Skeletons on the Zahara Audiobook By Dean King cover art

Skeletons on the Zahara

A True Story of Survival

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Skeletons on the Zahara

By: Dean King
Narrated by: Michael Prichard
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Everywhere hailed as a masterpiece of historical adventure, this enthralling narrative recounts the experiences of 12 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.

©2004 Dean King (P)2014 Hachette Audio 19th Century Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Africa Expeditions & Discoveries Historical Modern Travel Writing & Commentary World Inspiring
Gripping Survival Tale • Historical Authenticity • Excellent Voice • Compelling Human Drama • Vivid Cultural Insights
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long. drags at times. the author knows his history. drags on and on and on

drags at times

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The book started slowly with quite a lot of background on the various people. Once the ship was on its way it became more and more interesting. Absolutely the men's ability to survive their ordeal was remarkable, however, what was much more interesting was a look into the culture of the desert. Stealing was simply a part of life, expected. If something was taken from you well too bad. It was your fault for allowing someone to take it. Very interesting.

If you have read "Endurance - The Shackleton Expedition" this is similar except in a desert setting.

I highly recommend this book.

A fascinating book about culture and grit

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The book is a little slow at first, but once it gets going it really moves. I really enjoyed this book.

Time very well spent

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I finished this in only a couple of days. Heart wrenching and touching, you'll be glad you listened to this story.

Do NOT be put off by the negative reviews.

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Long, boring, overly detailed, and poorly written. I usually love books which are described in reviews this way, but this time they were painfully accurate .

Disappointing

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Amother great true story, reminded me of how tough we used to be. very humbling

full of Heroes and villains

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Amazing story, well performed, and exciting all the way through. One of those, “can’t believe it happened” stories but it did.

Engaging story of survival

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The character development was shallower than in the Endurance, but the tale of the journey makes up for any shortcomings

great story

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An eyewitness account of the life of nomadic caravan traders in the early 1800s in the Sahara desert, and a true, first person account of being shipwrecked and enslaved by people from a land and culture totally different from ours. Fascinating, and verified historically accurate.

Fascinating actual history

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Riley, his subordinates and captors came back to life through Dean King’s research and story telling. I learned a lot and enjoyed the book. I will be reading more of Dean’s work and would love to see Skeletons of the Zahara made into a movie. Looks like a role made for Kevin Costner.

Arabian scimitars shine above the desert.

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