Another typically wonderful Tim Severin research/adventure real Dirk Pitt type book. In this one Severin retraces the medieval Arab trade route to China through the Seven Seas. (Uncharacteristically he identifies only five of the seven seas [the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, the Malacca Strait, and the South China Sea]). The account of how the ship, commonly referred to by the generic term dhow, was designed and constructed, i. e., sewn with coconut fiber rather than nailed together, is equally fascinating. Severin also recounts three or four of Sindbad's adventures from "The Thousand and One Nights" and explains what may be the factual background for those stories.

The Arabic name for Ceylon is the origin of the word serendipity. ( )

Severin sets out to build and sail a traditional dhow over the 8th Century trade route from Arabia to China. This is a good history book, a fine maritime adventure story, and an excellent portrait of people and places. Reminiscent of Thor Heyerdhal's best writing, except better. ( )

We have personal photos of the dow, Sohar ( )