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Rating: 
Summary: Karl May should be recommended reading
Review: As another reviewer of this particular Karl May travel and adventure story, I was mesmerized by his stories when I was growing up in Luxemburg. It is shame that he is virtually unknown in North America. I've started my great nephew (who unfortunately does not know German) reading the stories in translation. I hope that he will get a greatly expanded view and understanding of other peoples, ways, mores as I did; and that he just plainly will enjoy the stories, because they are SUPERB.
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Summary: Pl
Review: I grew up in Germany, and that means I grew up with Karl May. I probably read more than 20 of his books and I even brought some of them with me to the U.S. Unfortunately nobody I talk to here knows about this great author, and my children can't read German well enough to share my experience. I was therefore delighted to find this unabridged translation. I sure wished more of Karl May's books were available in English.
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Summary: A Prolific Author
Review: I'm the translator of this unabridged first volume of Karl May's Orient Cycle, a six book series of adventures that detail a journey and exiting adventures through many Middle Eastern countries. Karl May's 73 novels are still being published today in numbers that are astounding. Yet whilst his works have been translated into about 30 languages, he is virtually unknown in North America. Given the current events in the Middle East today, it is amazing how much insight he had into the psyche of the people he wrote about. In reading his work you will discover that little has changed over the last 120 years since he penned the original narrative. You will also discover a wealth of pertinent facts about the people and their religious beliefs. I consider Karl May's travel narratives a body of text that has been well researched and whilst some of the information contained therein may not be entirely accurate when compared to the facts as we know them today, they represent nontheless a very clear insight into the customs of the local inhabitants of these foreign lands. My wife and I have enjoyed the often frustrating task of rendering Karl May's work into English and we hope that you too will enjoy the tale as it unfolds.
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Summary: Hang on to your hat, it is quite a ride
Review: The Shadow of the Padishah This book is a step into the world of Shaharazhad and a little beyond. Our Hero, the Frank, Emir Nemsi, is a German writer on an odyssey into the realm of the Padishah, of Arabian Knights and the rich culture of the Middle East, in search of adventure. He travels with a native companion, little Halef, a devoted servant, bent on converting his beloved Master to the True Faith of Islam. It is interesting to note that our hero becomes a Muslim against his will, all the while remaining a devout Christian, an interesting twist of events. The series of adventures, beginning with the discovery of a murder victim, through the Hajj to Mecca to the victory against the Haddadihn leaves the reader panting for more and more, until you are dropped on your head with a cliffhanger. I feel much like the Shaharazhad? sultan, I simply must know what happens next. I was quite surprised to find out that this story was actually written in the late 1800?s, as it has a fresh and modern feel. I especially liked the author?s use of the Arabic words, with the translation right behind. It gives the story an exotic cast, without sacrificing the meat of the Tale.
The story is an honest portrayal of this world, with only a slight European smugness, but much less than most of the literature of the day. The Arab Culture is not portrayed as barbaric or savage; rather we are shown its depth and richness. I am waiting less than patiently for the next installment of my hero?s adventures.
HURRY UP!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Hang on to your hat, it is quite a ride
Review: The Shadow of the Padishah This book is a step into the world of Shaharazhad and a little beyond. Our Hero, the Frank, Emir Nemsi, is a German writer on an odyssey into the realm of the Padishah, of Arabian Knights and the rich culture of the Middle East, in search of adventure. He travels with a native companion, little Halef, a devoted servant, bent on converting his beloved Master to the True Faith of Islam. It is interesting to note that our hero becomes a Muslim against his will, all the while remaining a devout Christian, an interesting twist of events. The series of adventures, beginning with the discovery of a murder victim, through the Hajj to Mecca to the victory against the Haddadihn leaves the reader panting for more and more, until you are dropped on your head with a cliffhanger. I feel much like the Shaharazhad' sultan, I simply must know what happens next. I was quite surprised to find out that this story was actually written in the late 1800's, as it has a fresh and modern feel. I especially liked the author's use of the Arabic words, with the translation right behind. It gives the story an exotic cast, without sacrificing the meat of the Tale.
The story is an honest portrayal of this world, with only a slight European smugness, but much less than most of the literature of the day. The Arab Culture is not portrayed as barbaric or savage; rather we are shown its depth and richness. I am waiting less than patiently for the next installment of my hero's adventures.
HURRY UP!!!!
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Summary: A Gripping Adventure Tale
Review: This book is a gripping tale of adventure and suspense that left me unable to put it down especially towards the end. I was drawn into the characters and found myself laughing at their antics. In reading this story I felt like I was traveling through the land alongside the heroes of the story.
I especially liked Halef who was a very important part of the story and I can't wait to see if he continues his journey in the next book.
Even though the book was written more than a hundred years ago the customs and traditions of the Arabs have not changed through to the present day.
Not being an avid reader, a book must be exciting to keep my attention and this book met and exceeded my expectations.
Growing up in my grandmothers house who was from Germany I know the German language can be very difficult to understand and with many of the translations from German to English the true meaning of the prose is often lost.
It is obvious that a great deal of time and effort went into this unabridged translation of this adventure story.
This is the first Karl May book that I have had a chance to read and I can't wait for the next book to be translated.
To the translator I say, 'Great job!'. I highly recommend this book to readers of adventure stories and to children - most enlightening.
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