Wilfred Thesiger: the life of the great explorer

by Alexander Maitland

The author of Arabian Sands and The Marsh Arabs and The Life of my Choice, he was a legend in his own lifetime but his character and motivations have remained an intriguing enigma.

In this authorized biography - written with Thesiger’s support before he died in 2003 and with unique access to the rich Thesiger archive - Alexander Maitland investigates this fascinating figure’s family influences, his wartime experiences, his philosophy as a hunter and conservationist, his writing and photography, his friendships with Arabs and Africans amongst whom he lived, and his now-acknowledged homosexuality.

Genres: Travel, Biography, Nonfiction, Middle East, Natural History, Africa, Autobiography

544 pages, Hardcover

First published February 20, 2006

Reviews

[Conrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

While a bit tedious at times, it nevertheless gives valuable insight into the mind and motivation of this rather indomitable man who preferred the austere open expanses of the desert and the company of the indigenous people to the confines of ‘civilization’ and modern conveniences. His own writings are far more impressive and ‘Arabian Sands’ was my reading companion on my first trip to the Middle East (Dubai).
I don’t know if anyone has totaled the miles he covered on foot and camel across North Africa, East Africa, Arabia, the Near East, the Middle East, and much of East Asia but it has to be a staggering tally. He probably was the last of the great explorers and much of what he saw has been changed by the onrush of the modern era. We can be grateful for what he saw and recorded for posterity.
He mentions Gavin Maxwell (A Reed Shaken by the Wind & Ring of Bright Water), Gavin Young (Return to the Marshes) and Eric Newby ( A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush) who all interacted with Thesiger to one degree or another and who all mention him in their writings - a most interesting fellowship!

[Tuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fairly long and sometimes dreary bio (his tallies of lions, hippos and uncounted other animals killed was rather sickening, though lots of the lion kills were for sudan and nuer cattlemen) of wilfred thesiger, finally gets pretty compelling during wwii years when he joins the newly formed sas and insurges against rommel/germany in sahara, then takes a gig advising haile salase's son, but that didn't work out, so he takes a new gig with fao surveying locusts in the arabian peninsula and proceeds to crisscross the empty quarter, and oman, yemen, abu dhabi etc on camels and does some simply incredible feats of desert travel, pretty much going where no one in memory had gone before (not many locusts out there though, as absolutely no forage or water). then he travels in kurdistan (iraq version mainly), then iran, then spends lots of time in marshes of southern iraq. he wrote i think five books, the opus being "my life of choice" (i think that is the title)or er "my choice of life?) . "settles" down in northern kenya and lived most of his later life there and in london, and of course any desert he could find to beat around in. he said the cleanness, solitude, and manly company was his idea of the perfect place for him on this globe, so he tried to be out in it as much as possible.
he took huge amounts of photos and they acted as both visual diaries for him and an art form in themselves. this book has quite a few photos, but 10,000s more out there, somewhere. also very good maps.

[Yvonne Novak Matz · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a life. He was an extraordinary man with an extraordinarily high threshold for fear and discomfort and the unknown. This is a well-written and satisfying biography, even if a bit long. Because so much of the geography has been renamed, it can be tedious to recreate some of these treks in one's mind. I read this as my own prequel for background to his to his "Arabian Sands" and "Marsh Arabs" to get an earlier perspective on where I live now. Can't wait to delve into his photography on exhibit in nearby Al Ain, UAE--a nice follow up.

[Larkin H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thesiger is one of the most interest people of the 20th century and yet extremely unknown which makes this biography an important work. I would suggest reading Thesiger's own works first. Both Marsh Arabs and Arabian Sands are wonderful travel books and Thesiger's travels in his own words are interesting especially when coupled with Maitland's discussion of the same trips with the benefit of hindsight.

Also, and unsurprisingly, Thesiger's life included a lot more than just his experiences in Arabia and Iraq outlined in his books. Maitland smartly focuses on Thesiger's other trips, his youth, and his military experience; the information that will be new and interesting to readers familiar with Thesiger's most famous exploits.

[Darla Ebert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thesiger was obviously a complicated "hero" and character. I was intrigued by his travels, but more so by his all-out approach to life in general. I think today he would be called a narcissistic daredevil with suicidal tendencies and larger than life goals. Perhaps too full of himself. Still the book is a riveting tale though I would not recommend it to anyone who dislikes repetitive details. I got bogged down and then noticed several "observations" on Thesiger's life were being repeated. Perhaps a better proofreader should have been assigned.

[Eric Kysela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great biography

This is the story of a,man truly larger than life. Explorer, diplomat of a self assured man who made his an adventure of his own choosing.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a slog to get through, but the story of W.T. is of an modern explorer seeking challenges regardless of risk. And if you read his books and see his pictures you will be very impressed. He was a one-of-a-kind person

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of fascinating antidotes and exhilarating adventures for those of us who live vicariously as armchair travelers .

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting !

[Kate]

From prologue to Arabian Sands