Harmattan: A Journey Across the Sahara

by Geraldine Kennedy

Recounts the journey of five naive young women, who crossed the Sahara in 1964 because they thought it would be fun, detailing their experiences with relentless winds called harmattans and kind strangers along the way

Genres: Travel

289 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Bruce McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the word "epic" has become somewhat weaker in meaning than when it was reserved for stories such as the Iliad or War and Peace, I can agree the journey undertaken by five Peace Corps women fits well within the modern usage of the word. Same for "awesome." I was indeed awed at times, though, by the descriptions of the desert environment and the unimaginably harsh conditions. Literally awed.

In the Postscript Kennedy wrote, "We walked softly with no sticks at all" by way of explaining their success. They succeeded, she writes, because of "our curiosity, our respect and our terrible vulnerability." It seemed to me that she was a little too modest there. She and her companions had quite a big stick to back up those gentle attributes. It was made of courage, determination, guts, and ingenuity.

[Nmdb22 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many years ago, I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Niger, and when my service ended, crossed the Sahara from Agadez to Oran (in Algeria) and on to Morocco. While this book is not great literature, it captures vividly the experience of American women traveling in that part of the world, the beauty and peril of the Sahara, and the vulnerabilities of being totally dependent on one's wits and others' kindnesses and help. I relived the feelings of being on the thin edge of catastrophe. Not sure how this book would be to people without similar experiences; for me, it was fascinating.

[Jessie Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the Adventure!

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

O.K....this book wasn't yet written when I heard the legend of the Peace Corps women who crossed the Sahara.... I was newly incountry and plans began to gel to do this at the end of the first year of my Peace Corps stint. So, one way charter flight ticket to Amsterdam...slow wind through Europe then a short hop from Rome to Tunisia...where we somehow found the enigmatic John Baker....in el Kef....a rousing night of spirits and high spirits, vows to meet up in Algiers, lies about everything....only to wake and leave by bus for the Algerian border. After three customs clearances within sight of each other, we finally got into Algeria....bussed to Annaba, then Algiers. The journey south began there....a bus ride to the 'end of the line', where we met discouraged travelers heading back out of the desert because they couldn't get any rides further. We [4 of us:] held out and finally negotiated a ride....then another ride....then another ride....finally arriving in Niamey, Niger....and desperately running out of time to get back in time for the beginning of school [we were 4 Peace Corps teachers:]. Stop worrying. We made it. Life-changing!!! The book is so-so....the memories will last a lifetime.....

[Almira · Rating 5 out of 5]

1964 - JFK has been instrumental in starting the Peace Corps, however, now his death leaves all those young idealists with major voids in their lives. 5 young Peace Corps women decide to make an unheralded, and unusual trek across the Sahara - people from all walks of life, and various nationalities come to their aid in their quest. At one point, the women are "hijacked" by a group of French military men. Most people cannot comprehend their desire to undertake this journey, after all the year is 1964 and women are still not "equal" to men in attempting certain feats.

THEY DO!!!!

[Julie Dargis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met Geraldine Kennedy many years ago at a reading, where I bought a signed copy of the book. It was in storage as I traveled across Africa with my work for over a decade. I pulled it off of my shelf when I had finished writing my own book, and settled into a far-flung journey that inspired. Kennedy's depiction of daily life wrapped in a traditional wool robe on the back of a truck and staying in makeshift hostels at the edge of the desert came to vivid life. As I read, I could feel the sand under my feet.