Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival
by Dean King 
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A masterpiece of historical adventure, Skeletons on the Zahara chronicles the true story of twelve 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 perilous heart of the Sahara. The western Sahara is a baking hot and desolate place, home only to nomads and their camels, and to locusts, snails and thorny scrub--and its barren and ever-changing coastline has baffled show more sailors for centuries. In August 1815, the US brig Commerce was dashed against Cape Bojador and lost, although through bravery and quick thinking the ship's captain, James Riley, managed to lead all of his crew to safety. What followed was an extraordinary and desperate battle for survival in the face of human hostility, starvation, dehydration, death and despair. Captured, robbed and enslaved, the sailors were dragged and driven through the desert by their new owners, who neither spoke their language nor cared for their plight. Reduced to drinking urine, flayed by the sun, crippled by walking miles across burning stones and sand and losing over half of their body weights, the sailors struggled to hold onto both their humanity and their sanity. To reach safety, they would have to overcome not only the desert but also the greed and anger of those who would keep them in captivity. From the cold waters of the Atlantic to the searing Saharan sands, from the heart of the desert to the heart of man, Skeletons on the Zahara is a spectacular odyssey through the extremes and a gripping account of courage, brotherhood, and survival. show lessTags
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bookwoman247 These are similar historical tales of Americans taken as slaves in Africa during the 19th Century and of survival.
Member Reviews
Harrowing true survival story of the crew of the American brig Commerce who were shipwrecked off the western coast of Africa in 1815, held as slaves by nomadic tribes, and subjected to extreme deprivation in crossing the Zahara (Sahara) desert in a desperate attempt to reach safety. It is a tale of courage, tenacity, quick-thinking, adaptability, endurance, and persuasion. Dean King has blended accounts written separately by two survivors, along with his own research, and his trip retracing the path of the crew’s journey, to create a compelling narrative of survival in the face of tremendous adversity. The crew endured separation, enslavement, beatings, extremes of heat and cold in the desert, sandstorms, starvation, dehydration, and show more they were tested to their physical and mental limits.
I found this book well-plotted and engrossing. The writing is journalistic in style. One of my favorite parts is the bond of trust developed between two men of very different culture and language, and I thought the author did a great job depicting their characters. Content warnings include: consumption of bodily fluids, insects, (and worse), slaughter of animals, slavery, and brutality. The maps, images, list of terms, cast of characters, and footnotes are extremely helpful. Recommended to fans of maritime history, true adventure, and survival stories. show less
I found this book well-plotted and engrossing. The writing is journalistic in style. One of my favorite parts is the bond of trust developed between two men of very different culture and language, and I thought the author did a great job depicting their characters. Content warnings include: consumption of bodily fluids, insects, (and worse), slaughter of animals, slavery, and brutality. The maps, images, list of terms, cast of characters, and footnotes are extremely helpful. Recommended to fans of maritime history, true adventure, and survival stories. show less
Harrowing true survival story of the crew of the American brig Commerce who were shipwrecked off the western coast of Africa in 1815, held as slaves by nomadic tribes, and subjected to extreme deprivation in crossing the Zahara (Sahara) desert in a desperate attempt to reach safety. It is a tale of courage, tenacity, quick-thinking, adaptability, endurance, and persuasion. Dean King has blended accounts written separately by two survivors, along with his own research, and his trip retracing the path of the crew’s journey, to create a compelling narrative of survival in the face of tremendous adversity. The crew endured separation, enslavement, beatings, extremes of heat and cold in the desert, sandstorms, starvation, dehydration, and show more they were tested to their physical and mental limits.
I found this book well-plotted and engrossing. The writing is journalistic in style. One of my favorite parts is the bond of trust developed between two men of very different culture and language, and I thought the author did a great job depicting their characters. Content warnings include: consumption of bodily fluids, insects, (and worse), slaughter of animals, slavery, and brutality. The maps, images, list of terms, cast of characters, and footnotes are extremely helpful. Recommended to fans of maritime history, true adventure, and survival stories. show less
I found this book well-plotted and engrossing. The writing is journalistic in style. One of my favorite parts is the bond of trust developed between two men of very different culture and language, and I thought the author did a great job depicting their characters. Content warnings include: consumption of bodily fluids, insects, (and worse), slaughter of animals, slavery, and brutality. The maps, images, list of terms, cast of characters, and footnotes are extremely helpful. Recommended to fans of maritime history, true adventure, and survival stories. show less
Reading more like an historical adventure novel, Skeletons on the Zahara by Dean King tells the true story of twelve American sailors who were shipwrecked off the coast of Africa in 1815. Captured by Arab nomads, these men endured starvation, brutality, dehydration and constant fear. Separated from each other, marched back and forth across the desert, their survival, much less their return to America seemed an impossible dream, but this was often all these men had to hold onto.
The author obviously researched extensively and supplied many details about the land, the climate, and the people as well as the fate of these twelve sailors. Breathing life into a forgotten story from the past, this page-turner held my attention from beginning to show more end.
I was grateful that the author supplied lots of maps, which help define the journey these men were forced to bear, along with a glossary, and reading notes for further clarification. I suspect this will be a story that I long remember, Skeletons On The Zahara is a prime example of how absorbing narrative non-fiction can be. show less
The author obviously researched extensively and supplied many details about the land, the climate, and the people as well as the fate of these twelve sailors. Breathing life into a forgotten story from the past, this page-turner held my attention from beginning to show more end.
I was grateful that the author supplied lots of maps, which help define the journey these men were forced to bear, along with a glossary, and reading notes for further clarification. I suspect this will be a story that I long remember, Skeletons On The Zahara is a prime example of how absorbing narrative non-fiction can be. show less
Entertaining introduction to a classic true adventure story. Although this is a modern retelling King often lapses into an early 19th style that makes it obvious he is paraphrasing from source material. Further a journalistic retelling of what happened 200 years, versus the first-person memoir by Riley soon after the events - which is still fairly readable - makes me want to read the original. Although the inhuman "sufferings" of the crew are what most remark on, I was most drawn by the lifestyle of the desert natives since it seemed unchanged for 5000 years or more, and provides a glimpse into the age-old fight of settled vs nomadic peoples. Given how harsh nomadic life is I wondered why anyone practiced it, and the answer became show more clear: "civilization" could be even more deadly, the desert was a refuge from cruel and capricious rulers and endless tribal feuds that could wipe out entire settlements. show less
Just amazing, this book will have you dropping your jaw at times upon reading some of the excerpts on life as a [white] slave in the early 19th century, in the Sahara. Compiled by drawing mostly on the written accounts of two of the survivors of the ship Commerce, and calling on other writings about shipwreck, and life in the Sahara, and his own travels through the this desert, King makes an ultimately very readable, engaging, and educational story.
Captain Riley of the Commerce faltered in his navigation of his ship from Gibraltar to the Canary Islands, and instead foundered on Cape Bojador, on the Ivory Coast of Africa. The ship was battered by the waves against the rocks, and whatever cargo they managed to pull up on shore was show more promptly robbed by Saharans. So the crew set about lowering the longboat and trying to keep it from breaking against the brig. They had some crazy idea that they could make their way to the Canary Islands in the longboat, 100 miles away to the west. They battled current, sleeplessness, and the water let in by holes made in the longboat, despite their care to keep it away from rocks. Fighting for days to row, and suffering from skin chafing, thirst and fatigue from rowing and bailing, they found themselves thrown up on a jagged coastline south of Cape Bojador. They fought their way onto the sand in collapse and were promptly seized by Saharans who made them their slaves. Their horror had only begun. show less
Captain Riley of the Commerce faltered in his navigation of his ship from Gibraltar to the Canary Islands, and instead foundered on Cape Bojador, on the Ivory Coast of Africa. The ship was battered by the waves against the rocks, and whatever cargo they managed to pull up on shore was show more promptly robbed by Saharans. So the crew set about lowering the longboat and trying to keep it from breaking against the brig. They had some crazy idea that they could make their way to the Canary Islands in the longboat, 100 miles away to the west. They battled current, sleeplessness, and the water let in by holes made in the longboat, despite their care to keep it away from rocks. Fighting for days to row, and suffering from skin chafing, thirst and fatigue from rowing and bailing, they found themselves thrown up on a jagged coastline south of Cape Bojador. They fought their way onto the sand in collapse and were promptly seized by Saharans who made them their slaves. Their horror had only begun. show less
"Skeletons on the Zahara" is a true but gut-wrenching, dehydrating, queasy story of fate of Captain James Riley and the men of The Commerce. The story itself is horrifying and contains a quality of human suffering that is incomprehensible to the first world mind. I read this book right after reading "Endurance Shackleton's Incredible Voyage" and I was constantly comparing the two the whole time. Both stories are remarkable and I can't imagine how anything but Divine providence could ever attribute to their survival. From a writing style, I found Dean King's prose preferable but a little choppy at times. His re-telling was much faster paced than Shackleton's though the events in Africa were far more eventful than in the Antarctic. show more Additionally, though King painted many scenes like a novelist would, I found myself wishing that he worked harder to develop his real-life characters and portrayed even more of their humanness.On a personal note, reading survival stories like those of Shackleton and Riley seem have a noticeable impact on my moral character. I can't imagine how one could read these stories and not find their hearts swelling in thanksgiving and gratitude. I am reminded how heavy God's hand of blessing and how light his hand of affliction has been on me.Shackleton and Riley have left their mark on me and I imagine I will tell these stories to my children (once they develop strong enough stomachs of course). show less
This is the survival story of Captain James Riley and the men of The Commerce in the year 1815. The Commerce shipwrecked off the coast of Africa after leaving Gibraltar. Riley and his crew were stripped of their belongings then taken captive by a band of Nomads and held as slaves, beaten and starved for over 2 months. The author spares no words in describing the deplorable condition these men were in. Made to travel the harsh Sahara scorching days and freezing nights. Skin peeling from their bodies, as they were forced to walked nearly naked without sustenance to regain any strength.
Throughout the journey, Captain Riley did everything in his power to try to keep his men safe and together-unfortunately as they journey farther and farther show more many of his men are traded off to other nomads, incredibly for a blanket or an old camel. Captain RIley and one of the Nomads connect in a way that at first defies logic. As you read on, you see that this is how all humans should connect and exist-our beliefs held fast, yet acceptance that others and their beliefs should not be disregarded.
This book exemplifies, in so many ways, why I love Non-fiction.
[a:Dean King|13803|Dean King|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1367673472p2/13803.jpg]'s research came from 2 books published after some of the crew made it back to America He also joined the National Geographic Society sponsored expedition to retrace the steps of these men.
If you love a good survival story I highly recommend this one! show less
Throughout the journey, Captain Riley did everything in his power to try to keep his men safe and together-unfortunately as they journey farther and farther show more many of his men are traded off to other nomads, incredibly for a blanket or an old camel. Captain RIley and one of the Nomads connect in a way that at first defies logic. As you read on, you see that this is how all humans should connect and exist-our beliefs held fast, yet acceptance that others and their beliefs should not be disregarded.
This book exemplifies, in so many ways, why I love Non-fiction.
[a:Dean King|13803|Dean King|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1367673472p2/13803.jpg]'s research came from 2 books published after some of the crew made it back to America He also joined the National Geographic Society sponsored expedition to retrace the steps of these men.
If you love a good survival story I highly recommend this one! show less
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Author Information
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Dean King is the author of the national bestseller Skeletons on the Zahara Unbound and A Sea of Words. He has written for many publications including Men's Journal Esquire, Garden Gun, Granta, Outside, and the New York Times. He lives in Richmond, Virginia.
Dean King is a LibraryThing Author, an author who lists their personal library on LibraryThing.
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Common Knowledge
- Original title
- Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival
- Original publication date
- 2004
- People/Characters
- James Riley; George Williams; Aaron R. Savage; Thomas Burns; James Clark; William Porter (show all 12); Archibald Robbins; James Barrett; John Hogan; Richard Deslisle; Horace Savage; Antonio Michel
- Important places
- Connecticut, USA; Northwestern Africa; Sahara (Zahara, Zahahrah or the Great Desert)
- Epigraph
- The crew of the Commerce seem to have been designed to suffer themselves, that the world, through them, might learn.
--Archibald Robbins, A Journey Comprising an Account of the Loss of the Brig Commerce - Dedication
- For Jessica
- First words
- In his five crossings of the Sahara, Sidi Hamet had never seen worse conditions.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Leaving everything he owned in Africa, Willshire fled with his family back to England, thus bringing to an unceremonious conclusion his remarkable thirty years' service to his nation and to sailors of all nations in Morocco.
- Publisher's editor
- Freudenthal, Peggy; Lamont, Steve; Montague, Anne
- Blurbers
- Philbrick, Nathaniel; Rubin, Martin; Carter, Emily; Fierman, Daniel
Classifications
- Genres
- General Nonfiction, History, Nonfiction, Travel, Biography & Memoir
- DDC/MDS
- 916.48041 — History & geography Geography & travel Geography of and travel in Africa Morocco; Western Sahara; Canary Islands Western Sahara
- LCC
- DT189 .K56 — History of Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania Africa History of Africa Maghrib. Barbary States
- BISAC
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- Reviews
- 32
- Rating
- (4.02)
- Languages
- English, German, Italian, Portuguese
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 17
- ASINs
- 8