Sign-In
Cart
The Names of Things
Paperback
ISBN13: 9781618220059
Publisher: Ashland Creek Pr
Published: Apr 1 2012
Pages: 276
Weight: 0.70
Height: 0.62 Width: 5.25 Depth: 8.00
Language: English
Awards: Chautauqua Prize
Chautauqua Prize Finalist
The anthropologist's wife, an artist, didn't want to follow her husband to the remote desert of northeast Africa to live with camel-herding nomads. But wanting to be with him, she endured the trip, only to fall desperately ill years later with a disease that leaves her husband with more questions than answers. When the anthropologist discovers a deception that shatters his grief and guilt, he begins to reevaluate his love for his wife as well as his friendship with one of the nomads he studied.
He returns to Africa to make sense of what happened, traveling into the far reaches of the Chalbi Desert, where he must sift through the layers of his memories and reconcile them with what he now knows. Set in a windswept wilderness menaced by hyenas and lions, The Names of Things weaves together the stories of an anthropologist's journey into the desert, his firsthand accounts of the nomads' death rituals, and his struggle to find the names of things for which no words exist. Anthropologist John Colman Wood's debut novel is an exquisite, haunting exploration of the meaning of love and the rituals of grief.
1 different editions
Also available
Also in
Africa
Fodor's the Complete Guide to African Safaris: With South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, and Victoria Falls
Fodor's Travel Guides
Paperback
Lonely Planet Egypt: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Great Pyramid, Luxor, Siwa Oasis and More
Fitzpatrick, Mary
Tabbaa, Sanad
Buxbaum, Jessica
Paperback
Moon Morocco: Local Insight, Strategic Itineraries, Desert Excursions
Peters, Lucas
Moon Travel Guides
Paperback
Lonely Planet Morocco: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Marrakesh, the Sahara, Fez and More
Exelby, Narina
Ranger, Helen
Bremner, Jade
Paperback
East Africa Wildlife: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Species in Kenya, Tanzania & Uganda
Kavanagh, James
Paperback
Fodor's Essential South Africa: With the Best Safari Destinations and Wine Regions
Fodor's Travel Guides
Paperback
Lonely Planet North Africa: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya and
Buxbaum, Jessica
Exelby, Narina
Bremner, Jade
Paperback
Rough Guides Morocco: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Insider Tips Must-See Sights Maps & Itineraries Covers: Marrakesh, Fes, the Atlas Mountains a
Guides, Rough
Butler, Stuart
Paperback
East Africa Birds: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Species in Kenya, Tanzania & Uganda
Kavanagh, James
Paperback
Safari Style: Exceptional African Camps and Lodges--Stunning Photographic Volume Showcasing the Interior Décor of Africa's Foremost Luxury and Eco-Saf
Biggs Bradley, Melissa
Hardcover
All You Need Is Flights: How Kintsugi, Moai, and Volcano Pizza Helped Me Make More Solo Travel Magic
Ruiz, Jen
Paperback
Lonely Planet Experience Egypt: Build a Trip to Remember Local Insights Maps & Planning Tools Covers Cairo, Luxor, Southern Nile Valley, Siwa Oasis, R
Tabbaa, Sanad
Buxbaum, Jessica
Fitzpatrick, Mary
Paperback
Lonely Planet Tunisia: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Ksar Ghilane, Bulla Regia, Cap Bon and More
Keith, Lauren
Hussain, Tharik
Hardy, Paula
Paperback
Lonely Planet Algeria: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Algiers, Timimoun, Tassili Nâ (Tm)Ajjer and More
Walker, Jenny
Maxwell, Virginia
Ham, Anthony
Paperback
Running with the Kenyans: Discovering the Secrets of the Fastest People on Earth
Finn, Adharanand
Paperback
Insight Guides Tanzania and Zanzibar: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Culture & Society Stunning Photos Expert Advice Covers: Dar Es Salaam, Sereng
Insight Guides
Briggs, Philip
Paperback
DK South Africa: Must-See Sights. Culture & History. Detailed Maps & Tours. Covers Cape Town, Kruger National Park, & More
Briggs, Philip
Dk Travel
Paperback
Kruger Self-Drive: Second Edition: Routes, Roads & Ratings
Van Den Berg, Philip And Ingrid
Van Den Berg, Heinrich
Paperback
Africa Animal Tracks: A Folding Pocket Guide to the Tracks & Signs of Familiar Animals
Waterford Press
Kavanagh, James
Paperback
Venomous River: Changing Climate, Imperiled Forests, and a Scientist's Race to Find New Species in the Congo
Greenbaum, Eli
Hardcover
Rough Guides Kenya: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Insider Tips Must-See Sights Maps & Itineraries Covers: Nairobi, Maasai Mara, Mombasa and More
Gregg, Emma
Guides, Rough
Paperback
DK Top 10 Marrakech: Top 10 Lists for Your Perfect Trip, Plus an All-Weather Folded Map
Dk Travel
Paperback
A Primate's Memoir: A Neuroscientist's Unconventional Life Among the Baboons
Sapolsky, Robert M.
Paperback
Death in the Long Grass: A Big Game Hunter's Adventures in the African Bush
Capstick, Peter Hathaway
Hardcover
Lonely Planet Moroccan Arabic Phrasebook & Dictionary: Learn Essential Phrases & Vocabulary 3,500 Word Two-Way Dictionary Pull-Out Fast Phrases Card T
Benchehda, Abdennabi
Andjar, Bichr
Bacon, Dan
Paperback
Rough Guides Namibia with Victoria Falls: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Insider Tips Must-See Sights Maps & Itineraries Covers: Windhoek, Etosha,
Guides, Rough
Humphreys, Sara
Paperback
The Rough Guide to Tanzania and Zanzibar: Travel Guide with eBook
Guides, Rough
Smith, Helena
Paperback
Lonely Planet South Africa, Lesotho & Eswatini: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Kruger National Park, Cape
Exelby, Narina
Fitzpatrick, Mary
Corne, Lucy
Paperback
Lonely Planet Kenya: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Nairobi, Mombasa, Masai Mara and More
Duthie, Shawn
Githere, Neema
Nyabola, Nanjala
Paperback
African Game Trails: An Account of the African Wanderings of an American Hunter-Natrualist
Roosevelt, Theodore
Paperback
Moods of Future Joys: Around the World by Bike Part One: From England to South Africa
Humphreys, Alastair
Paperback
The Last Resort: A Memoir of Mischief and Mayhem on a Family Farm in Africa
Rogers, Douglas
Paperback
Blood River: The Terrifying Journey Through the World's Most Dangerous Country
Butcher, Tim
Paperback
Lonely Planet Botswana & Namibia: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Victoria Falls, Okavango Delta, Etosha N
Fitzpatrick, Mary
Exelby, Narina
Kingdom, Sarah
Paperback
African Game Trails: An Account of the African Wanderings of an American Hunter-Naturalist
Roosevelt, Theodore
Paperback
Lonely Planet Canary Islands: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Gran Canaria Fuerteventura Lanzarote and Mor
Clarke, Ross
Noble, Isabella
Gilbert, Sarah
Paperback
Lonely Planet Cape Town & the Garden Route: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers City Bowl, Foreshore, Bo-Kaap
Grosberg, Michael
Fitzpatrick, Mary
Githere, Neema
Paperback
DK Top 10 Cape Town and the Winelands: Top 10 Lists for Your Perfect Trip, Plus an All-Weather Folded Map
Briggs, Philip
Paperback
African Game Trails: An Account of the African Wanderings of an American Hunter-Naturalist
Roosevelt, Theodore
Hardcover
Morocco - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
York, Jillian C.
Culture Smart!
Paperback
African Game-Trails: An Account of the African Wanderings of an American Hunter-Naturalist
Roosevelt, Theodore
Paperback
Kenya Travel Guide: Captivating Adventures through Wildlife Safaris, Tribal Culture, Kenyan Landmarks, Hidden Gems, and More
Travels, Captivating
Hardcover
Hiking in Johannesburg: Hiking Trails in and Around Johannesburg and the Magaliesberg
Smit, Martin
Maassen, Gregory F.
Katz, Janet F.
Paperback
Kenya - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
Barsby, Jane
Culture Smart!
Paperback
Tanzania - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
Culture Smart!
Winks, Quintin
Paperback
Lonely Planet East Africa: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Mo
Eveleigh, Mark
Holden, Trent
Duthie, Shawn
Paperback
Rough Guides Pocket Marrakesh: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Insider Tips Must-See Sights Maps & Itineraries Covers: Jemaa El-Fna, Medina, Majore
Guides, Rough
Morrison, Alice
Paperback
Learn Moroccan Darija: English to Arabic Moroccan Darija Words and 1,001 Phrases for Beginners
Barney, Bailey
Paperback
Stuarts' Field Guide Mammals of Southern Africa (Including Angola, Zambia and Malawi)
Stuart, Chris
Paperback
Their Heads Are Green and Their Hands Are Blue: Scenes from the Non-Christian World
Bowles, Paul
Paperback
The Rough Guide to Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route: Travel Guide with eBook
Guides, Rough
Briggs, Philip
Van Zandbergen, Ariadne
Paperback
Tagine Cookbook: Top 100 Delicious and Healthy Moroccan-Tagine and Couscous Poultry Recipes
Ahmed, Waseem Kader
Paperback
When the Brook Runs Dry: My Journey From Africa to America... and Back a Few Times
Chidzero, Alice
Paperback
Stuarts' Field Guide to National Parks & Game Reserves - Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia & Malawi
Stuart, Chris
Stuart, Mathilde
Paperback
Lonely Planet Mauritius, Reunion & Seychelles: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Mahe, Praslin, La Digue, Gr
Hossenally, Rooksana
Hardy, Paula
Fong Yan, Fabienne
Paperback
East African Wildlife Guide - a fun introduction to the animals of Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi
Hendry, Birgit
Paperback
Africa 101: The Pan African Lifestyle Guide to Relocating, Investing, and Living the African Dream in the Motherland
Bope, Solange
Bope, Emmanuel
Paperback
Zambia Safari Guide: Luangwa Valley - Lower Zambezi - Victoria Falls
McIntyre, Susie
McIntyre, Chris
Paperback
Andalusian Morocco: A Discovery in Living Art
Lakhdar, Kamal
Touri, Abdelaziz
El-Khatib Boujibar, Naima
Paperback
A Hunter's Wanderings in Africa; Being a Narrative of Nine Years Spent Amongst the Game of the far Interior of South Africa ... With ... Illustrations
Selous, Frederick Courteney
Whymper, Edward
Hardcover
Bhutan - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
Choden, Karma
Wangchuk, Dorji
Culture Smart!
Paperback
TALES from the ENDS of the EARTH: My Adventures in East Africa and Beyond (Large Print Edition)
Gustafson, Todd
Hardcover
Drums Along the Congo: On the Trail of Mokele-Mbembe, the Last Living Dinosaur
Nugent, Rory
Paperback
Travels In The Interior Of Africa (Complete): Edited By Henry Morley (Complete Edition Of Two Volumes)
Park, Mungo
Paperback
Ten Days That Shook My World: Searching for My Father in War-Torn Ethiopia
Wickham, Jonathan
Paperback
Seasons of Sisterhood: The Magic of Our Journey to Cameroon
Ngeh, Kanla Rachel
Craster, Sarah
Mondoa, Matanda
Paperback
Cries of the Savanna: An adventure. An awakening. A journey to understanding African Wildlife conservation.
Tidwell, Sue
Paperback