{"product_id":"9788418227189","title":"SWIMMERS IN THE DESERT","description":"\u003ch2\u003eSWIMMERS IN THE DESERT\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBook summary\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is a firsthand account by the legendary explorer Ladislaus Almásy, the real-life figure who inspired the novel and film \"The English Patient.\" Far from fictional romanticism, Almásy recounts his automotive and aerial expeditions through the most inhospitable regions of the Eastern Sahara during the 1920s and 1930s. The reader will find a journal of extreme adventures that culminates in the discovery of the mysterious cave paintings of the \"swimmers of the desert\" in the Wadi Sora. An essential work for understanding the exploration of the Libyan-Egyptian desert from a unique historical and geographical perspective.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is it about?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book chronicles the true adventures of the Austro-Hungarian Ladislaus Almásy, who arrived in Egypt as a car tester for the Steyr brand. His work led him to organize automotive crossings through the Eastern Sahara, one of the most arid and dangerous areas on the planet. The work focuses especially on the 1929 expedition he carried out alongside Prince Ferdinand von Liechtenstein, traversing the ancient Darb El Arbe'in caravan route, used since pharaonic times to connect Mombasa with Alexandria.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSubsequently, combining the use of automobiles and small planes, Almásy explored remote regions until he found the Zarzura oasis. It was in the Wadi Sora, which he dubbed \"the valley of images,\" where in 1932 he discovered the cave paintings that depict human figures in a swimming posture, an archaeological find of great value. The account takes place in a context prior to the Second World War, where Almásy associated with both Nazi and British military personnel, as well as archaeologists of various nationalities, offering a multifaceted vision of exploration in a turbulent era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMain themes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n    \u003cli\u003eExploration of the Eastern Sahara and its most remote and uninhabitable regions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n    \u003cli\u003eAutomotive and aerial expeditions in the desert during the interwar period.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n    \u003cli\u003eDesert archaeology: discovery of the \"swimmers\" cave paintings in the Wadi Sora.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n    \u003cli\u003eHistory of pharaonic caravan routes, such as the Darb El Arbe'in.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n    \u003cli\u003eSurvival in extreme temperature and humidity conditions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWho is it recommended for?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is aimed at readers passionate about travel and exploration literature, especially those interested in North Africa and the Sahara Desert. It will also be of great interest to followers of the historical figure of Ladislaus Almásy who wish to know his true version beyond the cinematic fiction. It is an ideal read for enthusiasts of the history of archaeology, geography, and 20th-century expeditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat this book provides\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n    \u003cli\u003eA first-hand account by one of the last great desert explorers, narrated by himself.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n    \u003cli\u003eDetailed knowledge of the techniques and risks of Saharan expeditions in the age of the automobile and nascent aviation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n    \u003cli\u003eHistorical and geographical context on little-documented regions of the Eastern Sahara.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n    \u003cli\u003eThe fascinating history of the discovery of an important prehistoric rock art site.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n    \u003cli\u003eAn authentic perspective that dispels the romantic myth to show the reality of exploration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTechnical specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n    \u003cli\u003eAuthor: ALMASY, LADISLAUS\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n    \u003cli\u003ePublisher: EDICIONES DEL VIENTO, S.L\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n    \u003cli\u003eLanguage: Spanish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n    \u003cli\u003eTopic: TRAVEL LITERATURE\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n    \u003cli\u003eCollection: VIENTO SIMUN\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n    \u003cli\u003ePublication date: April 2022\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n    \u003cli\u003eNumber of pages: 320\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n    \u003cli\u003eWeight: 580 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEditorial review\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis edition of \"Swimmers in the Desert\" recovers the authentic voice of an explorer whose life has often been fictionalized. The account stands out for its descriptive rigor and the harshness of the conditions narrated, offering unquestionable historical and geographical value. For audiences interested in desert exploration and 20th-century history, this is a direct and gripping testimony that complements the more well-known vision of \"The English Patient.\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"EDICIONES DEL VIENTO, S.L.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53407622988123,"sku":"9788418227189","price":21.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1018\/0650\/6331\/files\/978841822718.jpg?v=1781858003","url":"https:\/\/kalamobooks.com\/en\/products\/9788418227189","provider":"Kalamo Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}