The
Sheltering Desert
Henno Martin
Publisher: AD. Donker (1988)
ISBN: 0868521507
Overall Rating: 3.5 Stars 
Readability: 3 Stars
Content: 4 Stars
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this book
The Sheltering desert is a truly unique book. During World War
II, South West Africa, now Namibia, had a significant German population.
As Europe plunged deeper into the War, many of the Germans in
South West Africa were put into internment camps. To escape imprisonmen,t
Henno Martin, a German geologist working in South West Africa,
fled with his partner into the Namib Desert, one of the most inhospitable
regions on earth. For two and a half years the men survived on
a few meager supplies, remaining undetected by the authorities.
The Sheltering Desert is a remarkable tale of survival, inspiring
awe from those who have had the fortune to experience the parched
desolation of the Namib Desert. Unfortunately, the book does have
some pronounced weaknesses. The Sheltering Desert was originally
written in German, and much like Seven Years In Tibet, the translation
is gruff and lacks eloquence. Towards the latter half of the book,
Martin seems to become obsessed with butchery and dedicates entirely
too much attention to the capture and slaughter of the animals
that sustain him. But if you are able to stomach the detailed
descriptions of how to preserve oryx liver, The Sheltering Desert
is an inspiring survival story.
