Exploration of Aïr

Angus Buchanan

Sinossi

A narrative of an odd undertaking to a foreign land. Odd, in the first place, insomuch that for the greater part of a year a man’s tongue was mute to the language of his race, for the land where he travelled was native: first to the Hausa people; later to Hausa, Beri-Beri, Fulani and Tuareg; and later still to Tuareg alone; while over all there was a mere handful of French Europeans, who were the military administrators of law and order.
The country was that known as the Territoire Militaire du Niger of the Western Sudan, wherein, remote and in the midst of desolate seas of sand, lies the wild brooding mountain country of Aïr or Asben—which was the traveller’s goal.
It might be said that the traveller was a rude man, for he was untutored in the deep studies of the scholar of many languages, as in a measure might be expected and understood of one whose occupation called him from day to day to don rough clothing and shoulder a rifle and march outside the frontiers of civilisation.

Disponibile da: 08/05/2023.

Altri libri che potrebbero interessarti

The Art of Getting Lost

Reece Davis

In an age where every destination is pinned, reviewed, and photographed, what does it mean to truly get lost? 
In The Art of Getting Lost, acclaimed travel writer Reece Davis invites readers to step off the grid and wander into the unknown — not to escape, but to rediscover the joy of uncertainty. Through journeys across hidden trails, unmarked villages, and moments of profound stillness, Davis explores how losing our way can bring us closer to the world, and to ourselves. 
Part memoir, part meditation, this book celebrates the beauty of disorientation — the quiet thrill of discovery when plans unravel, maps blur, and wonder takes the lead. 
Wise, lyrical, and deeply human, The Art of Getting Lost reminds us that sometimes the greatest adventures begin the moment we stop knowing where we are.

Mostra libro

Travel Bedtime Stories for...

Kathleen Fowlds, Jeremy...

Step into a world of dreamy adventures with Travel Bedtime Stories, a relaxing collection of original tales from the beloved Get Sleepy podcast, narrated by a variety of soothing voices and produced by Slumber Studios. 
Designed to help you unwind, relax, and drift off with ease, this audiobook features a handpicked selection of listener favorites that transport you across the globe—without ever leaving your bed. Each story is lovingly crafted to quiet the mind and guide you into deep, restful sleep. 
Relax with tranquil journeys to misty forests, ancient cities, oceanfront escapes, and starlit skies. Whether you're wandering through Rome at twilight, floating down a peaceful river, or exploring the colorful markets in Marrakesh, each tale offers a calm and comforting path into dreamland. 
This audiobook includes the following titles: Relaxing in the French Riviera, Caves of Wonder, Pura Vida in Costa Rica, Wandering in Bordeaux, Autumn in London, Kayaking on the Colorado River, California by Train, A Moonlit Evening in Dubrovnik, Stargazing in Joshua Tree, Above Cappadocia, An Autumn Hike in New Zealand, Finding the Hidden Garden, The Seven Springs of Kinosaki, Sailing in the Spanish Isles, Beautiful Bovu Island, A Relaxing Cruise Around Antarctica, Floating Down the Shenandoah River, A Dreamy Scandinavian Evening, Blue Hour in Rome, Markets of Marrakesh, The Beauty of Ubud, A Sleepy Train Ride on the European Express, A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest. 
At Slumber Studios, we specialize in creating calming audio experiences to support deep relaxation and restful sleep. Travel Bedtime Stories brings together some of our most atmospheric and transportive tales, beautifully narrated to ease you into the night. 
Just press play, get cozy, and let your imagination take flight. Wake up feeling refreshed, restored, and ready for the day ahead.

Mostra libro

The Hungarian Who Walked to...

Edward Fox

This is a delightful short biography of an eccentric Hungarian scholar who became one of the fathers of Western studies of the Tibetan language and culture. Educated at an austere Calvinist school until aged 31 where he demonstrated exceptional skills as a linguist, Csoma de Korös (1784-1842) finally set out alone on a pilgrimage to the East. His personal mission was to discover the roots of the Hungarian people, whom he and others of the time theorized to be descended from Attila the Hun.

Due to a Chinese decree restricting foreign entry to Tibet he was sadly never to reach Yarkand in the Western plains of China, where he hoped to find linguistic proof of the Central Asian origins of the Hungarian race. However on his way, via many adventures, misfortunes and disguises, he expanded his repertoire to as many as 14 languages and became one of the first Europeans to enter Ladakh, Tibetan in language and culture, but politically part of India. Supported by the British vet and superintendent of the East India Company's Stud, William Moorcroft, Csoma was encouraged to use his extraordinary facility for languages to learn Tibetan, (largely unknown in the West), and produce the first English-Tibetan dictionary. He studied with Lama Sangye Phuntsog in a remote monastery in Zanskar. For 16 months the two men studied the Tibetan language and its vast religious canon in austere freezing conditions in a tiny nine-foot square cell. The fruits of this arduous but pioneering effort, the first reliable grammar and dictionary of Tibetan, was finally published in two volumes in 1834 - using a Tibetan font that had to be specially made. Csoma spent the last years of his life working for the Asiatic Society of Bengal in Calcutta, mastering Marathi, Bengali and Sanskrit, before dying of malaria on a final courageous attempt to travel across Tibet to Western China. Csoma’s life-story and achievements gradually became known in Hungary, and he is now a revered national figure. A fascinating little book.

Mostra libro

Hunting Buffalo with Bent Nails

Lawrence Block

While he is probably best known as a novelist and short-story writer, Lawrence Block has produced a rich trove of nonfiction over the course of a sixty-year career. 
 
 
 
Over the years, Block has written extensively for magazines and periodicals. Generally Speaking collects his philatelic columns from Linn's Stamp News, while his extensive observations of crime fiction, along with personal glimpses of some of its foremost practitioners, have won wide acclaim in book form as The Crime of Our Lives. Hunting Buffalo With Bent Nails is what he's got left over. 
 
 
 
The title piece, originally published in American Heritage, recounts the ongoing adventure Block and his wife undertook, crisscrossing the United States and parts of Canada in their quixotic and exotic quest to find every "village, hamlet, and wide place in the road named Buffalo." Other travel tales share space with a remembrance of his mother, odes to New York, a disquisition on pen names and book tours, and, well, no end of bent nails not worth straightening. Where else will you find "Raymond Chandler and the Brasher Doubloon," an assessment of that compelling writer from a numismatic standpoint? Where else can you hear about Block's collection of old subway cars? Highly recommended.

Mostra libro

Taisho Era - Democracy and...

Rolf Hedger

The Taisho Era (1912–1926) marked a period of transition in Japan, bridging the highly centralized and authoritarian rule of the Meiji period with the growing democratic movements that characterized the early 20th century. Emperor Taisho ascended to the throne following the death of Emperor Meiji in 1912. Unlike his predecessor, who had been a strong and active ruler, Emperor Taisho was frail and suffered from chronic illness, which significantly limited his ability to govern. As a result, political power gradually shifted away from the emperor and toward elected officials and political parties, paving the way for what would become known as "Taisho Democracy." 
At the dawn of the Taisho Era, Japan stood at a crossroads between tradition and modernization. The country had rapidly industrialized during the Meiji period, transforming from a feudal society into a modern industrial state. However, with this modernization came social and political unrest. As Japan’s economy expanded, so too did the urban population, leading to the rise of a new middle class that demanded greater political participation and social change. The oligarchic rule of the genrō—elder statesmen who had dominated Meiji politics—faced increasing pressure from political parties, intellectuals, and the general public. 
The political landscape of early Taisho Japan saw significant changes, including the growing influence of elected politicians. The 1912–1913 Taisho Political Crisis was a defining moment in this shift. When Prime Minister Saionji Kinmochi refused to increase military funding, the army resigned in protest, forcing him to step down. This led to widespread public outrage and a movement advocating for the power of elected officials over military and oligarchic influence. In 1913, the Katsura Tarō government collapsed due to public demonstrations, highlighting the rising political consciousness of the people.

Mostra libro

The Qing Dynasty - The Last...

Jun Liu

The Qing Dynasty, the last imperial dynasty of China, was established in 1644 by the Manchu people, an ethnic group from the northeast of China. The rise of the Qing Dynasty was a result of a combination of military conquest, strategic alliances, and a deep understanding of Chinese traditions. The Manchus, initially a small tribe in what is today known as Manchuria, were able to capitalize on the weakening Ming Dynasty and internal strife within China. This chapter will explore how the Manchu rulers successfully expanded their power and established one of the longest and most influential dynasties in Chinese history.
The Manchu people, led by the ambitious and skilled leader Nurhaci, had been unified under his banner in the early 17th century. Nurhaci’s military campaigns in Manchuria helped create a strong foundation for what would later become the Qing Dynasty. After his death in 1626, his son, Hong Taiji, continued to build on his father’s legacy, consolidating power and forming alliances with various Chinese factions. Hong Taiji's strategic foresight helped prepare the Manchus for a successful invasion of China. In 1636, he formally declared the establishment of the Qing Dynasty, marking the official beginning of their imperial rule.
By the early 1640s, the Ming Dynasty was in a state of disarray. The empire was plagued by corruption, peasant uprisings, and economic instability. The most notable rebellion was the Li Zicheng-led peasant revolt, which culminated in the fall of the Ming capital, Beijing, in 1644. In this moment of vulnerability, the Manchus, under the leadership of Emperor Shunzhi, seized the opportunity to invade China. The Qing forces entered Beijing and effectively replaced the fallen Ming dynasty, marking the beginning of the Qing rule over China.

Mostra libro