SKELETONS ON THE ZAHARA A True Story of Survival

Just when you think it couldn't get worse--more painful, more hopeless--it does. This is the true story of a hapless American sea captain who, in 1815, had his merchantman brig ripped out from under him on the western coast of Africa. Most of the book then follows the sufferings of the sailors as they were thrust into slavery by the Muslim nomadic natives. There is much cultural insight here. Michael Prichard lends his baritone to the proceedings, neither enhancing nor detracting from the multiple cringe-inducing episodes and interesting historical anecdotes. D.R.W. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 04/ JAN 05]