Synopses & Reviews
From one of today's most acclaimed narrative historians, the riveting tale of two men determined to tame the Sahara Whether writing of the Alps, the high seas, or the North Pole, Fergus Fleming has won acclaim as one of today's most vivid and engaging historians of adventure and exploration. Now The Sword and the Cross takes us to the Sahara at the end of the nineteenth century, when the desert remained largely unexplored by Europeans. Those who tried usually ended up dead, murdered by the Tuareg nomads who dominated its interior. But France, which had seized Algeria in 1830, had designs on this hostile wilderness. Its conquest became a matter of national honor. The Sword and the Cross is the story of two friends who were part of that conquest: Charles de Foucauld and Henri Laperrine. The one a layabout sensualist and womanizer, the other a stern career soldier, each found his vocation in the desert. For Foucauld it was religion. Abandoning his decadent lifestyle, he founded a monastic order so severe that during his lifetime it never had a membership of more than one. Living off dates and barley, the plump gourmand became a sunbaked scarecrow, thought by many to be a saint. Yet he remained a committed imperialist, and from his remote hermitage he continued to assist the military. Laperrine, meanwhile, founded a camel corps whose exploits became legendary. Surviving on a handful of dates and a few pints of water, he led his men across the desert as Foucauld, guide and interpreter, trudged along reciting prayers. When the Sahara's fragile peace crumbled during World War I, Foucauld paid a tragic price for his role as imperial pawn. Laperrine, by then recalled to the Western Front,returned to avenge his friend. This is a haunting narrative of a forgotten period in Europe's colonial crusade, a story of self-sacrifice and cruelty, hatred and friendship, discovery and delusion.
Synopsis
The Sword and the Cross takes us to the Sahara at the end of the nineteenth century, when the desert remained largely unexplored by Europeans. But France, which had seized Algeria in 1830, had designs on this hostile wilderness. Charles de Foucauld and Henri Laperrine, two friends, were part of this conquest. The one a layabout and womanizer, the other a stern career soldier, each found his vocation in the desert. Foucauld abandoned his decadent lifestyle and founded a severe monastic order. Living off dates and barley, the gourmand became a sun-baked scarecrow, thought by many to be a saint. Yet he remained a committed imperialist, and continued to assist the military. Laperrine founded a camel corps whose exploits became legendary. Surviving on dates and water, he led his men across the desert as Foucauld, guide and interpreter, trudged along reciting prayers. When the Sahara's fragile peace crumbled during World War I, Foucauld paid a tragic price for his role as imperial pawn. Laperrine, by then recalled to the Western Front, returned to avenge his friend. A haunting narrative of a forgotten period in Europe's colonial crusade, this is also a story of hatred and friendship, discovery and delusion.
Synopsis
From the author of "Barrow's Boys" and "Ninety Degrees North" comes the riveting tale of two men determined to cross the Sahara desert at the end of the 19th century.
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. [315]-335) and index.