Customer Reviews

in desert and wilderness

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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Unlike other reviewers, I read this book at age 32. I happened to go on a Sienkiewicz binge. I loved it, even then. It is a wonderfully written book about two children's adventures in Africa. A tale of heroism with a romantic view of life. A good, clean, easy read for all ages. So, maybe it is an "Out of Africa" for young teenagers or older children, but above all, it is just plain good literature, worth having in your personal library for anyone at home to pick up. Best if read in the leisure of summer afternoons.

I didn't discover this book until I was over 30, but I enjoyed it just as much reading it a second time to my kids (then 7 and 8) as I did the first time I read it. This tale of two children kidnapped by Islamic "terrorists" in the wilds of Africa excels on many levels.

Although written around a hundred years ago, this book covers "current" issues such as radical Islam, terrorist kidnappings, war in the middle east, and genocide in Sudan.

In addition, it has a strong moral foundation. Stas, its hero, faces a number of gripping moral and ethical dilemnas certain to provoke some good discussions on topics ranging from racism and slavery to self-defense to honesty and loyalty to one's friends. Sienkiewicz does an excellent job of showing the moral, ethical, and practical consequences of the decisions made by the characters without being preachy.

Be warned, however, this book is _not_ politically correct. It depicts radical Islam, native African cultures, and European colonialism as seen from the viewpoint of European colonial children. Yes, some Muslims may be offended by the portrayal of radical Islam. But Sienkiewicz refuses to demonize anyone, showing the humanity and goodness present even in the children's kidnappers.

And regarding racism, Sienkiewicz does not shirk from putting some racist opinions in the mouths of some of the non-black characters. Rather, through the honorable and resourceful actions of Stas' black friend Kali, Sienkiewicz subtly illuminates the folly of their racist stereotyping.

What really makes this book stand head and shoulders above your average classic is not its timeliness nor its moral foundation. Nor is it the compelling, three-dimensional characters. It's not even the beautiful descriptions of the African countryside, which make it obvious the author has seen that of which he writes. No, what makes this book is how much fun it is to read. This is the only book which I've read more than once since I graduated from college. And I'm going read it again the next chance I get.

Robert Louis Stevenson's tales of child heroes, "Treasure Island" and "Kidnapped", strongly remind me of this book. But as good as Stevenson's books are, "In Desert and Wilderness" is better-written and grander in scope than either of them. Moreover, it is a good bit easier for young readers, containing little if any of the hard-to-parse dialect of Stevenson's books. Also reminiscent but of lesser quality are the desert adventures of Karl Friedrich May, a contemporary of Sienkiewicz.

Unlike some of the reviewers, I'm not going to give away any spoilers. Suffice it to say that Sienkiewicz keeps you hungry for each new page and the adventure it brings. This is a parable which a lesser author never could have written, let alone made credible. All in all, this is a true classic, one of the best -- possibly _the_ best -- I've ever read.

I read this book 30 years ago at the age of 7. It was an old, torn book, that belonged to my grandmother, and was read by all the youngsters in the family. It's an excellent book describing the adventures of a young boy and girl in the desert. It has a taste of reality to it, I was able to fully identify myself with the main hero. Too bad the book is not promoted here in the US.

I have read it 3 times as a kid. I got a copy on my 10th birthday. Great story - Buy it for kids under 13-14 Years old. Clean, easy read.

This book is about two children in the early 1900's living in Egypt. Stas, a 14-year old boy and proud of his Polish heritage, feels he has to protect his young 8-year old British friend, Nell. But he is challenged when they are both kidnapped by Arabs and cross deserts, meeting cruel and heartless Gebhr, and Idris, who is torn out of wanting to take the children to the Madhi in Khartoum as slaves and pity for them. When they arrive at disease-infested Khartoum and Stas comes face-to-face with the Madhi, they again are taken by order of the Madhi to Fashoda, where the children meet the slaves Kali, really the son of the king of the Wahima tribe, and Mea. After Gebhr threatens to kill the children, Stas shoots them and the four escape on a journey with many challenges and obstacles, to go back home.
This book is definitely one of Sienkiewicz's best, and if you like adventure, it will make a great read!

I think people who read this book and see nothing but a kids story are totally missing what this book is all about! However, the plot is so strong that one can easily understand how it could be read for sheer enjoyment alone. I've been on a Sienkiewicz reading spree for a while and have to say that this is the best thing I've read by this extraordinarily talented writer. I'd have to place this as one of my favorite (perhaps THE favorite) piece of literature I've ever read.

It's true that Sienkiewicz originally concieved of this as a children's story, but it obviously grew into something well beyond that. His hero has a fully developed moral character and that takes an adult reader to appreciate. In addition as in most of Sienkiewicz's books, the hero represents the national spirit of Poland, surmounting all obstacles and surviving all dangers and threats to emerge victorious at some point in the future. Unlike most other nationalistic novels, Sienkiewicz communicates his national pride without denigrating other groups of people.

The theme is uplifting and powerful, and it's subtle execution would instantly qualify "In Desert and Wilderness" as a classic. However, Sienkiewicz's masterful plot is so tightly written that the book becomes a page turner as well. You just ENJOY reading it! The strength of the theme and the tightly written plot combine to create a flawless one-two punch few writers can manage.

In fact, I'm hard pressed to think of any other book that has a strong plot of high adventure AND 3D characters AND settings you can really picture AND an intelligent theme AND has a strong moral foundation without being preachy. In other words, "In Desert and Wilderness" is brilliant writing by a master storyteller who was at the top of his game!

I've read that book in its orginal language(Polish), and I think there aren't many books like this. In Dester and Wilderness is just awesome.

I devoured this while on vacation at age 10. The two children facing dangers from adults and the African wilds were very convincing. Sienkeiwicz may have written down to the youth of his era but for today's less accomplished readers the level is just challenging enough to make one feel an equal to the protagonists. I also remember that there is just enough intervention/assistance from fates & adults to make the triumph over obstacles real.

THE AUTHOR, HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ (1846 - 1916), A NOBEL PRIZE-WINNING NOVELIST AND JOURNALIST, CHRONICLED POLISH HISTORY IN A SERIES OF PANORAMIC NOVELS THAT WON UNPRECEDENTED POPULARITY IN HIS NATIVE POLAND. SIENKIEWICZ CONTRIBUTED TO POLISH CLASSICAL LITERATURE OF THE 18 - 19TH CENTURY. "IN DESERT AND WILDERNESS" IS A CHILDREN'S ADVENTURE ENJOYED EQUALLY BY ADULTS AND STILL CONVEYS THE SOCIAL CLIMATE OF THAT PERIOD. IT IS THE KIND OF STORY THAT YOU CAN'T PUT DOWN AND IT LED ME TO READING ALL HIS NOVELS ONE AFTER THE OTHER, BY THE TIME I WAS 13 I HAD DEVOURED THEM ALL AND GOT A GOOD IDEA OF THE HISTORY OF POLAND! I WENT INTO BATTLE AND ENJOYED THE HOSPITALITY OF THE NOBLES OF POLAND, THEIR LOVES, VIRTUES AND VICES ETC... DON'T GET SCARED BY THE FACT THAT SOME OF HIS NOVELS CONSIST OF 12 VOLUMES! THE ONLY THING THAT WILL HAPPEN, YOU WILL LOSE SOME SLEEP!