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Escape into Adventure: Rediscovering Dorothy Gilman’s Caravan
As the holiday season swirls around us with its demands and winter weather, sometimes we need an escape—not just from the cold, but into a world of adventure, danger, and unexpected magic. Dorothy Gilman’s Caravan offers exactly that: a lushly romantic desert adventure that transports you far from snow-covered streets to the sun-baked sands of North Africa in 1914.
A Desert Romance Born from Determination
The journey to bring Caravan to digital readers is a story in itself. Originally published in paperback in 1992, this beloved novel remained frustratingly unavailable in ebook format for nearly three decades. It took years of persistent campaigns—dedicated fans like myself sending emails and making phone calls to Gilman’s agent and Random House—before Ballantine finally released the ebook edition in 2020. That kind of reader devotion speaks volumes about the power of Gilman’s storytelling.
About the Book
Title: Caravan
Author: Dorothy Gilman
Genre: Historical Romance Adventure
Setting: North African Desert, 1914
Synopsis:
“A lushly romantic adventure story set in the North African desert in 1914, told by the impeccable Lady Treal as she reminisces in her London town house about her decidedly peccable past…”—Newsday
With her anthropologist husband murdered and their caravan stolen by fierce Tuareg tribesmen, Caressa faces two impossible choices: death or slavery. Concealing her dangerous beauty beneath the faded robes of an Arab boy, she embarks on the adventure of her life—harassed by vicious nomads, slave traders, and the envious witch doctor, Isa. Only a handful of carnival magic tricks stands between her and oblivion. Then she discovers an inner magic so mysteriously compelling that the desert people call her a sorceress.
“Sheer reading pleasure.”—Publishers Weekly
Why Rediscover Caravan This Holiday Season?
While Dorothy Gilman is best known for her beloved Mrs. Pollifax spy series, Caravan showcases a different facet of her remarkable storytelling talent. This standalone novel demonstrates her gift for creating resilient heroines who find unexpected strength within themselves—a theme that resonates throughout all her work, whether set in the deserts of North Africa or the streets of Cold War Europe.
The novel offers the perfect holiday escape: exotic locales far removed from winter’s chill, a heroine who refuses to accept defeat, and a story that reminds us that sometimes our greatest adventures begin when everything we thought we knew is stripped away. It’s wholesome entertainment with genuine thrills, written with Gilman’s characteristic warmth and wisdom.
About Dorothy Gilman (1923-2012)
Dorothy Gilman began writing at age nine and won her first story contest at eleven, competing against children up to sixteen. She knew early on that she was meant to be a writer. After attending the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts from 1940-1945, she married teacher Edgar A. Butters, Jr. and spent more than a decade writing children’s books under the name Dorothy Gilman Butters.
In 1966, everything changed when she published The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax, introducing the world to Emily Pollifax—a bored New Jersey widow who decides to become a CIA agent in her sixties. The character became an instant sensation, spawning fourteen novels over three decades and earning Gilman a devoted international following.
But Gilman’s literary range extended far beyond espionage. She wrote historical novels, memoirs (including A New Kind of Country about her transformative years living on a farm in Nova Scotia), and stories featuring strong women on adventures around the world. Her knowledge of medicinal herbs, gained from growing her own in Nova Scotia, informed several novels including A Nun in the Closet and Thale’s Folly.
Gilman’s prose is direct and accessible, drawing from her extensive travels and her own journey of self-discovery. Her novels are noted for their wholesome entertainment value and strong moral compass, where good triumphs over evil and unlikely heroines find courage they never knew they possessed.
In 2010, the Mystery Writers of America honored Gilman with their prestigious Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement. She passed away on February 2, 2012, at age 88, leaving behind a legacy of uplifting, adventure-filled stories that continue to inspire new generations of readers.
Where to Find Caravan
Thanks to the efforts of dedicated fans, Caravan is now available in multiple formats:
Universal Book Link: https://books2read.com/Caravan-by-Dorothy-Gilman
(Provides links to all major booksellers worldwide, including ebook, paperback, and audiobook formats)
Direct Links:
Amazon: Kindle Edition
Recorded Books: Audio Edition
A Call to Action: Discover Dorothy Gilman’s Complete Works
If Caravan captures your imagination, you’re in for a treat. Dorothy Gilman left behind a treasure trove of novels waiting to be discovered or revisited. From the delightful espionage adventures of Mrs. Pollifax to standalone novels like A Nun in the Closet, Thale’s Folly, and The Tightrope Walker, each book showcases Gilman’s gift for creating memorable characters and transporting readers to fascinating places.
While many of her adult novels are readily available, fans continue working to bring her earlier children’s and young adult books (published between 1951-1960s) back into print. These early works deserve to find new audiences among today’s middle-grade and YA readers.
Learn More About Dorothy Gilman:
Visit the official fan site at https://mrspollifax.com for more information about Dorothy’s life, complete book listings, and updates on republishing efforts.
Your Perfect Winter Escape Awaits
This holiday season, give yourself permission to escape. Let Dorothy Gilman transport you to the North African desert, where a woman named Caressa discovers that survival requires not just courage, but magic—both the sleight-of-hand kind and the transformative power that comes from within.
“People need dreams, there’s as much nourishment in ’em as food.” —Dorothy Gilman, Caravan
Have you read Dorothy Gilman’s books? Which is your favorite? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
A Note from our Editor
Now Don’t Confuse Dorothy Gilmans “Caravan” with her “Enchanted Caravan“. The first one is a story set in 1914 and published in 1992. The second one is set in the late 1940s and published in 1949 – Her very first book as a matter of fact.
