Sons of Sindbad – the photographs

These photographs from Alan Villiers» 1938-1939 journey on an Arab dhow, printed with excerpts from his original 1940 account of the trip, capture a lost era of maritime culture. Framed by an authoritative introduction and a poignant epilogue, the collection rightfully restores Villiers to prominence alongside his landlubber counterparts such as Wilfred Thesiger. The introduction illustrates Villiers» vibrant personality and discusses the writing and photographic skills that he developed during his career»?abilities that allowed him to produce a sympathetic record of the last days of commercial sail during the final years of the British Empire.