The Desert Drum: 1905

The Desert Drum, written by Robert Hichens in 1905, is a novel set in the Sahara Desert that explores themes of superstition, fate, and the conflict between civilization and primal instincts. The narrative follows a European traveler who encounters a Spahi and a convicted murderer, M'hammed Bouaziz, amidst the haunting presence of the 'desert drum' that signals impending death. As the story unfolds, it delves into the cultural significance of the desert and the inescapable nature of fate, culminating in a suspenseful climax marked by murder and escape.