Lost Oases

In Lost Oases, published in 1925, Oxford-educated Egyptian diplomat and explorer, Hassanein Bey (Ahmad Muhammad Hassanayn), embarks on a thrilling journey across the arid expanses of the Libyan desert. Accompanied by two companions and a few stubborn camels, he ventures south from the Mediterranean to the Sudan, rediscovering two elusive oases known only through fragmented lore. More than a mere account of geographical exploration, the book captures the profound beauty and harshness of the desert landscape. In Hassaneins words, “In the silent infinity of the desert, body, mind, and soul are cleansed.” His journey leads to a deep spiritual awakening, a recognition of the divine in the desolation. The expeditions success was made possible through the generous support of King Fouad I of Egypt and the friendship of Sayed Idris El Senussi, head of the enigmatic Senussi Brotherhood in Kufra, who usually resisted Western explorers. This modestly penned narrative is an epic tale of adventure and discovery. (Summary by Steve Seitel)