Martin Williams is professor emeritus and adjunct professor of earth sciences at the University of Adelaide. His many books include Climate Change in Deserts; Nile Waters, Saharan Sands; and The Nile Basin. He lives in Glenalta, South Australia.
"""Winner of the ASLI Choice Award, Atmospheric Science Librarians International"" ""Winner of the PROSE Award in Earth Science, Association of American Publishers"" ""Winner of the Special Book Award, Gourmand World Cookbook Awards"" ""Winner of the Award of Excellence in Plants and Environmental Change, Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries"" ""A detailed and authoritative account that reveals the rich and fascinating story of this unique landscape and its climate, geology and natural history. . . . Williams’s book offers a wonderful insight into how climate can transform the landscape across long stretches of time, as well as how delicately balanced are the ecosystems on which we depend. ""---P. D. Smith, The Guardian ""This vivid historical survey by Earth scientist Martin Williams is the result of a lifetime’s work.""---Andrew Robinson, Nature ""Fascinating. . . . Engrossing. . . . When the Sahara Was Green covers the cyclical, gradual desiccation of the Sahara, the changing of its biomes, the nature of its current occupants, and even the question of its future. It’s formidably researched . . . but so warmly, approachably written that learning was never so pleasant.""---Steve Donoghue, Open Letters Review ""Given Williams’s deep well of knowledge, this book could have been bogged down by technicalities and jargon. Instead, When the Sahara Was Green is admirably accessible to a broad audience with only basic knowledge of geography and earth sciences. Furthermore, the book stands out for the numerous clear and well-designed illustrations that explain complex concepts.""---Leon Vlieger, Inquisitive Biologist ""Highly accessible . . . and filled with interesting facts about geological history.""---Nicole Barbaro, Bookmarked"