Empires of Sand

Empires of Sand
By David Ball
Published: 1999

Paris: It is the late 19th century, and France is preparing for war with Prussia. Expecting a quick victory, France's forces will be overwhelmed by Bismarck Germans. In this climate two young boys, cousins, come of age. One is Moussa DeVries, son of Count Henri and his Tuareg wife Serena. The other is Paul DeVries, son of Col. Jules DeVries and his scheming wife Elizabeth. The two boys are close sharing many adventures until the evil Bishop, Marius Murat takes an unholy interest in Moussa, leading to Henri's death and Moussa's flight to the Sahara.

Years pass. Moussa becomes a warrior of the Tuareg, while Paul, seeking to restore the family name after Jules disgrace in the war with Prussia, joins the military and is sent to Africa. There the two will meet again, enduring discrimination, fanaticsim, the harsh desert, slavery, and a hatered that threatens to destroy everything they both love. At times tender, at others harsh like the land it depects David Ball is commended for taking a forgotten chapter in history, the ill fated Flatters Expedetion and the jihad that followed, and makes them come to life. Recommended.

*** out of ****

For the Wikipedia article on the Tuareg
Tuareg