• Skeletons on the Zahara

  • A True Story of Survival
  • By: Dean King
  • Narrated by: Michael Prichard
  • Length: 12 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,387 ratings)

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Skeletons on the Zahara  By  cover art

Skeletons on the Zahara

By: Dean King
Narrated by: Michael Prichard
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Publisher's summary

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

What listeners say about Skeletons on the Zahara

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

drags at times

long. drags at times. the author knows his history. drags on and on and on

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A fascinating book about culture and grit

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.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Time very well spent

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

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Do NOT be put off by the negative reviews.

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

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

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 .

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

full of Heroes and villains

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

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Engaging story of survival

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

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A must listen to. From a time forgotten.

It is from a period forgotten to most of history. A time of of unbelievable suffering, misery and strength. A witness of character in incredible misery.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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great story

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

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating actual history

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.

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