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Author interview
Michael Palin's epic voyages have seen him circumnavigate the globe, travel from the North to the South Pole and circle the countries of the Pacific Ocean, but this was perhaps the greatest challenge yet: to cross the vast and merciless Sahara desert. As the journey unfolds, the Sahara reveals not the emptiness of endless sand dunes, but a huge and diverse range of cultures and landscapes and a long history of commerce and conquest stretching from the time of the ancient Egyptians to the oil-rich Islamic republics of today. On his way, he encounters dangers such as camel stew, being run over by the Paris-Dakar rally and Dakar nightlife, as well as returning to the original spot where THE LIFE OF BRIAN was fimed.This is travel writing at its very best.
'One of the most fascinating aspects of his account is the range of cultures that have left their mark on the area, from Roman amphitheatres to enormous natural gas pipelines, and from mud-brick mosques to French railway stations. Palin's brisk, wry narrative also includes stunning photographs by Basil Pao.'
THE SUNDAY TIMES (5/10/03)
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