The Deception of the Thrush

Isabelle Eberhardt was a Russian born explorer and Islamic scholar who was known for her so-called "eccentricities" - she preferred to dress and be addressed as a man (she bedded both genders with equal aplomb), had tremendous cachet among the Algerian Sufi community, and, so the story goes, was quite the fan of opioid derivatives in all shapes, sizes, colors, and combinations.

Among the many books she wrote, were her diaries, which Paul Bowles translated into English (as "The Nomad") whilst in Tangiers, presumably also while old buddy William "Billy" Burroughs was getting high and writing what would become "Naked Lunch" on napkins, matchbook covers and the backs of (forged) prescription pads. For Isabelle, however, death provided a strange epilogue in an already epic life, as she was found **drowned** in the middle of the desert, alone. She was only twenty-seven years old. Thankfully, (to Bowles, and others) her works survive and stay in print today and are a fascinating glimpse into one of the true adventurers from a rapidly fading cultural past.

I was lucky enough to see Jolie and her band do this song in Mpls. a couple weeks ago. If the song has got you "hooked", I recommend her brilliant song-cycle, "Escondida", from which this song is taken.

Wow.
Well, I've found a new hero.
How do you drown in a desert? Do you sink in a sand drift?

Oh, and also, I'm curious, where did you see her? First Avenue?

400 Bar. It was a wonderful show, in spite of the typical annoyingly talkative denizens of Mpls. being dressed down by Ms. Holland and both of her opening acts. Repeatedly.

Upon the identification of Ms. Eberhardt and determination of the cause of death, it quickly became one of those quirky literary mysteries that one greets with a combination of conspiratorial thinking and unrestrained curiosity. We'll probably never know the truth.

Make time to read "The Nomad" and "The Oblivion Seekers" - you'll be glad you did.