The Book Smugglers of Timbuktu

To Westerners, the name Timbuktu long conjured a tantalising paradise, an African El Dorado. A medieval centre of learning, it was home to tens of thousands of ancient manuscripts on a plethora of subjects. When al-Qaedalinked jihadists threatened the existence of these precious documents, a remarkable thing happened: a team of librarians and archivists joined forces to spirit the manuscripts into hiding. Charlie English expertly presents a fascinating account of one of the planet's extraordinary places, and the myths from which it has become inseparable.