Hannibal Fogg and the Supreme Secret of Man

By: Tahir Shah

Narrated by: Alec Brooks

Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Through a life cloaked in mystery, Edwardian polymath Hannibal G. Fogg pushed the boundaries of exploration, science, and code-breaking - producing feats of unrivaled cerebral dexterity. Hailing from a landed family, Fogg was a confidant to world leaders, a soldier, swordsman, prolific author, inventor, collector, and quite probably the most extraordinary man ever to have lived.

But, while such genius won him accolades and fame, it also fanned the flames of envy. Unable to take Fogg's triumphs any longer, the British establishment sought to have him discredited. His life work was publicly destroyed in what was to become known as the "Great Foggian Purge". Banished from England, he lived out his days in secrecy - before disappearing on an expedition to Manchuria in the winter of 1939.

Almost eight decades passed.

Then, one morning, William Fogg receives a letter from a legal firm in London, claiming he's the sole inheritor to his great-great-grandfather's estate. Knowing almost nothing of his forebear, he takes possession of the single object left in the bequest - a large rusty iron key...the key to a door in Marrakesh.

And there begins the treasure trail of mystery, danger, and uproar, as William pieces together the clues left for him by Hannibal Fogg. Zigzagging through five continents, the quest reveals how Alexander the Great was never beaten in battle. By completing the life work of Hannibal, William Fogg strives to lift the veil on the Supreme Secret of Man.

First in a series of ground-breaking adventure novels from master storyteller Tahir Shah, Hannibal Fogg and the Supreme Secret of Man is unlike anything published in recent times. Ten years in the making, it's as worldly and wise as the indefatigable Hannibal Fogg.

By the celebrated author of The Caliph's House, a Time top-ten book of the year.

©2018 Tahir Shah (P)2018 Tahir Shah

Utterly brilliant, enchanting & thought provoking!

From “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” to “The Caliph’s House” to this most recent tome, I wholeheartedly place Tahir Shah as my second favorite author ever, surpassed only by his father, Idries Shah.

Fun adventure story!

In a lot of ways this reminded me of an Indiana Jones type of adventure, but you have a mastermind guiding and helping the novice adventurer along the way. It is fun and the characters are endearing. I would only recommend being able to know the thoughts of the characters a little more for better identification with them. The ways that Hannibal Fogg has prepared for the adventurers to get
through situations is very interesting and I wonder if at times possible. The narrator was good and nothing detracted from the story and characters. I look forward to the continuation of this adventure!

Adventure without character growth

This story has lots of adventure... But, challenge after challenge, all are swiftly solved, so there's not really any suspense or excitement. It's all deus ex machina, where each hopeless challenge is solved without sweat by Fogg (God). There are no clues for the reader, so the reader does not feel involved. There are empty clues, such as the characters saying "there's no way that X can happen.", which means X *will* happen, and you won't have to wait long for it to happen.

Sensational Adventure! Compelling characters.

Shah has achieved a tour de force adventure novel that spans the globe and out performs the best in the adventure genre with incredible research & details about so many far ranging things, that it’s practically encyclopedic, yet manages to be fast paced, genuinely fascinating, suspenseful, and filled with plot twists & turns that delight & boggle the reader’s mind. And the leading characters are compelling, credible, & charismatic all the way through. It’s an amazingly engaging read & Alec Brooks delivery of the audible version is really excellent!! I absolutely recommend Hannibal Fogg & I cannot wait for the sequel!!

An amazing adventure!

I found the story cozy yet inspiring, taking me to various exotic parts of the world in absurd situations. Tahir Shah creates a world with it's own logic yet showing something of the real world.