The Book Smugglers of Timbuktu by Charlie English
Two tales of a city: The historical race to reach one of the worlds most mythologized places, and the story of how a contemporary band of archivists and librarians, fighting to save its ancient manuscripts from destruction at the hands of al Qaeda, added another layer to the legend.‘An exemplary work of investigative journalism that is also a wonderfully colourful book of history and travel’ William Dalrymple, Observer, Books of the Year
‘This spellbinding record of Timbuktu’s intellectual heritage blends accounts of European explorers to the ancient city with contemporary reportage’ New Yorker
‘A work of intellectual honesty that represents narrative non-fiction at its most satisfying and engaging’ William Dalrymple, Guardian
‘A piece of postmodern historiography of quite extraordinary sophistication and ingenuity… [written with] exceptional delicacy and restraint’ TLS
‘Part reportage, part history, part romance and wholly gripping… a riveting read’ Sunday Times
‘A fascinating account of Timbuktu’s history and the brave and crazy adventurers who sought death and glory trying to get there’ The Times
‘Gripping … written with journalistic verve’ Sunday Telegraph
‘A rewarding account … after reading it I felt I knew more, cared more and wanted to know more’ Scotland on Sunday
‘Running alongside Mr English’s lively telling of the quest for Timbuktu is a thrilling account of a more recent story: the daring evacuation of hundred of thousands of Timbuktu’s manuscripts by its librarians during the jihadist occupation in 2012… The two stories illuminate each other, but somewhat obliquelyIt is nonetheless a brilliant device’ Economist
‘As Timbuktu remains off limits for tourists, this account is all the more intriguing’ Financial Times
Charlie English is the former head of international news at the Guardian. A fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and author of a previous book, The Snow Tourist, he first journey to African at nineteen, and has travelled widely there and elsewhere around the globe. He lives in London.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780008184902 |
| ISBN 10 | 0008184909 |
| Title | The Book Smugglers of Timbuktu |
| Author | Charlie English |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | HarperCollins Publishers |
| Year published | 2017-05-04 |
| Number of pages | 416 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |