TRavelling the Sands Sagas of Exploration in the Arabian Peninsula - Andrew Taylor

Travelling the Sands - Andrew Taylor  - Motivate Publishing - 2000, third printing - 164pp, index p Oaoerback in good condition - Internally clean.

In 'Travelling the Sands' the author, Andrew Taylor, allows his own personal passion for the Arabian desert to shine through - befitting one who lived for a number of years in the Arabian peninsula.

The book is a loose collection of short stories briefly outlining the expeditions conducted by such eminent desert adventurers as The Blunts, Doughty, Thomas, Philby and Thesiger (his 'Arabian Sands' is a true classic). Also rather surprisingly, accounts of T E Lawrence's (predominantly) military manoeuvres in Arabia and Ranulph Fiennes' Land Rover based travels are included. Each account is liberally sprinkled with extracts from the individual's own chronicle of their journey interspersed with Taylor's own narrative.

The progress of the respective journeys can be followed on the very clear colour map contained at the front of the book. In addition there are a selection of photographs and paintings depicting some of the book's main protaganists as well as scenes of general desert life.

This is an enjoyable book, written in an easy to read unobtrusive style. Whilst necessarily not going into great detail on any of the adventurers it has certainly served to encourage me to read more about some of these indomitable and often rather eccentric individuals.

This book is illustrated with Victorian oil paintings, portraits of the explorers and a map of their various routes across the peninsula.