Thesiger: A Biography

by Michael Asher

In 1979, the author of this work read "Arabian Sands" by W. Thesiger, which had an impact on his life and made him become a desert explorer. In tribute to Thesiger, he has written this biography of Thesiger`s motivations and achievements. A man of great paradoxes and contradictions, Thesiger revered traditional peoples, but retained at the same time a profound pride in his own race and background. He felt most intensely alive when living on the same level as his tribal companions, yet rejoiced in his ability to return to the "civilized" world. Basing much of his work on extended interviews with Thesinger, the author also follows in Thesinger's footsteps, interviewing many of his former travelling companions and throwing new light on the celebrated Arabian expeditions.

Genres: Biography, Travel, History, Adventure, Nonfiction

582 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Michael Asher is an author, historian, deep ecologist, and notable desert explorer who has covered more than 30,000 miles on foot and camel. He spent three years living with a traditional nomadic tribe in Sudan.

Michael Asher was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, in 1953, and attended Stamford School. At 18 he enlisted in the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, and saw active service in Northern Ireland during The Troubles there in the 1970s.

He studied English Language & Linguistics at the University of Leeds. at the same time serving in B Squadron, 23rd SAS Regiment. He also studied at Carnegie College, Leeds, where he qualified as a teacher of physical education and English.

In 1978-9, he worked for the RUC Special Patrol Group anti-terrorist patrols, but left after less than a year. He took a job as a volunteer English teacher in the Sudan in 1979.

The author of twenty-one published books, and presenter/director of six TV documentaries, Asher has lived in Africa for much of his life, and speaks Arabic and Swahili. He is married to Arabist and photographer Mariantonietta Peru, with whom he has a son and a daughter, Burton and Jade. He currently lives in Nairobi, Kenya.

Reviews

[Justink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not always a page-turner, but happy I read it. 3.5

[Idiosyncratic · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is clear that Thesiger was good at tolerating hardship, although not to the same extent as the desert peoples he lived with - as Asher often reminds us, Thesiger had the option of another life(he would end his trips by going off to somewhere where he could enjoy a shower, clean clothes and a night in a comfortable bed). I read the book because I am interested in how people survive in really harsh environments, so I was primarily interested in his trips through the Empty Quarter; I found all his slaughtering of lions etc. in Africa repulsive, although quite typical of the period. Part of me thought I'd really have been better off starting on page 272, however I would have missed Asher's very thorough portrayal of Thesiger as the contradictory character he was. (I am glad Asher wasn't completely absorbed in hero worship.) For me, the best part of the book was the information on the Bedu and other tribes he met.

[Bob Peru · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love this book. no one else will. he was one of the greatest desert explorers ever. but only i am interested in him.

great and totally absorbin' biography. dude talked extensively with the great man himself.

thesiger was truly sui generis.

the last of the great explorers. there will be no others. the margins of the atlas are closed.

all we can do now is sit on our asses and play video games i guess.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great portrait of a true explorer.