The River Niger flows through several thousand kilometres of desert, transforming it into meadows, paddy fields, and gardens, as well as providing a huge supply of fish.
In talking of the day-to-day life of the people who live along its banks, Érick Orsenna describes the river's permanent metamorphosis as a vector and symbol of life, thereby getting to the very core of his subject.




Por miles de kilómetros, el Río Níger atraviesa un desierto absoluto y lo convierte en pastizales, arroceras, huertas, inagotable vivero de peces. Érik Orsenna describe la metamorfosis permanente del río como vector y símbolo de vida, y, simplemente con el retrato de la vida cotidiana y de la gente, toca el punto esencial.