The desert is brought close in vivid color photos, printed full page or in double-page spreads, and some on fold-out pages--for armchair travelers with either a good table for reading or strong arms and exceptional dexterity (the book weighs 9.6 pounds and measures 11.5x15"). Photographer Bourseiller spent four years criss-crossing the vast desert that spans 10 countries in northern Africa; 200 photos are presented in an extravagant large-scale format that befits the subject matter and the remarkable quality of his images. Several contributed essays explore the region's history, culture, people, and future; and the photos are fully captioned in a separate section at the end of the book. The Abrams edition is a translation of the French work published in 2004, by Editions de La Martinière. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)