Inside Sahara FROM THE PUBLISHER
In the spring of 2001, photographer Basil Pao accompanied actor (and former Monty Python member) Michael Palin and a BBC film crew into the heart of the world's largest desert--the Sahara. The result of that journey is these remarkable pictures of landscapes and people, taken on a route that covered nine countries and an astonishing variety of cultures. Even when in some of the most hostile conditions known to man, Pao succeeds in capturing the awe-inspiring beauty of the region. Here is Tangier, known for its incredible light; scenic old towns, such as Chefchouen in the Jabala Mountains, barely changed since the 15th century; men, working in tanneries, their bodies balanced over gigantic holes filled with dye; an oil refinery aflame; the River Niger bathed in a golden glow; the beautiful faces of pastoral nomads; the magnificent glory of endless sand dunes; and other unforgettable pictures. Plus: behind the scene photos of Michael Palin and the film crew.
FROM THE CRITICS
Library Journal
Michael Palin, former Monty Python zany, has lately become the traveler/commentator for such BBC productions as Around the World in 80 Days, Pole to Pole, Full Circle, and Sahara. Pao has accompanied Palin on several expeditions, including the Sahara journey memorialized in this photo collection. The trek began with a crossing from Gibraltar to Morrocco, continued southwest into rebel-held Western Sahara, Mauritania, and Senegal; headed northeast through Mali, Niger, and Algeria; skirted the North African Mediterranean coasts of Libya and Tunisia; and returned to Morocco. The resignation and perseverance of desert dwellers confronting a harsh and unforgiving landscape is mirrored in the faces and demeanor of the tanners of Fez, the nomads of Mali, and the farmers and shepherds of Niger depicted here. Amidst daily hardship and deprivation, Saharan women reveal a poise, dignity, and fortitude often lacking in their extravagantly cushy Western sisters. The photos are accompanied by reasonably informative captions. This collection, a useful companion to Michael Palin's Sahara, can be appreciated on its own. For libraries with substantial travel literature.-Lonnie Weatherby, McGill Univ. Lib., Que. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
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