The Desert Drum: 1905: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Desert Drum: 1905: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Desert Drum: 1905 is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Hichens, Robert (1864–1950).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Desert Drum" by Robert Hichens is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story takes place in the Sahara Desert, revolving around themes of superstition, fate, and the clash between civilization and primal instincts. It explores the profoundly impactful and mystical nature of the desert, particularly focusing on the local belief in the foreboding "desert drum," which signals impending death. The narrative follows a European traveler as he journeys through the harsh landscape of the Sahara, encountering a Spahi (a French soldier) and a prisoner, M'hammed Bouaziz, who was convicted of murder. After a suspenseful evening marked by the haunting sound of a drum that foreshadows death, the traveler wakes to find the Spahi murdered. M'hammed Bouaziz, the prisoner, has escaped, leaving behind chilling evidence of a crime felt throughout the desert. The story emphasizes the inescapability of fate as Bouaziz's journey ultimately leads him back to the consequences of his actions while intertwining themes of love, desire, and the cultural weight of both the Sahara and its people.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Desert Drum: 1905
- Author credits: Hichens, Robert (1864–1950)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Sahara -- Fiction
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Adventure
- Category: Novels
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


