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Empires of Sand Audiobook
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(3.91) - 260 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
After four trips to the Sahara and extensive historical research, David Ball crafted this sweeping adventure novel spanning two continents and 15 years. Set against a backdrop of the crumbling French Empire's attempts to colonize the Sahara Desert, Empires of Sand follows the lives of two cousins who are raised as brothers but destined to become enemies. It is 1870, and France is at war with Prussia. The son of a French count and a Saharan noblewoman, Moussa has been born to privilege. His cousin Paul will be an Army Officer like his father. For two young boys, the siege of Paris is merely another grand adventure. But as tensions rise, the French become more and more suspicious of "outsiders." When Moussa and his mother are forced to flee to her homeland, it will be 10 years before Moussa and Paul meet again-on opposite sides of a brutal battle for control of the Sahara. David Ball has created a swashbuckling tale with something for everyone. With his masterful narration, George Guidall perfectly captures the struggles of two men as their personal loyalties shift in a rapidly changing world.
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"Empires of Sand has become my favorite book. I compare every adventure book I read to this one. The best part of this book are the characters. You get to know them in and out and very quickly learn to care about them and their lives. The story itself is the perfect definition of an epic. It is a roller coaster ride that is believable and thrilling. This book is a must read for anyone that loves life and passion."
— Brandon (5 out of 5 stars)
Empires of Sand Listener Reviews
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" liked the story about africa "
— Magcos, 2/7/2014 -
" Nope. I put this one down more than halfway through. I thought I would commit after the story's venue changed from France to the Sahara, but not so. The characters were not complex and the plot is predictable. "
— Deodand, 1/28/2014 -
" Reads like a classic epic movie from the 50s or 60s. Two cousins, best of friends, grow up in Paris during the Franco-Prussian War. Due to circumstances, one is forced to flee Paris and return to the homeland of his mother, the southern Sahara desert. 10 years later, they reunite, but on opposite sides. He is now a prince of the desert people, and his cousin a leutenant of the French army. The French are attempting to build a railroad through the desert, and the desert peoples are opposed. This book has plenty of action, romance, and high adventure, and sure was a lot of fun to read. I look forward to picking up David Ball's other historical fiction as well. "
— Ryan, 1/28/2014 -
" Excellent historical novel contrasting European and African/ Muslim cultures. "
— Terry, 1/17/2014 -
" historical fiction - a great yarn from the African desert & land of the "blue men" (Tuareg) to Paris & back to the desert. "
— Loose, 1/17/2014 -
" ALGERIA. My kind of book! "
— Cynthia, 1/10/2014 -
" This book was very good, and could have easily gotten 4 stars if the author cut 200 of the 700 pages. It bogs down in several places and I lost the suspense several times. Also, some of the character development was a little surreal in spots. Very entertaining though. "
— Emily, 1/10/2014 -
" Believe this had sex scenes as well.. "
— Deveny, 12/26/2013 -
" Best thing about the book for me was the detailed and (supposedly fairly historically accurate) settings of end-of-Napoleon-era Paris and depths of the Sahara / Hoggar. "
— Adam, 12/13/2013 -
" Quite entertaining. Simple, straightforward. Good, fun story. Action packed. Revenge is one of the themes. I did not like that. "
— Holly, 12/12/2013 -
" Not sure why I stuck with this. Parts of it were interesting, but the writing just didn't grab me. "
— Cheryl, 12/2/2013 -
" Couldn't get through it, didn't find it nearly as engaging as his prior novel. "
— Max, 7/19/2013 -
" This was an enjoyable historical epic with lots of action/adventure. "
— Emaly, 6/8/2013 -
" Learned about the Tuaregs of the Sahara, the Prussian invasion of France, and France's attempt to build a railroad across the Sahara. Great characters and story. "
— Lisa, 2/28/2013 -
" Didn't finish. Wordy and uninteresting. "
— Colleen, 10/16/2012 -
" This had all the pluses of a good read, story, adventure, and well writen "
— Lonnie, 9/7/2012 -
" Excellent historical novel about the seige of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War. I read this a few years ago when the novel first came out. Great reading experience! "
— Frank, 1/24/2012 -
" Again, Ball's attention to period detail is exquisite. "
— Ian, 12/30/2011 -
" Really disappointing. Could have been so much more than it was. "
— Gevera, 11/11/2011 -
" one of the best books to read in bed with your mate, a chapter a night. "
— Elizabeth, 9/23/2011 -
" Quite entertaining. Simple, straightforward. Good, fun story. Action packed. Revenge is one of the themes. I did not like that. "
— Holly, 5/29/2011 -
" Believe this had sex scenes as well.. "
— Deveny, 3/18/2011 -
" Really disappointing. Could have been so much more than it was. "
— Gevera, 6/23/2010 -
" Couldn't get through it, didn't find it nearly as engaging as his prior novel. "
— Max, 5/20/2010 -
" This was an enjoyable historical epic with lots of action/adventure. "
— Emaly, 11/19/2009 -
" Again, Ball's attention to period detail is exquisite. "
— Ian, 11/2/2009 -
" I loved this ...the time during the Franco-Prussian war (19th cent) <br/>the place: France and the Sahara Desert. <br/>A well written, well told story. "
— Suzanne, 9/15/2009 -
" Learned about the Tuaregs of the Sahara, the Prussian invasion of France, and France's attempt to build a railroad across the Sahara. Great characters and story. "
— Lisa, 8/21/2009 -
" Excellent historical novel contrasting European and African/ Muslim cultures. "
— Terry, 3/21/2009 -
" historical fiction - a great yarn from the African desert & land of the "blue men" (Tuareg) to Paris & back to the desert. "
— Loose, 9/6/2008 -
" Not sure why I stuck with this. Parts of it were interesting, but the writing just didn't grab me. "
— Cheryl, 7/1/2008
About David Ball
David Ball is an award-winning author who has held Shubert, McKnight, Rockefeller, and National Endowment of the Arts grants. His plays have been staged throughout North America and Europe, including the Guthrie in Minneapolis, off Broadway, and Scotland’s Edinburgh Festival. He’s taught writing at Duke and Carnegie-Mellon and has written many plays for the Tony Award–winning Theatre de la Jeune Lune. While he’s been most influenced by his science training and Peace Corps service (Afghanistan), two years of taxi driving was his favorite and most enlightening job. Born in NY’s Catskill Mountains to a bootlegger and an antique dealer, David is now widely known as America’s most influential trial consultant.
About George Guidall
George Guidall, winner of more than eighty AudioFile Earphones Awards, has won three of the prestigious Audie Award for Excellence in Audiobook Narration. In 2014 the Audio Publishers Association presented him with the Special Achievement Award for lifetime achievement/ During his thirty-year recording career he has recorded over 1,700 audiobooks, won multiple awards, been a mentor to many narrators, and shown by example the potential of fine storytelling. His forty-year acting career includes starring roles on Broadway, an Obie Award for best performance off Broadway, and frequent television appearances.