FROM THE SAHARA TO SAMARKAND
SELECTED TRAVEL WRITINGS OF ROSITA FORBES 1919 TO 1937
Edited by Margaret Bald
Axios, Mount Jackson, Virginia
369 pages, US $ 15.00

Rosita Forbes was and extraordinarily courageous woman who dared and succeeded to cross the Sahara desert on camel back, on foot, and on horseback between 1919 and 1922. At the tie, the people inhabiting these parts of the world were living primitive lives, and behaving even more primitively, particularly against women.
She then continued sailing from the eastern African shores in a traditional Arab boat to south-western Saudi Arabia and south Yemen in an attempt to see and experience the cities of this still undeveloped khat-chewing (qat) country.
From there she travelled north, attempting to enter Mecca, the holy city of Islam. Non-Muslims are not allowed into Mecca.
Her experience in this part of her voyages are particularly revealing and to this day apply, albeit partially.
Then comes the experience of travelling through Turkey, Iraq, and Persia, describing among other cities on the way, Anderun (Iskenderun today), to Isfahan, famous for its legendary carpets still being produced and high in demand, and to Shiraz and through the “mud villages” of Kurdistan. You can imagine the hardships and problems she encountered during her travels, especially while in the company of a cinematographer with heavy equipment to record her adventures.
From there she travelled to Kabul in Afghanistan, then to Samarkand.
Her style of writing reflects English as was written at the beginning of the 20th century by British authors. It is very engaging and flows beautifully.
The editor selected chapters from a number of her books (Unconducted Wanderers 1919; The Secrets of the Sahara, Kufara, 1921: Adventure: Being A Gipsy Salad, 1926; Red Sea To Blue Nile: Abyssinian Adventure 1925; Conflict: Angora to Afghanistan 1931; and Forbidden Road: Kabul to Samarkand 1937.
Rosita Forbes has been a keen observer and a shrewd commentator of people. Indefatigable and immensely courageous, she was one of the leading explorers of her time and has been able to write about the adventures in a fascinating way.
Her cleverness, vibrant personal quality of vividness and wit are admirable
This is a book to read, enjoy, imagine the difficulties she encountered, and problems she had to solve, and discuss with like-minded friends.
Highly recommended!