Overview

A crucial, forgotten chapter of American history-brilliantly retold for a new generation Everywhere hailed as a masterpiece of historical adventure, this enthralling narrative recounts the experiences of twelve American sailors who were shipwrecked off the coast of Africa in 1815, captured by desert nomads, sold into slavery, and subjected to a hellish two-month journey through the bone-dry heart of the Sahara. The ordeal of these men-who found themselves tested by barbarism, murder, starvation, death, dehydration, and hostile tribes that roamed the desert on camelback- is made indelibly vivid in this gripping account of courage, brotherhood, and survival.

Full Product Details

9781478900207

Table of Contents

Reviews

A forcefully visceral and culturally astute account. -- Booklist Referencing Riley's journals and those of crewman Robbin (which became bestsellers in their day), King writes an astoundingly researched treatise on Islamic customs, nomadic life, and desert natural history, as well as detailed descriptions of dehydration, starvation, and caloric intake...A wonderful, inspiring story of humankind's will to survive in spite of inhospitable conditions and inhumane treatment, this work should be in all public libraries, maritime libraries, and African collections. -- Library Journal The horrendous ordeal of eleven American seamen, shipwrecked on the Atlantic coast of North Africa and then sold into slavery, grippingly chronicled by adventure writer King...A jaw-dropping story kept on edge, along with the reader: exquisite and excruciating screw turning. -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) [Skeletons on the Zahara] impresses with its pacing, thoroughness, and empathy for the plight of a dozen sailors heaved smack-hard into an unknown tribalism. By the time the surviving crew members make it back to their side of civilization, reader and protagonist alike are challenged by new ways of understanding culture clash, slaver, y and the place of Islam in the social fabric of desert-dwelling peoples. -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) Enthralling...Skeletons on the Zahara [is] a perfectly entertaining bit of history that feels like a guilty pleasure. -- Amazon.com, editorial review Genuinely gripping, full of twists and turns of fate...mesmerizing. -- Daily Mail (London) Dean King has brought to life one of the great, true-life adventure stories-a riveting tale of suffering and redemption. -- Nathaniel Philbrick, New York Times bestselling author of Bunker Hill

The horrendous ordeal of eleven American seamen, shipwrecked on the Atlantic coast of North Africa and then sold into slavery, grippingly chronicled by adventure writer King...A jaw-dropping story kept on edge, along with the reader: exquisite and excruciating screw turning. -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) [Skeletons on the Zahara] impresses with its pacing, thoroughness, and empathy for the plight of a dozen sailors heaved smack-hard into an unknown tribalism. By the time the surviving crew members make it back to their side of civilization, reader and protagonist alike are challenged by new ways of understanding culture clash, slaver, y and the place of Islam in the social fabric of desert-dwelling peoples. -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) Dean King has brought to life one of the great, true-life adventure stories-a riveting tale of suffering and redemption. -- Nathaniel Philbrick, New York Times bestselling author of Bunker Hill A forcefully visceral and culturally astute account. -- Booklist Referencing Riley's journals and those of crewman Robbin (which became bestsellers in their day), King writes an astoundingly researched treatise on Islamic customs, nomadic life, and desert natural history, as well as detailed descriptions of dehydration, starvation, and caloric intake...A wonderful, inspiring story of humankind's will to survive in spite of inhospitable conditions and inhumane treatment, this work should be in all public libraries, maritime libraries, and African collections. -- Library Journal Enthralling...Skeletons on the Zahara [is] a perfectly entertaining bit of history that feels like a guilty pleasure. -- Amazon.com, editorial review Genuinely gripping, full of twists and turns of fate...mesmerizing. -- Daily Mail (London)

Author Information

Dean King is the author of the national bestseller Skeletons on the Zahara. He has written for many publications, including Men's Journal, Esquire, Garden & Gun, Granta, Outside, New York Magazine, and the New York Times. He lives in Richmond, Virginia. Michael Prichard is a Los Angeles-based actor who has played several thousand characters during his career, over one hundred of them in theater and film. He is primarily heard as an audiobook narrator, having recorded well over five hundred full-length books. His numerous awards and accolades include an Audie Award for Tears in the Darkness by Michael Norman and Elizabeth M. Norman and six AudioFile Earphones Awards. He was named a Top Ten Golden Voice by SmartMoney magazine. He holds an MFA in theater from the University of Southern California.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available