Angry wind : [a Gab bag for book discussion groups] : through Muslim black Africa by truck, bus, boat, and camel

Hailed by Bill Bryson and the New York Times Book Review as a rising star among travel writers, Jeffrey Tayler penetrates one of the most isolated, forbidding regions on earth--the Sahel. This lower expanse of the Sahara, which marks the southern limit of Islam's reach in West and Central Africa, boasts such mythologized places as Mopti and Timbuktu, as well as Africa's poorest countries, Chad and Niger. In parts of the Sahel, hard-line Sharia law rules and slaves are still traded. Racked by lethal harmattan winds, chronic civil wars, and grim Islamic fundamentalism, it is not the ideal place for a traveler with a U.S. passport. Tayler finds genuine danger in many guises, from drunken soldiers to a thieving teenage mob. But he also encounters patience and generosity of a sort found only in Africa. Traveling overland by the same rickety means used by the local people--tottering, overfilled buses, bush taxis with holes in the floor, disgruntled camels--he uses his fluency in French and Arabic (the region's lingua francas) to connect with them. Tayler is able to illuminate the roiling, enigmatic cultures of the Sahel as no other Western writer could. 'tayler Penetrates One Of The Most Isolated, Forbidding Regions On Earth -- The Sahel. This Lower Expanse Of The Sahara Marks The Southern Limit Of Islams Reach On The Continent. It Boasts Such Mythologized Places As Mopti And Timbuktu, As Well As Africas Poorest Countries, Chad And Niger. In Parts Of The Sahel, Hardline Sharia Law Rules And Slaves Are Still Traded. Racked By Lethal Harmattan Winds, Chronic Civil Wars, And Grim Islamic Fundamentalism, It Is Not The Ideal Place For A Traveler With A U.s. Passport. Tayler?nds Genuine Danger In Many Guises, From Drunken Soldiers To A Thieving Teenage Mob. But He Also Encounters Patience And Generosity Of The Sort Only Africans Can Achieve. Traveling Overland By The Same Rickety Means As The Natives Themselves -- Tottering, Overfull Buses, Bush Taxis With Holes In Their?oors, Disgruntled Camels -- He Uses His?uency In French And Arabic (the Regions Lingua Francas) To Illuminate Its Roiling, Enigmatic Cultures And Connect With Its Inhabitants As No Other Western Writer Could. ' From Publisher's Description. Prologue: The Challenge Of The Sahel 1 -- 1 Mahamat Of N'djamena 10 -- 2 Pari-vente 23 -- 3 The Piste To Wadai 30 -- 4 Abeche 46 -- 5 Desert Of Daggers 61 -- 6 The Guns Of Faya Largeau 76 -- 7 The Sultan Of Kanem 96 -- 8 Nigeria Agonistes 105 -- 9 Fear And Faith In Maiduguri 117 -- 10 Return To Kano 133 -- 11 The Mujahid Of Sokoto 143 -- 12 Torture In Zinder 152 -- 13 Fetters Of Bronze In Ayorou 169 -- 14 Gao 177 -- 15 Sailing The Niger To Timbuktu 190 -- 16 Dance Of The Desert 203 -- 17 Djenne's Bitter Winds 216 -- 18 Death In The Sun 231 -- 19 Misere! 236 -- 20 The Coast Of Slaves 242. Jeffrey Tayler. "Travel writer Jeffrey Tayler penetrates one of the most isolated, forbidding regions on earth - the Sahel. This lower expanse of the Sahara, which marks the southern limit of Islam's reach in West and Central Africa, boasts such mythologized places as Mopti and Timbuktu, as well as Africa's poorest countries, Chad and Niger. In parts of the Sahel, hard-line Sharia law rules and slaves are still traded. Racked by lethal harmattan winds, chronic civil wars, and grim Islamic fundamentalism, it is not the ideal place for a traveler with a U.S. passport. Tayler finds genuine danger in many guises, from drunken soldiers to a thieving teenage mob. But he also encounters patience and generosity of a sort found only in Africa."--BOOK JACKET Takes readers into one of the least Westernized and travel-friendly regions of the planet--the Sahel, the lower region of the Sahara and the belt where Islam meets Central Africa.