The Story Teller of the Desert—"Backsheesh!" or, Life and Adventures in the Orient

"The Story Teller of the Desert—'Backsheesh!'" by Thomas Wallace Knox is a compilation of the author's late 1800s voyages, giving an entertaining view of different cultures. The book follows Knox’s explorations through parts of the Eastern world, like Turkey, Greece, and Egypt, mixing funny stories with smart details about the cultures and land that he sees. The story begins with a trip leaving New York in 1873, where Knox talks about the calm start of the journey that later gets interrupted by rough seas and seasickness, especially for a funny man called "the Judge." The author makes the story fun by telling comical stories that happen on the boat. A key element is a race for a lemon, which really makes you remember the funny travelers and prepares you for his trip to faraway lands.