Though his name was only relatively recently made famous by Ondaatje's The English Patient and the film that followed, Laszlo Almasy was a dedicated explorer of the African deserts who was recruited by German forces because of his knowledge of the Sahara. This book is his most famous, and was at one point falsely held against him as proof of his loyalty to Hitler. In reality, the book did more to prove the falsity of this claim, even after it had been banned in Germany as a forbidden book, when the defense attorney was finally able to find a copy.

Through this book, Almasy's utter love of exploration and travel both come across on nearly each page. While war serves as a very real backdrop to the text, what is most striking is the author's love and knowledge of many very different cultures and languages, and his clear appreciation for the same, as well as his love for the Sahara and the untouched landscapes he travels through. The book is engaging not just as a relic of history, but as the record of a real and engaging man who was caught up in a war because of his love for the African landscape. His love of people and cultures makes the text nearly heartbreaking in its outright celebration of life and diversity, even moreso when readers consider the context in which it was written and the false reputation and associations which eventually cost Almasy his life.

In truth, this is a short read, and it will disappoint readers who are interested more in WWII than in military logistics of movement and travel. But for readers who are interested in men caught up in war, in travel writing, in personal accounts of travelling with a military force, and in the Sahara, this will be as engaging as it is documentary and humorous. And, probably, for readers of the English Patient as well, this is a surprising and detailed look backward into the associated history.

For readers who are interested, searching out this book won't be wasted time. Recommended. ( )