The Nile Book

The splendors of the Egyptian Nile--from Aswan and Luxor to Cairo and Alexandria--are among the most photographed, and thus familiar, sights in the world. Yet in this extraordinary book, a Nomachi classic, that imagery is entirely transcended. The photographer followed the Nile on to its upper reaches, along its two great tributaries, the Blue Nile and the White Nile, into Sudan and Ethiopia and beyond, to one of its sources in the Ruwenzori Mountains. Some famous travelers have traced this route, including Herodotus in the fifth century BC, Burton and Speke and Livingstone and Stanley in the 19th century, and Alan Moorehead in our own time. Kazuyoshi Nomachi has followed them, but has recorded here his own personal odyssey and his unique vision of these mysterious places. He made three arduous journeys in the course of compiling this photographic record, and on the third he remained for a whole year in the desert, believing that the truth of the place could only emerge in the turning of all the seasons. 'At the time', he writes, 'I had no idea I would one day stagger so deeply into the recesses of the river.' Nomachi is a photographer of exceptional sensitivity and art. Even the familiar is made new by his camera. He captures with marvelous authenticity the changing worlds of the great rive--its deserts, its marshlands, its highland--and the distinct peoples who live beside and upon it. These photographs represent a superb artistic achievement. Geoffrey Moorhouse, a distinguished travel writer and historian, provides the commentary for Nomachi's work. He gives a personal and vivid topographical account of the 'great Nile', setting the stage for photographs leading through this unique land.

* Beautifully illustrated with 189 full color photographs
* Extensively photographed and researched during numerous journeys to the Nile, including one year spent entirely in the desert to capture the drama of changing seasons
* Gives a glmpse of the beautiful, and sometimes shocking, harsh terrain surrounding the Nile
* Detailed regional maps relate the reader to the photographs
* Captivating images and breath-taking views of life along the Nile
* Topical chapters include the White Nile and the Blue Nile

Geoffrey Moorhouse is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and of the Royal Geographical Society. His books on travel, history and cricket have been translated into many languages. To the Frontier won the 1984 Thomas Cook Award for best travel book of the year. His most recent book is Sun Dancing.