Pen & Ink Reviews

Stories of survival pitted against insurmountable odds never fail to grab my interest, and Dean King’s Skeletons on the Zahara is an exemplary entry in the narrative nonfiction genre. Mr. King’s retelling revolves around the fate of the forthright, brilliant Captain James Riley and his crew aboard the Commerce. Instead of an exploratory exhibition, Riley and his men set off on a trading voyage to rebuild their fortunes after the War of 1812. Shipwrecked off the coast of Africa, the men undertake a grueling journey of horror and hardship in an effort to make it home alive.

The author begins with setting the scene by giving a succinct history of the era and detailing the background of the men involved. Mr. King does a superb job of drawing the historical characters of this tale in fine, detailed strokes that bring these brave, stalwart men to life. With a dry, straightforward writing style and an even pace, Mr. King vividly captured the terrifying shipwreck and harrowing journey the crew of the Commerce undertook.

As an avid reader of nonfiction, I appreciate a book laden with research from primary sources, fleshed out with maps and illustrations, and bolstered by end notes. Skeletons on the Zahara fulfilled all three of those preferences. The tale ends with a satisfying recounting of the men’s lives after their journey across the scorching Sahara ended. What follows is a detailed appendix, glossary, section of notes divided by chapter, and bibliography.

This is a tale that does a tremendous job of balancing cultural and historical detail with an overarching, gripping narrative. Skeletons on the Zahara is a haunting recounting of an unimaginable feat of survival, of unlikely friendships, of camaraderie, and of the endless courage and will of the human spirit.