Customer Reviews

Adventures of a Red Sea Smuggler

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Years ago I lost this book, something I regret ever since. This is the story of a man, by that same man, who was able to escape his bourgeois French homelife and run off to taste the fascinating dangers and experiences of a smuggler on the Red Sea.

Most interesting in this book is de Monfreid's strong opinions and point of view of this world so alien to most of us today. It gives a wonderful sense of what life was like among Muslims of the area; and how de Monfreid grew to dislike certain nonMuslim Europeans as treacherous. He felt the mideast, contrary to the general public opinions of the West today, tended to be more tolerant of differences that are castigated right now in most American towns.

A very sophisticated writer; when he grew old, he went back to France to write and live out his days there.

I would appreciate any information pertaining to the availability of any of his books.

This is a great, possibly true, autobiography of a man who smuggled hashish in the Red Sea region during the early 1900's. Lot's of interesting detail about the politics and people of that area during that time. Lot's of adventure while sailing in the Red Sea from port to port. More honor among smugglers than the government officials (of course).

Not the first book I've read by de Monfreid, and probably not his best (otherwise there would be 5 stars), but still well worth the time and still a remarkable book. He is unique in many ways. Gives a nice picture of a piece of life that is no more, without a whole lot of prettying up. Some descriptions of personalities or professions (e.g. businessmen, bureaucrats) are hilarious. There are also some parts of the book that show the mindset of a different time and place.

Have a good atlas of the horn of Africa through the Gulf of Suez available, if you want to be able to follow the action and don't know the area. The single map in the book (in the front) is only useful for the last few chapters, and if you don't know where he is, you lose much.

Like a lot of folk, de Monfreid has a very good opinion of himself and his motives, but he does occasionally show his frailties as well. If you don't know much of this time and place, you will learn much. If you do, you will probably see a different perspective. Does much to give the flavor of life on the edge.

Few of de Monfreid's many books are translated to English from the original French, and few are available other than in some of the best libraries. Some will not like it because of style or content, but those that do like it will like it a lot. Strongly recommended to folk who know sailing - they will understand the understatements in the book related to dangers of that occupation. If you've not read any of his books before, you'll be amazed by what you've missed.