The sub-title of this work is : Dhow Voyages with the Arabs 1938-39 in the Red Sea, round the Coasts of Arabia, and to Zanzibar and Tanganyika ; Pearling in the Gulf ; and the Life of Shipmasters and Mariners of Kuwait. This is undoubtedly one of the great travel works of Arabian exploration that sits alongside the works of T E Lawrence, St John Philby & Wilfred Thesiger in the 20th century. It is a sumptuous publication by the National Maritime Museum that includes not only VILLIERS' photographs taken during his voyage by dhow (published in the original 'SONS OF SINBAD') but previously unpublished photographs from his many other excursions in the region.