One for the Road: Down the Nile

by Kelly Amabile   Jun 25th 2007 @ 11:35AM

Publishers Weekly calls this one "travel writing at its most enjoyable." Down the Nile: Along in a Fisherman's Skiff is about a journey born from the simple love of rowing. Rosemary Mahoney decides to buy a small rowboat and make her way 120 miles along the Nile between the cities of Aswan and Qena.

What an awesome solo feat to attempt! Despite civil unrest and the fear of vexing local traditions, Mahoney sets out. She finds a seven-foot skiff with the help of a sympathetic Muslim sailor and proceeds to do what culture and history says she should not.

Egyptian women don't row on the Nile, and tourists aren't allowed to for safety's sake. But Mahoney does it -- she endures extreme heat, terrifying crocs and the challenging cultural encounters that confront issues of faith and sex. She also finds connections to past river travelers like Florence Nightingale and Gustave Flaubert. The reviews agree that Mahoney's global curiosity and creative wit will surely captivate readers of this new release.



Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Books, One for the Road

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