember and the one map is inadequate to show it all, making much of it incomprehensible -eg " they could try to get to XXXXXX" wherever the hell that is!! an amazing tale of foolish bravery in the era of conquest - they all die in the end!!

[Nocheevo]

The pulpy title lets down a yarn about a failed expedition into the Sahara by the French in the late 1800s. What had all the makings of a gripping tale of exploration, colonialism and survival is missed by a "boys own adventure" narrative, a failure to explore in detail the culture of the Tuareg and a lack of supporting maps.

[Terry]

I have to agree with a previous comment by someone about the lack of maps to refer to. Many of the places named are not even on the map that does come at the front. That is really the only negative thing about the book as I found it gripping in its narrative.

[Amanda]

Tbh I don't really know how to rate this one. The writing was fine. Truly. But maybe that was the problem. My anxiety didn't appreciate how alive this gruesome true story became to me.

This isn't my typical reading fare, but it was a required read, so...
I'm just glad it's over.

[Tim Duff]

An amazing true story of 19th century saharan exploration. I loved the writing style which made the story flow like reading a fiction novel and really enjoyed reading the shocking tale of adventure and betrayal.

[Nigel]

One review I read said that it was a well written and interesting book with far too many complicated names (places and people) acompanied by an inadequate map. Pretty accurate so I'll say no more.

[Mark Dunn]

no glossary only one map and no photographs ,but the author can tell a ripping yarn