MOTORING WITH MOHAMMED: Journeys to Yemen and the Red Sea

by Eric Hansen ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 23, 1991

Cause for celebration: in this, his second book, Hansen proves that his first, Strangers in the Forest (1988), was no fluke, confirming that he is one of the most original travel writers working today. A major part of Hansen's appeal stems from his highly unorthodox adventures. What other writer is able to cite ""smuggling false eyelashes from Thailand to Burma"" as one entry in his curriculum vitae? (Other off-the-wall occupations: wild-dog hunter; and barber in Mother Theresa's home for lepers.) Here, Hansen recounts his experiences as he returns to the Mideast to recover notebooks he buried on a deserted island in the Red Sea after a shipwreck in 1978. He swings back and forth in time between his earlier exploits--the shipwreck, his eventual rescue, and his frustrations in seeking to leave Yemen--and his efforts a decade later. The dual vision lends resonance and suspense to the narrative. The volatile political climate in the area repeatedly undermines his attempts to retrieve his journals; the PLO, it seems, has a training camp on one of the adjacent islands. Nonetheless, Hansen continues his quest, encountering a memorable gallery of characters along the way. There's Mohammed Aziz Alaghbari, the cheerfully independent driver assigned to him; on one occasion, the car is filled with Hansen and his chauffeur in the front seat and three of Mohammed's recently purchased sheep aromatically ensconced in the rear. Then there is the young fellow who, under the aegis of UNESCO, USAID, and the Peace Corps, is conducting a one-man survey of the frequency with which public toilets are used in town of San'a. It's a colorful bunch. Hansen is equally at home describing the sights and sounds, the customs and conflicts of the area. When he finally has the long-buried manuscripts in hand, the reader feels grateful that the writings of such a splendid raconteur have been preserved.

Pub Date: Feb. 23, 1991

ISBN: 067973855X

Page Count: -

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1991

Categories: NONFICTION