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.

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.

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!!!!

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.

I have very incidentally came across to this book when there was no internet, or any of these technological virtual capabilities. It was the spring of 1986, when a friend of mine called me up and said "there's something I saw in the bookshop at the film theatre, which is just for you. You must not miss it". It was the Istanbul Film Festival days, and the 'thing' I must not miss was a book, called 'Spaghetti Westerns - Cowboys and Europeans from Karl May to Sergio Leone' by Christopher Frayling. I went and saw the book on the shelf. I was stunned when I turned the cover page to see what's inside. There it was a two page wide picture of Lee Van Cleef, in 'Colonel Mortimer' costumes. That famous artistic Van Cleef pose, looking out deadly with his Angel Eyes, waiting for Indio for 'La Resa Dei Conti'. As soon as I saw that picture, even without reading the book, I said to myself this guy must have the same feelings as I have towards Leone's movies. Eversince then I have been reading that huge 284 pages book with full of interesting details and analysis. Every time I read it, I feel as if I am learning new things. I still refer that book quite often. He has also done television documentaries on Leone and Morricone for BBC. Christopher Frayling is very well known academician in the UK. He is the rector and the provost of famous Royal College of Art in London. I personally had the chance to meet with him, and had in-depth interviews on Sergio Leone. . There's no doubt that he is one of the most knowledgable people on Leone. He has also just finished a bulky book on Sergio Leone's biography. He is planning the release around the fall of 98. He has years of deep experience about the Spaghetti Western genre. This book is the second edition to the first one, and a "must have" for all spaghetti western genre with lots of interesting details, profound analysis, and stills. I believe that it satisfies both theoratical scholars as well as film buffs. It is a book that sc! ientifically, and emotionally justifies the quality of Spaghetti Western film genre, which has been humilitated and overlooked by many film critics as ersatz film genre. Get the book, read it, read it once more, and then evaluate the genre afterwards. A lot of vista is waiting for those who hadn't read it yet. The book also contains details on the cut scenes of Leone's westerns, as well as their box office revenues. The section I must enjoy is the one on the influence of Spaghetti Westerns on American Western films. And, a last recommendation is: reserve one of the best spots of your library, which can be easily accessable for your future references. Get this book quickly, and wait for the soon-to-be-published "la grande finale": "SOMETHING TO DO WITH DEATH - The Life and Films of Sergio Leone"

VIVA LEONE !! VIVA FRAYLING!!!

The book description (above) is a good summary of the "Winnetou" series, which is hugely popular in Germany. The story involves a newly-arrived German-born frontiersman who becomes "blood brothers" with a Mescalero Apache. These books are mostly read by teenagers with characters who, like the Star Wars series, are clearly identified as "good" and "bad." Karl May did propogate the "noble savage" concept in his books. Their appeal is primarily the fabulous story-telling quality to them, the effortless writing, the engrossing way they read. Not having read this translation I cannot comment on the quality of that, but I will note that the German language version of "Winnetou I" posted on the Amazon.de website is 542 pages, while this one is 256. That suggests that a lot was left out in the translation.

Winnetou was the first book I ever read. I remember goig to the library in my hometown of Dubrovnik Croatia (former Yugoslavia) and checking it out based on the recommendation by a librarian. It was a small format book, worn out, with that old-book smell and yellowish pages, you know. Very many pages for a seven-year old. I loved the series, I loved it so much that I read all the other books written by Karl May and bought them too.

After first having read it, I was so upset with how the First Americans were treated that I decided to "go to America when I grew up, become President and give them their freedom."

I did come to the US in 1976 and was really susprised that no one had ever heard of Karl May. I just want to share with potential readers how rich a world KM portrayed for us young readers throughout the world in his may books. World where passion, respect, honor, friendship was not completely gone and had a chance to overcome all the evil which we humans are capable of cimmitting.

I was 12 years old tomboy when I started to read Karl May books from school library in Indonesia. Once started, I never stop reading them until I finish. After I read the Winnetou book, I am so drawn to his character that I've dreamed to be Winnetou's girl friend! I was very sad and crying hard when he died. When I came to the US 11 years ago and meet my husband for the first time in my first 4 years, it was a dream come true. He is part Cheyenne and proud to be a Native American (though he's as blond as a white man)! I read all his books and looking forward to read them again. Is there anyway you compile all his book in one, but not necessarily shortening it? And I would be gladly to order them for me, my husband and my children.

I've not read Karl May's other work, though I gather the main characters of this book - Kara ben Nemsi and Hadschi Halef Omar - appear in several other novels and are much beloved by people I've never talked to. Nonetheless, this book is just bad in so many ways I couldn't know where to begin.

I almost find myself recommending it, as it has passages of some of the worst prose I have ever seen rendered in the English language. It truly is a thing of wonder. I don't think you really want to try it, though, as this book is tremendously long and slow as well. Given the choice, I would choose to be mugged and beaten rather than read this book again. But, sure, give it a try.