Sword and the Cross by Fergus Fleming

Sword and the Cross by Fergus Fleming

The Sahara was the missing link in France's African Empire. The Sword and the Cross is the story of two fanatical adventurers who helped complete their country's imperial conquest. Viscomte Charles de Foucauld was a sensualist who lounged in bed eating foie gras with a silver spoon. Henri Laperrine was a stern perfectionist who lived only for soldiering. Each of them found his vocation in the desert: Foucauld found religion and an asceticism so great that even Trappism seemed too comfortable; Laperrine formed a legendary camel corps to pursue the Tuareg nomads across the desert. By 1910, the Sahara had been won - but as Europe lurched towards war in the years after, both men were to pay a terrible price. Weaving together hatred and friendship, self-sacrifice and utter self-delusion, The Sword and the Cross is a brilliant story of a forgotten episode in Europe's colonial history.

Fergus Fleming is the author of the best-selling Barrow's Boys, Killing Dragons - The Conquest of the Alps and Ninety Degrees North - The Quest for the North Pole. He lives in Gloucestershire.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780571221899
ISBN 10	0571221890
Title	Sword and the Cross
Author	Fergus Fleming
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Faber & Faber
Year published	2004-05-06
Number of pages	368
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable