Geographical discovery and exploration Books

810 products


  • Into the Planet

    HarperCollins Publishers Inc Into the Planet

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis

    Out of stock

    £14.39

  • Miracle in the Andes

    Random House USA Inc Miracle in the Andes

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A harrowing, moving first-person account of the 1972 plane crash that left its survivors stranded on a glacier in the Andes—and one man’s quest to lead them all home—by Nando Parrado, a subject of the Oscar-nominated film Society of the SnowFeaturing a new introduction by the author to commemorate of the fiftieth anniversary of the crash“In straightforward, staggeringly honest prose, Nando Parrado tells us what it took—and what it actually felt like—to survive high in the Andes for seventy-two days after having been given up for dead.”—Jon Krakauer, author of Into the Wild “In the first hours there was nothing, no fear or sadness, just a black and perfect silence.” Nando Parrado was unconscious for three days before he woke to discover that the plane carrying his rugby team to Chile had crashed deep in the Andes, killing many of his teammates, his mother, and his sister. Stranded with the few remaining survivors on a lifeless glacier and thinking constantly of his father’s grief, Parrado resolved that he could not simply wait to die. So Parrado, an ordinary young man with no particular disposition for leadership or heroism, led an expedition up the treacherous slopes of a snowcapped mountain and across forty-five miles of frozen wilderness in an attempt to save his friends’ lives as well as his own. Decades after the disaster, Parrado tells his story with remarkable candor and depth of feeling. Miracle in the Andes, a first-person account of the crash and its aftermath, is more than a riveting tale of true-life adventure; it is a revealing look at life at the edge of death and a meditation on the limitless redemptive power of love.

    10 in stock

    £16.00

  • Explorers & the New World

    Nova Science Publishers Inc Explorers & the New World

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £33.14

  • True Spirit The True Story of a 16YearOld

    Simon & Schuster True Spirit The True Story of a 16YearOld

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    15 in stock

    £17.09

  • The Travels of Ludovico di Varthema in Egypt Syria Arabia Deserta and Arabia Felix in Persia Ind Translated from the Original Italian Edition of  Library Collection  Hakluyt First Series

    Cambridge University Press The Travels of Ludovico di Varthema in Egypt Syria Arabia Deserta and Arabia Felix in Persia Ind Translated from the Original Italian Edition of Library Collection Hakluyt First Series

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe publications of the Hakluyt Society (founded in 1846) made available edited (and sometimes translated) early accounts of exploration. The first series, which ran from 1847 to 1899, consists of 100 books containing published or previously unpublished works by authors from Christopher Columbus to Sir Francis Drake, and covering voyages to the New World, to China and Japan, to Russia and to Africa and India. This 1863 volume contains a Victorian translation of Ludovico di Varthema's account of his travels, originally published in 1510, and translated into many European languages within a few years. Ludovico set off from Italy in 1502 (determined, he says, 'to investigate some small portion of this our terrestrial globe') and travelled first to Egypt and Syria; he then journeyed through the Arabian peninsula (where he was imprisoned as a spy), Persia and India, and reached the Molucca islands before returning to Europe in 1508.Table of ContentsPreface; Introduction; Travels of Ludovico di Varthema: Book concerning Arabia Deserta; The second book - Of Arabia Felix; The book concerning Persia; The first book concerning India; The second book concerning India; The third book concerning India; The book concerning Ethiopia; Index.

    15 in stock

    £38.99

  • An Empire of Ice

    Yale University Press An Empire of Ice

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisPublished to coincide with the centenary of the first expeditions to reach the South Pole, this book presents a fresh take on Antarctic exploration. By focusing on the larger purpose, it deepens our appreciation of the explorers' achievements, shares little-known stories, and shows what the Heroic Age of Antarctic discovery was really about.Trade Review"'In this fascinating book... Larson's intriguing accounts begin to reveal the bigger picture of early scientific research in Antarctica and its place in European geopolitics of the time.' (Michael Bravo, New Scientist) 'Larson is a brilliant researcher, going far beyond the standard source materials, so even devotees of polar literature will learn things' (Jennifer Kingson, The Scotsman) 'This is a great and needed book, highly worth reading whether your Antarctic focus is history or science.' (The Antarctican Society Newsletter)"

    1 in stock

    £18.99

  • The Discovery of a Northwest Passage

    TouchWood Editions The Discovery of a Northwest Passage

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisFor centuries, colonial powers searched for a sea passage that would link the Arctic and Pacific Oceans. The route, known as the Northwest Passage, would cut thousands of miles from sea travel and open up commercial trade to and from Asia. There were numerous expeditions to find the passage, though none successful. It was while searching for one of these failed expeditions--the Franklin Expedition--that Captain Robert McClure and his crew aboard the HMS Investigator became the first via sea and sledge to traverse and chart the elusive Northwest Passage.First published in 1856, The Discovery of a Northwest Passage is comprised of McClure''s logs and journals from his time in the Arctic from 1850 to 1854. What began as a joint venture between commanding captain Richard Collinson of the Enterprise and Captain McClure, as his subordinate on the Investigator, became a solitary expedition. Separated along the way, McClure took a dangerous shortcut through the Aleutian Islands and ended up in the Bering Strait, ahead of his commanding ship. His route carried him to Banks Island and to the discovery of the Prince of Wales Strait. The first-hand account tells of the two harsh winters that McClure and his crew spent iced in the Bay of Mercy. And their rescue in 1853, when many from the ship were found suffering malnutrition and on the brink of death.With an introduction by bestselling author and adventurer Anthony Dalton, The Discovery of a Northwest Passage is the original narrative of one of the most dramatic discoveries in Arctic sea travel.

    Out of stock

    £16.79

  • Bering

    Yale University Press Bering

    15 in stock

    Trade ReviewFinalist for the 2004 PEN American Center Literary Award in the Research Nonfiction categoryFinalist for the 2004 Caroline Bancroft Western History Prize sponsored by the Denver Public Library“A biography of Bering has long been needed and no one is better suited to write it than Orcutt Frost. Based on meticulous scholarship and a lifelong knowledge of the subject, this biography will be a revelation to anyone interested in the history of exploration.”—Glyn Williams, author of Voyages of Delusion: The Quest for the Northwest Passage

    15 in stock

    £35.82

  • The Log from the Sea of Cortez

    Penguin Books Ltd The Log from the Sea of Cortez

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisIn 1940 Steinbeck sailed in a sardine boat with his great friend the marine biologist, Ed Ricketts, to collect marine invertebrates from the beaches of the Gulf of California. The expedition was described by the two men in SEA OF CORTEZ, published in 1941. The day-to-day story of the trip is told here in the Log, which combines science, philosophy and high-spirited adventure.

    1 in stock

    £15.29

  • Mountaineers Books Reinhold Messner: My Life at the Limit

    Out of stock

    Out of stock

    £17.95

  • The Ice

    University of Washington Press The Ice

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisExplores the physical and organic phenomena of the Antarctic continent as well as its history. With chapters on the geography and formation of the continent, its exploration, its depiction in the arts and sciences, and its geopolitical treatment, the author places the remote land as central to theTrade Review"The Ice is a compilation of more about ice than you knew you wanted to know, yet sheer compelling significance holds attention page by page..Pyne conveys a view of Antarctica that interweaves physical science with humanistic inquiry and perception. His audacity as well as his presentation warrant admiration, for the implications of The Ice are vast." * New York Times Book Review *"Stephen Pyne has written an imaginative book that combines a geophysical description of Antarctica with a history of attempts to explore and assimilate intellectually this remote and strange continent." * Isis *Table of ContentsForeword by William Cronon Preface to the 1998 Paperback Edition The Berg The Pack No Middle Way: The Exploration of Antarctica The Shelf Heart of Whiteness: the Literature and Art of Antarctica The Glacier Earth and Ice: The Earth Sciences in Antarctica The Sheet The Cold Peace: The Geopolitics of Antarctica The Source Afterword Notes Sources Index

    5 in stock

    £25.19

  • The Blue Nile

    HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Blue Nile

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis

    Out of stock

    £13.49

  • Keeper of the Mountains: The Elizabeth Hawley

    Rocky Mountain Books,Canada Keeper of the Mountains: The Elizabeth Hawley

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis

    Out of stock

    £19.19

  • The Legendary Betty Frank: The Cariboo's Apline

    Caitlin Press The Legendary Betty Frank: The Cariboo's Apline

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisShe grew up playing on log booms and living in float houses, and at nine years old she learned to shoot a rifle and hunt game. Strong-willed and independent, Betty Frank always had a difficult time following the rules laid down by others. Rather than sit in a classroom and learn the times tables, she preferred to be out roaming the hills with her .22 rifle and bagging grouse. At an early age she dreamed of being a game guide and having her own hunting territory. In spite of her distaste for sitting still, Betty soon realised that becoming a teacher would take her to the wilderness where the guiding opportunities lay, so she finished school and got her teaching certificate. But the schoolroom was neither adequate nor exciting enough to contain her imagination. Three years into her new career Betty met game guide Alfred Bowe, and from that day forward she followed her dream, embarking on a long and colourful career that spanned five decades. Betty became a guide outfitter, trapper, shake splitter, dog musher and entrepreneur. Whether it was her penchant for nude sunbathing, popping out of a cake clad in a leopard-skin bikini at a guide-outfitters conference, taking lovers half her age, or living a life uncommon for a woman in the rough and ready Cariboo, Betty Frank made her mark, and throughout her fascinating career she broke all the gender stereotypes.

    Out of stock

    £12.79

  • Pacific Exploration

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Pacific Exploration

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisCaptain Cook is generally acknowledged as the first great European scientific explorer. His voyage of exploration to the Pacific in HM bark Endeavour, commencing in 1768, lasted almost three years, recorded thousands of miles of uncharted lands and seas including New Zealand, the east coast of Australia and many Pacific islands and tested all Cook's skills as a navigator, seaman and leader. His voyages were among the first to take civilian scientists, notably Sir Joseph Banks, and they revealed to European eyes the mysterious and exotic lands, peoples, flora and fauna of the Pacific, never before seen. But while Cook understandably dominates the story of 18th-century Pacific exploration, the achievements of those who followed him on many voyages of science and exploration into the Pacific have been neglected and deprived of the greater attention they deserve. Correcting this imbalance, Pacific Exploration explores the European voyages that continued Cook's work not onl

    Out of stock

    £19.99

  • West with the Night

    Farrar, Straus and Giroux West with the Night

    7 in stock

    Book SynopsisA new edition of a great, underappreciated classic of our timeBeryl Markham''s West with the Night is a true classic, a book that deserves the same acclaim and readership as the work of her contemporaries Ernest Hemingway, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and Isak Dinesen. If the first responsibility of a memoirist is to lead a life worth writing about, Markham succeeded beyond all measure. Born Beryl Clutterbuck in the middle of England, she and her father moved to Kenya when she was a girl, and she grew up with a zebra for a pet; horses for friends; baboons, lions, and gazelles for neighbors. She made money by scouting elephants from a tiny plane. And she would spend most of the rest of her life in East Africa as an adventurer, a racehorse trainer, and an aviatrixshe became the first person to fly nonstop from Europe to America, the first woman to fly solo east to west across the Atlantic. Hers was indisputably a life full of adventure and beauty.

    7 in stock

    £15.30

  • Mountaineers Books Imaginary Peaks: The Riesenstein Hoax and Other

    2 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    2 in stock

    £24.26

  • River of Darkness: The Deadly First Voyage

    Diversion Books River of Darkness: The Deadly First Voyage

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisThe acclaimed author of Conquistador and Labyrinth of Ice charts one of history’s greatest expeditions, a legendary 16th-century adventurer’s death-defying navigation of the Amazon River. In 1541, Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Pizarro and his lieutenant Francisco Orellana searched for La Canela, South America’s rumored Land of Cinnamon, and the fabled El Dorado, “the golden man.” Quickly, the enormous expedition of mercenaries, enslaved natives, horses, and hunting dogs were decimated through disease, starvation, and attacks in the jungle. Hopelessly lost in the swampy labyrinth, Pizarro and Orellana made the fateful decision to separate. While Pizarro eventually returned home in rags, Orellana and fifty-seven men continued into the unknown reaches of the mighty Amazon jungle and river. Theirs would be the greater glory. Interweaving historical accounts with newly uncovered details, Levy reconstructs Orellana’s journey as the first European to navigate the world’s largest river. Every twist and turn of the powerful Amazon holds new wonders and the risk of death. Levy gives a long-overdue account of the Amazon’s people—some offering sustenance and guidance, others hostile, subjecting the invaders to gauntlets of unremitting attacks and signs of terrifying rituals. Violent and beautiful, noble and tragic, River of Darkness is riveting history and breathtaking adventure that will sweep readers on a voyage unlike any other. Trade ReviewPraise for Buddy Levy and River of Darkness “In River of Darkness, Buddy Levy recounts Orellana's headlong dash down the Amazon. Like Mr. Levy's last book, Conquistador, about the conquest of Mexico, River of Darkness presents a fast-moving tale of triumph over seemingly insurmountable odds. . . . Though impromptu, the expedition was one of the most amazing adventures of all time.” —Wall Street Journal “River of Darkness immediately takes its place as the definitive book on one of the great voyages into the unknown of all time, Orellana's accidental first descent of the Amazon. Not only is it a solid contribution to the scholarly literature on Amazonia, but it is a riveting and irresistible read, narrative history of a literary quality rarely encountered that compares with Alan Moorehead's great books on the Nile. Bravissimo!” —Alex Shoumatoff, contributing editor, Vanity Fair; publisher, DispatchesFromTheVanishingworld.com, and author of In Southern Light, The Rivers Amazon, and The World is Burning “In River of Darkness, Buddy Levy proves that the scariest stories are the true ones. Filled with fascinating details and the terror that comes with exploring something for the very first time, this is history coming back to life.” —Brad Meltzer, bestselling author of The Book of Fate and The Inner Circle“Buddy Levy’s compulsively readable book about the first European descent through the Amazon puts us right next to the vampire-bat-and-mosquito-bitten conquistadors and on a wild ride through the mighty river and a force of nature down to the Atlantic Ocean.”—Andrés Reséndez, author of National Book Award Finalist The Other Slavery and Conquering the Pacific “Buddy Levy is one of those rare and gifted authors whose books are virtual time machines that effortlessly transport us back through centuries. In River of Darkness, we participate in one of history’s signal explorations, Francisco Orellana’s descent of the Amazon River. We see blood, smell smoke, hear screams of joy and agony. Levy’s impeccably researched book is at once harrowing adventure and revealing history. Better than any in recent memory, River of Darkness sheds new light—and reveals the darkest aspects—of the Conquistadors’ brave and bloody New World forays.” —James M. Tabor, Author of Blind Descent: The Quest to Discover the Deepest Place on Earth “In this fluid account, Levy narrates the story of the conquistadors who become the first Europeans to navigate the length of the Amazon River. After plundering the Inca empire, Gonzalo Pizarro and Francisco Orellana set out from Quito with an expedition of soldiers and Indian slaves in search of El Dorado. The two explorers became separated and the expedition quickly became lost in the jungle, then decimated by disease, starvation, and native attacks. Desperate, Orellana and the remaining conquistadors built a large boat and sailed downriver. Realizing that he would be unable to wait for Pizarro, Orellana set his sights on the Atlantic Ocean thousands of miles away. Levy does a fine job of organizing an enormous amount of historical material and balancing the accounts of Orellana and Pizarro after they separated. As one conflict follows another in rapid succession, they tend to blur into each other, though Levy provides enough descriptive detail and pacing to differentiate between the various native groups and aspects of the river. He also addresses the new archeological research that is changing our understanding of the cultures of the pre-Columbian Amazon Basin.” —Publishers Weekly “An exciting, well-plotted excursion down the Amazon River with the early Spanish conquistador. . . . [A] richly textured account of the rogue, rebel and visionary whose discovery still resonates today.” —Kirkus Reviews “A rollicking adventure . . . Levy successfully conveys the Amazon’s power and majesty, while shedding light on the futility of humanity’s attempt to tame it.” —The A.V. Club

    Out of stock

    £15.19

  • Tin House Books Waterlog

    10 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    10 in stock

    £14.41

  • In Search of a Kingdom

    HarperCollins Publishers Inc In Search of a Kingdom

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisFor Elizabeth, Drake made the impossible real, serving as a crucial and brilliantly adaptable instrument of her ambitions to transform England from a third-rate island kingdom into a global imperial power.In 1580, sailing on Elizabeth’s covert orders, Drake became the first captain to circumnavigate the earth successfully.Trade Review“Fascinating. … Engaging. … Drake’s story is both dramatic and timely. … In Laurence Bergreen’s colorful assessment, an unlikely alliance between Queen Elizabeth I and Sir Francis Drake empowered English Protestants to … stake out the beginnings of the British Empire.” — New York Times Book Review, "Editors' Choice" “A dramatic tale of discovery. ... A comprehensive look at Drake, in all his contradictions. ... A lively and compelling history of a man whose blend of audacity, piety and cruelty changed the world.” — San Francisco Chronicle “Vivid. … Entrancing. ... The accounts of Drake’s circumnavigation and his subsequent naval career are very good indeed. They will surely delight aficionados of imperial history and anyone keen on real-life adventure stories.” — Wall Street Journal "With a keen sense of adventure and a sharp grasp of personalities on sea and land, Bergreen details Drake’s round-the-world adventures as well as political intrigues and mutinous sailors." — Booklist (starred review) “The swashbuckling life and times of the explorer who achieved what Magellan could not—and made England’s fortune in the process. ... Demonstrating his deep knowledge of the era, the author energetically recounts Drake’s action-packed journey. ... Bergreen masterly portrays the principal characters in this drama. … A smooth, dramatic, and well-fleshed world history.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “The great pleasure of In Search of a Kingdom is the revelation of Drake as a man of apparent contradictions that helped rather than hindered his ambitions. Readers in search of a story of how a clergyman’s son gained the support of a queen and helped found the British Empire will not be disappointed.” — Washington Independent Review of Books “Laurence Bergreen’s new book tells the swashbuckling tale of Sir Francis Drake. … Drake’s trip around the globe, which Bergreen describes in great and fascinating detail, was truly a marvel. … The account of Drake’s remarkable trip and Bergreen’s parsing of this complicated character will repay the time of readers who choose to take this 400-page trip.” — American Spectator

    1 in stock

    £11.69

  • American Travelers on the Nile: Early US Visitors

    The American University in Cairo Press American Travelers on the Nile: Early US Visitors

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Treaty of Ghent signed in 1814, ending the War of 1812, allowed Americans once again to travel abroad. Medical students went to Paris, artists to Rome, academics to Gottingen, and tourists to all European capitals. More intrepid Americans ventured to Athens, to Constantinople, and even to Egypt. Beginning with two eighteenth-century travellers, this book then turns to the 25-year period after 1815 that saw young men from East Coast cities, among them graduates of Harvard, Yale, and Columbia, travelling to the lands of the Bible and of the Greek and Latin authors they had first known as teenagers. Drawing on unpublished letters and diaries together with previously neglected newspaper accounts, as well as a handful of published accounts, this book offers a new look at the early American experience in Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean world. More than thirty illustrations complement the stories told by the travellers themselves.Trade Review"The highly readable book is a major contribution to the history of Egyptology and to the study of East-West encounter." --Jason Thompson, author of A History of Egypt from Earliest Times to the Present "Andrew Oliver has rescued an earlier, happier American encounter with the Middle East - when American came to admire, to explore and to record. In many cases these American accounts, mostly unpublished, are less arrogant and more original than those by contemporary Europeans. Indispensable for anyone interested in the history of travel, and of the Middle East in the age of Mohammed Ali Pasha." --Philip Mansel, author of Levant: Splendour and Catastrophe on the Mediterranean. "This book on the little-known history of the American presence in Egypt, which was to have a continuing influence on American art and taste, fills a much-needed gap in both the modern history of Egypt and America" --Morris Bierbrier, Department of Egyptian Antiquities, British Museum. "For those interested in the study of travellers and travel in Egypt, this book is a welcome new source of information about many forgotten journeys and will be valuable for descriptions of Egypt and its monuments" --Neil Cooke, Association for the Study of Travel in Egypt and the Near East; "a thorough compendium of travellers' tales, accompanied by appropriate and meticulously researched illustrations... this book is a significant contribution to the history of travellers from the United States to the lands of the Ottoman Empire ...The book could almost be a work of reference it is so packed with encyclopaedic detail ... a fascinating picture of two nations first emerging onto the world stage from the shadow of two great empires." Sheila McGuirk, ASTENE Bulletin 64;

    2 in stock

    £28.49

  • Ice Ghosts

    WW Norton & Co Ice Ghosts

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe true story of the greatest mystery of Arctic exploration—and the rare mix of marine science and Inuit knowledge that led to the shipwreck’s recent discovery.Trade Review"... his [Paul Watson's] account of the final uncovering of Erebus and Terror wrecks is riveting..." -- The Observer"... Watson has produced a primer for the whole sorry saga and given us a comprehensive account of a gripping story: one which, like that of Shackleton, will engross readers until the next Ice Age." -- Sara Wheeler - Times Literary Supplement"... Paul Watson’s Ice Ghosts provides a gripping account of the uncovering of the wrecks of Erebus and Terror, the lost ships of John Franklin’s doomed 19th -century expedition to sail the North west Passage." -- Science Books of the Year 2017 - The Observer"This fascinating book weaves together the story of the lost Franklin Expedition of 1845 and the remarkable people and events that led to the shipwreck’s discovery in 2014." -- Choice

    2 in stock

    £12.34

  • No Horizon Is So Far: Two Women and Their

    University of Minnesota Press No Horizon Is So Far: Two Women and Their

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe extraordinary story of the first two women to cross Antarctica The fascinating chronicle of Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft’s dramatic journey as the first two women to cross Antarctica, No Horizon Is So Far follows the explorers from the planning of their expedition through their brutal trek from the Norwegian sector all the way to McMurdo Station as they walked, skied, and ice-sailed for almost three months in temperatures reaching as low as -35°F, all while towing their 250-pound supply sledges across 1,700 miles of ice full of dangerous crevasses. Through website transmissions and satellite phone calls, Ann and Liv, two former schoolteachers, were able to broadcast their expedition to more than three million students in sixty-five countries to teach geography, science, and the importance of following your dreams. Trade Review"If you think you know the story of the first female crossing of Antarctica, think again. More hard work, more sweat and tears went into this historic expedition than any of us realized. Their accomplishment proves that nothing is beyond our wildest dreams."—Billie Jean King"Ann and Liv’s historic polar expedition is an awesome accomplishment but, as this book shows, their work as teachers has also had profound impact: they inspire young girls and boys to follow their dreams."—Will Steger, world-famous polar explorer and best-selling author of North to the Pole"Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen’s crossing of Antarctica will go down in history as a great expedition because it was a first for women and because they set a distance record. But the uplifting story of No Horizon Is So Far shows why Ann and Liv will be remembered for much more: their generosity of spirit transcends their bravery and tenacity. Through this powerful account, these women will inspire readers for generations to come."—David Breashers, author of High Exposure, expedition leader and codirector of the IMAX film Everest"The new paperback edition calls attention to their ongoing work in raising awareness of water pollution and scarcity, but the core text is a testimonial to the resilience of the explorers in vividly descriptive prose."—Shepherd Express"What makes this book interesting goes beyond the hard environment . . . it’s the spirit with which this particular expedition was run."—National Geographic

    15 in stock

    £12.34

  • Hillarys Antarctica

    Atlantic Books Hillarys Antarctica

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisNigel Watson is the Executive Director of the Antarctic Heritage Trust. The Trust cares, on behalf of the international community, for the first expedition bases left in Antarctica's Ross Sea Region. This includes the iconic expedition bases left by expeditions led by Robert Falcon Scott, Ernest Shackleton and Sir Edmund Hillary. Nigel is an authority on Antarctic history and is the co-author of the acclaimed Still Life: Inside the Historic Huts of Scott and Shackleton with Jane Ussher and a contributor to Assouline's South Pole.Jane Ussher is highly respected for her documentary work as a photographer, and is regarded as one of New Zealand's foremost portrait photographers. She photographed the images for Still Life: Inside the Historic Huts of Scott and Shackleton, and her other published books include the award-winning Coast: A New Zealand journey, Face to Face, Worship: A history of New Zealand church design and Islands: A New Zealand Journ

    15 in stock

    £15.29

  • The True History of The Conquest of New Spain

    Hackett Publishing Co, Inc The True History of The Conquest of New Spain

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis rugged new translation--the first entirely new English translation in half a century and the only one based on the most recent critical edition of the Guatemalan MS--allows Diaz to recount, in his own battle-weary and often cynical voice, the achievements, stratagems, and frequent cruelty of Hernando Cortes and his men as they set out to overthrow Moctezuma's Aztec kingdom and establish a Spanish empire in the New World.The concise contextual introduction to this volume traces the origins, history, and methods of the Spanish enterprise in the Americas; it also discusses the nature of the conflict between the Spanish and the Aztecs in Mexico, and compares Diaz's version of events to those of other contemporary chroniclers. Editorial glosses summarize omitted portions, and substantial footnotes explain those terms, names, and cultural references in Diaz's text that may be unfamiliar to modern readers. A chronology of the Conquest is included, as are a guide to major figures, a select bibliography, and three maps.Trade ReviewBernal Diaz's True History of the Conquest of New Spain, the chronicle of an 'ordinary' soldier in Hernando Cortes's army, is the only complete account (other than Cortes's own) that we have of the Spanish conquest of ancient Mexico. Although it is neither so 'true' nor so unassumingly direct as its author would have us believe, it is unmistakably the voice of the often unruly, undisciplined body of untrained freebooters who, in less than three years, succeeded against all apparent odds, in bringing down the once mighty ‘Aztec Empire.’ It makes for consistently fascinating reading, and Ted Humphrey and Janet Burke have provided the best, and the most engaging, translation ever to have appeared in English. --Anthony Pagden, UCLAReaders interested in the early period of Spanish American history will welcome the publication of this new abridged edition of the classic account by Bernal Diaz del Castillo, True History of the Conquest of New Spain. An observer of and participant in the momentous conquest of central Mexico by the Spaniards and their indigenous allies, Bernal Diaz wrote his chronicle many decades later, at least partially in response to the claims and biases of other writers. This excellent and highly readable translation by Janet Burke and Ted Humphrey remains faithful to the straightforward and unadorned prose that Díaz uses to describe the events as well as his understanding of their significance. The useful introduction, notes and epilogue further enhance the volume's accessibility. This edition is highly recommended for both students and a more general audience. --Ida Altman, University of FloridaA reliable modern translation of one of the great historical narratives. While faithful to the original text, [Humphrey and Burke's] translation takes full advantage of the best scholarship of the last fifty years, providing useful context and interpretation for the non-specialist. The result is a highly readable, engaging book that will prove a valuable teaching tool in a variety of classroom settings. --Lyman Johnson, University of North Carolina, Charlotte

    2 in stock

    £17.99

  • Captain Phil Harris The Legendary Crab Fisherman

    Simon & Schuster Captain Phil Harris The Legendary Crab Fisherman

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis

    Out of stock

    £14.45

  • The Vikings

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Vikings

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe history of the Vikings is bloody and eventful, and Viking warriors capture the popular imagination to this day. They made history, establishing the dukedom of Normandy, providing the Byzantine Emperors' bodyguard and landing on the shores of America 500 years before Columbus. Beautifully illustrated with colour photographs and original Osprey artwork, this book presents a new window into their way of life including detailed studies of the Hersir, the raiding warrior of the Viking world, and the legendary Viking longship.Table of ContentsChronology /Introduction /The Vikings at Home /The Viking Hersir /The Vikings in Battle /The Viking Longship /Glossary /Bibliography /Index

    2 in stock

    £11.69

  • This Vanishing Land: A Woman's Journey to the

    Caitlin Press This Vanishing Land: A Woman's Journey to the

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis

    Out of stock

    £14.24

  • Vertical Reference: The Life of Legendary

    Rocky Mountain Books Vertical Reference: The Life of Legendary

    4 in stock

    Book SynopsisAn exciting and heart-pounding look at one of Western Canada''s most adventurous individuals, known as a pioneer pilot of the heli-ski industry and as the first mountain-rescue pilot in the Canadian National Parks system. Jim Davies is an icon of competence and courage as the first heli-skiing pilot in Canada. But it is his ground-breaking work as a helicopter rescue pilot for Parks Canada that made him a legend to all who worked with him. His stellar career as a pilot overshadowed his other talents as a ski racer and artist. Jim received several awards for his work in mountain rescue, including the Helicopter Association International - Pilot Safety Award of Excellence, the Alberta Achievement Award for excellence in helicopter flying, the Summit of Excellence Award at the Banff Film and Book Festival, and the Robert E. Trimble Memorial Award for "distinguished performance in helicopter mountain flying." He is now retired and living in Banff, pursuing his love of painting and photography.

    4 in stock

    £21.74

  • Rough Magic: Riding the World's Loneliest Horse

    10 in stock

    £12.34

  • Mountaineers Books The Art of Shralpinism: Lessons from the

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis2023 National Outdoor Book Award Winner in Outdoor Adventure Guides 2023 Banff Mountain Book Award finalist in Guidebooks Includes stories, lists, and prescriptive guidance based on Jones's experiences as well as those of other wellknown adventurers Anecdotal and experiential approach for creating a resilient mountain life Features original art by the author 1% of all sales of this book benefit Protect Our Winters Not a technical guide on snowboarding but, rather, a very personal approach to how to think about mountains, snow, and adventure, The Art of Shralpinism reflects the remarkable journey of snowboarding superstar Jeremy Jones. Drawing on the hundreds of journals he has kept over the years, Jones offers intriguing snapshots of time and place that include his own on-the-slope stories and white-out moments, as well as those of other prominent adventurers such as Jimmy Chin, Zahan Billimoria, and Christina Lusti. Shralpinism is a compendium of lessons hard won: quick tips, sound advice, and impactful stories. Learn which aspects of avalanche training are most crucial to absorb, ways to anticipate slope behavior or recognize clean lines, how to cut a cornice or develop safety protocols, how to build a fitness routine, the art of the turn, and keys to developing terrain and skills progression. Jones discusses the importance of mentors, the necessity and intensity of practice, the nature of risk, and the shape of failure. But at its heart, The Art of Shralpinism revels in the power of experience, the impact of stoke, and the beauty that underscores all outdoor adventure.Trade ReviewOnce you dive into the book, you'll find this instructional guide unlike any other.-- "National Outdoor Book Award Judges" There isn't a single section among the book's 288 pages that can't teach a snowboarder something useful about being safe and having fun in the mountains. Most books will teach readers something worthwhile, but it's rare that a book can deliver on every page.--Jeremy Evans "Tahoe Quarterly" Ultimately, this is a book about managing risk, our most important work in the mountains. Jones has thought about this as much as anyone.... Jones begins the book with a quote from Robert Pirsig's 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.' My first impression was to judge this connection a reach. But I'm happy to say that these books belong on the same shelf. And you'll learn at lot more from Jones about how to live safely in the mountains than you will from Pirsig about how to tune your Ducati 900SS.--David Stevenson "American Alpine Journal" The Art of Shralpinism is an insightful read for anyone who enjoys being in the mountains. While written directly for snowboarders (Jeremy Jones himself is a pioneer and luminary in the snowboarding space), skiers, climbers, and even armchair alpinists can learn from and be inspired by the stories, wisdom, and pieces of artwork Jones provides his readers.--Ali Gray "The Mazama Bulletin" You can learn from the superstar himself, as each topic serves as a snapshot from the slopes.--Brittany Artwohl "Mountain Weekly News" [The Art of Shralpinism] is filled with insights and lessons from Jeremy's long and storied career in the backcountry. From how Jeremy reads terrain and snow, to the importance of mentors and life lessons, it is all there.-- "Black Sheep Adventure Sports Snowboarder's Gift Guide" If you're an aspiring shralpinist, this is a must-read and if you have an aspiring shralpinist in your life the book would make an excellent gift. For this 30-something splitboard guide, The Art of Shralpinism was a great pre-season read to put myself in the winter state of mind.--Aaron Diamond "The Avalanche Review" Having read this book now, I feel like in 20 years people will be quoting this the way Bruce Lee used to talk about water. His whole section about how the turns he made as a kid at Stowe return to him when he needed to shred an icy face in Nepal...the way he views his entire snowboarding life and every turn meaning something and what he does with it.--Mike Rogge "BLISTER Podcast" While I think it's fair to assume that Jeremy's intention was, first and foremost, to lay out more of an ethic or a way of life in this book than to (first and foremost) create some great work of literature that happens to have riding at the center of the story ... there are numerous descriptions and passages in The Art of Shralpinism that hold up to the descriptions and passages of the writing of John Krakauer, Christopher McDougall, and even (dare I say it?) one of my all-time favorite authors -- someone who, in his own way, was every bit as passionate about wild places and the outdoors -- Henry David Thoreau.--Jonathan Ellsworth "BLISTER" The Art of Shralpinism is like a handbook for mountain aspirants; there are many nuggets, some literal, some more mystical. Jones also peppers the book with not infrequent comments and advice from a who's who of the mountain scene.--Jason Albert "WildSnow" Of special appeal to readers with an interest in snowboarding, mountain climbing, and outdoors exploration, "The Art of Shralpinism: Lessons from the Mountains" is also nicely illustrated by author Jeremy Jones and should be considered a 'must read' for his legions of snowboarding fans.-- "Midwest Book Review" A tasteful and creative how-to book for splitboarders all premised on the lessons the author has learned over the years.-- "WildSnow" Think of the book as part memoir, part manual for best practices in the mountains, part art book, and an ode to finding joy by making turns. Page after page, Jones exudes the glass-half-full ethos.-- "Totally Deep" Drawn from decades of journal entries and years of experience, the book is full of stories and tangible tips about how to live and travel well in the backcountry, which we could all use as we think about our personal futures on snow.--Heather Hansman "Outside" The Art of Shralpinism serves as a manual for those who learn by experience rather than a classroom. Truly, in essence we must all learn mountain sense in this way.... This is where the book shines. Jones helps elevate the base level of mountain awareness to a point where others after him can learn from the mistakes he and his contemporaries made along their journey, and hopefully empower the next generation of Shralpinists to go further down the road that they have paved.--Steve Andrews "The Inertia" Equal parts autobiography, epic tale, and guidebook to snowboarding, outdoor adventuring, and survival--a beautifully conceived scrapbook from a masterful athlete, and a love letter to mother nature.--Jacqui Davis "SnowBrains" In 'The Art of Shralpanism: Lessons from the Mountains, ' legendary snowboarder Jeremy Jones has created an elegant fusion of memoir, manifesto and mentorship that is required reading for backcountry snow enthusiasts, but should also be given to every high school graduate.--Meg Olson "Mount Baker Experience" [Jones] shares his accumulated wisdom in the new book The Art of Shralpinism: Lessons from the Mountains... "Shralpinism" is a portmanteau of "shredding" and "alpinism," two pursuits Jones has combined with aplomb.--Gregory Scruggs "The Seattle Times" Part memoir, part skills guide, part almost motivational, self-help guide, The Art of Shralpinism provides a window into Jones' evolution as an individual and an athlete. It gives readers the opportunity to learn from his lessons, lifestyle and wisdom.--Tom Hallberg "Backcountry Magazine"

    Out of stock

    £18.95

  • The Frontier Below The Past Present and Future of

    HarperCollins Publishers The Frontier Below The Past Present and Future of

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisTriumphs and disasters in the deep seaThis is a journey through time and water, to the bottom of the ocean and the future of our planet.We do not see the ocean when we look at the water that blankets more than two thirds of our planet. We only see the entrance to it. Beyond that entrance is a world hostile to humans, yet critical to our survival. The first divers to enter that world held their breath and splashed beneath the surface, often clutching rocks to pull them down. Over centuries, they invented wooden diving bells, clumsy diving suits, and unwieldy contraptions in attempts to go deeper and stay longer. But each advance was fraught with danger, as the intruders had to survive the crushing weight of water, or the deadly physiological effects of breathing compressed air. The vertical odyssey continued when explorers squeezed into heavy steel balls dangling on cables, or slung beneath floats filled with flammable gasoline. Plunging into the narrow trenches between the tectonic plaTrade Review‘Superb’ Engineering & Technology ‘Enthralling’ InDEPTH ‘A brisk tour through the history of diving and submersibles. The cast of characters is wide and wild’ International Journal of Science ‘On every page of this book there is an “I-didn’t-know-that” moment’ Sydney Daily Telegraph ‘Keeps you turning each page, diving deeper into history’ Melbourne Herald Sun ‘Maynard has given us a tour of the horizon on the history and practice of mankind’s quest to go ever deeper in the sea’ Don Walsh, the first person to reach the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Praise for Antarctica’s Lost Aviator ‘Filled with a sumptuous cast of real-life adventurers, this is an engrossing and stirring tale’ Kirkus Reviews ‘A simply fascinating and inherently riveting read from beginning to end. Exceptionally well researched, written, organized, and presented’ Midwest Book Review ‘Maynard teases out the skeletons in Ellsworth’s closet while layering obstacle upon obstacle’ Publishers Weekly Praise for The Unseen Anzac ‘A wonderfully researched book. Every Australian should read it. Almost every page leaves you astonished’ The Age Praise for Wings of Ice ‘This polar adventure classic is begging to be read. A ripping yarn’ Sydney Morning Herald

    2 in stock

    £21.25

  • David Livingstone, Africa's Greatest Explorer:

    Fonthill Media Ltd David Livingstone, Africa's Greatest Explorer:

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisIn 1841, a twenty-eight-year-old Scottish missionary, David Livingstone, began the first of his exploratory treks into the African veldt. During the course of his lifetime, he covered over 29,000 miles uncovering what lay beyond rivers and mountain ranges where no other white man had ever been. Livingstone was the first European to make a trans-African passage from modern day Angola to Mozambique and he discovered and named numerable lakes, rivers and mountains. His explorations are still considered one of the toughest series of expeditions ever undertaken. He faced an endless series of life-threatening situations, often at the hands of avaricious African chiefs, cheated by slavers traders and attacked by wild animals. He was mauled by a lion, suffered thirst and starvation and was constantly affected by dysentery, bleeding from hemorrhoids, malaria and pneumonia. This biography covers his life but also examines his relationship with his wife and children who were the main casualties of his endless explorations in Africa. It also looks Livingstone's legacy through to the modern day. Livingstone was an immensely curious person and he made a habit of making meticulous observations of the flora and fauna of the African countryside that he passed through. His legacy includes numerable maps and geographical and botanical observations and samples. He was also a most powerful and effective proponent for the abolition of slavery and his message of yesterday is still valid today in a continent stricken with drought, desertification and debt for he argued that the African culture should be appreciated for its richness and diversity. But like all great men, he had great faults. Livingstone was unforgiving of those that he perceived had wronged him; he was intolerant of those who could not match his amazing physical powers; and finally and he had no compunction about distorting the truth, particularly about other people, in order to magnify his already significant achievements.

    5 in stock

    £21.25

  • Adventures in Maps

    Bodleian Library Adventures in Maps

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisTwenty historical journeys, routes and adventures followed through the maps that made them.

    1 in stock

    £22.50

  • Mountaineers Books A Fine Line: Searching for Balance Among

    5 in stock

    Book Synopsis"A Fine Line is more than just a recounting of remarkable expeditions, summit views, and thin air. It's a story of resilience, loss, and the quest for a balanced and meaningful life in the unforgiving realm of high-risk mountain sports. --Men's Journal Honestly portrays the highs and lows of a life dedicated to the outdoors Shares the author's development as an outspoken conservation advocate Story is rooted in the peaks of the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and Pakistan How do we reconcile our love of outdoor adventure with the inevitability of loss in high-risk sports? Still in his thirties, Graham Zimmerman has made first ascents from Alaska to Pakistan, and in 2020 he received the Piolet d'Or for his climb on Pakistan's Link Sar with Steve Swenson. A sponsored athlete who is sought out as a climbing partner, Zimmerman knows that he must find a balance between his ambitions as an alpinist and his social responsibilities--as a husband, climate advocate, and community leader. His generation has faced devastating grief in the mountains, including the deaths of Kyle Dempster, Hayden Kennedy, and Inge Perkins, and his cohort has witnessed firsthand the effects of climate change in the form of disappearing glaciers and increasingly erratic weather. Zimmerman writes of the exhilaration he feels while climbing but also the painful realization that summiting at all costs is an outdated model. As A Fine Line traces Graham's journey, mountain lovers everywhere will see themselves in this coming-of-age story of adventure and personal reckoning.Trade ReviewA Fine Line traces Zimmerman's evolution from budding mountaineer to sponsored athlete to battle-hardened alpinist who embraces the theme of a "100-year-plan."--Stephen Kurczy "Appalachia" This worthwhile coming-of-age read is full of adventure and reflections on being a husband, climate advocate, and community leader.--Naomi Farr "Men's Journal "Top Non-Fiction Books of the Year"" What is most striking about this book is the detail in which he describes each expedition, including the skills and shared passion of his climbing partners and the extreme weather and challenges of reaching or not reaching summits in the sky.--Margaret Bauman "The Cordova Times" Readers will learn about the outdoor adventures of an acclaimed alpinist, one who has made first ascents on mountains across the planet, sometimes ending in great losses as well as first-hand awareness of impending climate change.--Wendy Altschuler "Forbes" A gripping and informative book by one of the most talented and influential alpinists of his generation.-- "Climbing" A Fine Line is a story of defining priorities--and of learning to compromise while piecing it all together.--Abbey Collins "Alpinist Magazine" His new book, "A Fine Line" reflects on his incredible climbing career. In the sometimes overly macho, deeply risky pursuit of alpine climbing, his book offers a welcomed counterpoint to the narrative we often hear.-- "The Dirtbag Diaries" The rewards of alpine climbing are described with a novelist's sense of situation, character, and detail.--Tom Valis "Gripped Magazine" A beautiful memoir about life, love, career, values, ambitions, and survival while climbing the world's most technical mountains.--Meghan Robins "Odd Fodder" Acclaimed alpinist Graham Zimmerman's newest book is an important query into the ways outdoor enthusiasts--and professionals--balance the human and environmental cost of their adventures.--Taylor Gerlach "Seattle Met" In this well-crafted book, Zimmerman candidly shares his remarkable journey from a budding climber to one of the best alpinists in the world. Yet, A Fine Line is more than just a recounting of remarkable expeditions, summit views, and thin air. It's a story of resilience, loss, and the quest for a balanced and meaningful life in the unforgiving realm of high-risk mountain sports.--Dalton Johnson "Men's Journal" An excellent read, A Fine Line is well worth adding to any collection of climbing and mountaineering books.--Jaime Herndon "goEast" Obviously for fans of extreme outdoor sports, Zimmerman's debut is also recommended for readers seeking wisdom and balance in any pursuit.--Julia Kastner "Shelf Awareness" A Fine Line reveals the realities of climbing and highlights an intentional approach to reaching the tallest pinnacles and living a balanced, meaningful life.--Wendy Hinman "Foreword Reviews" Vivid descriptions of climbs and conditions are thoughtfully paired with the author's growth as a sportsman and a person. Highly recommended for readers of memoirs, sports narratives, and outdoor adventures.--Catherine Lantz "Library Journal"

    5 in stock

    £16.10

  • Mountaineers Books Royal Robbins: The American Climber

    5 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    5 in stock

    £20.66

  • Crean: The Extraordinary Life of an Irish Hero

    Merrion Press Crean: The Extraordinary Life of an Irish Hero

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis

    Out of stock

    £16.14

  • The Magnetism of Antarctica: The Ross Expedition

    Whittles Publishing The Magnetism of Antarctica: The Ross Expedition

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis under-documented expedition was a pivotal moment in the annals of polar exploration and was the starting point, in historical terms, of revealing the great unknown continent of Antarctica. It was the first time in nearly 70 years since Captain James Cook had circumnavigated Antarctica, that a Royal Naval voyage of discovery had ventured so far South. They set a new 'furthest south' record in the process beating the one set up by James Weddell in a whaling ship in 1823. The expedition set sail from Greenwich in 1839. It consisted of two wooden sailing ships commanded by Captain James Clark Ross and Commander Francis Crozier. The ships were manned exclusively by Royal Naval personnel and each ship had a complement of 64 men and officers. Their primary task was of a scientific nature to study the Earth's magnetic field and build up a set of results that could provide a greater understanding of the effects of magnetism on compasses and their use in navigating the world's oceans. This voyage had a set of planned targets and all were accomplished. In the process a vast amount of scientific information was collected. Many exotic places were visited during the voyage amongst them Madeira, St Helena, Cape Town, Kerguelen island, New Zealand, Australia and the Falkland Islands but the pinnacle was the discovery of the Ross Sea, The Ross Ice Shelf and the mighty volcanoes of Erebus and Terror (named after the two ships). The crews experienced the dangers of navigating in ice-strewn waters and narrowly escaping being crushed by icebergs. Illness was kept at bay although several lives were lost due to accidents. It would be another 60 years before the scenes of their greatest discoveries were visited again and then the Golden Age of Discovery was ushered in with the likes of Scott, Shackleton and Amundsen.Table of ContentsPart 1 - The Expedition. In the Beginning; Targets and instructions; James Clark Ross and Francis Crozier; Setting sail to Madeira and the Atlantic Islands; Cape Town and beyond; Next stop - Hobart, Tasmania; First taste of the ice; Amazing discoveries and wonders to behold; Turning North; South again to the Great Ice Barrier; Impending Disaster; Wild cattle hunt and a third winter away; Return to the Antarctic. Part 2 - The sailors' stories. Part 3 - The sailors' ships

    1 in stock

    £18.04

  • The Challenger Expedition: Exploring the Ocean's

    National Maritime Museum The Challenger Expedition: Exploring the Ocean's

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisOn 21 December 1872, HMS Challenger set sail from Portsmouth, England, to begin a global voyage of deep-sea exploration, unique for the scale of its ambition and scope. Made possible by technological and scientific developments, extensive international cooperation and supported by a team of researchers and naval officers, the expedition was part of a concerted nineteenth-century drive to map the ocean floors and search for life in the abyss. By the time the ship returned to Britain in 1876, the scientific team on board had amassed what was then the largest collection of examples of life from the deep sea. But their work was not finished and over the next two decades a global network of researchers prepared the results for publication, culminating in a 50-volume series that is considered the intellectual foundation of modern oceanography.

    15 in stock

    £20.00

  • Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings

    7 in stock

    £15.99

  • Captain Shakespear: Desert exploration, Arabian

    Medina Publishing Ltd Captain Shakespear: Desert exploration, Arabian

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisTwo years before T E Lawrence received orders to travel to the Hejaz to liaise with the leader of the Arab Revolt, other British officers had already roamed the Arabian Peninsula's unforgiving Nejdi desert, to rally tribal support for the British war effort. The first was Captain William Henry Irvine Shakespear, a political agent from the Government of India's Political Department. Born in October 1878 in India, Shakespear spent much of his childhood away from his Anglo-Indian parents, schooling in Portsmouth and later in the Isle of Man, before entering Sandhurst as a British Indian Army Officer Cadet. On his return to India, Shakespear spent six years in military service before he joined the Political Department in 1904, serving twice in Bandar Abbas and briefly in Muscat. Shakespear's next mission was as a political agent in Kuwait, arriving at the coastal Sheikhdom in the spring of 1909. For the next four years, he travelled extensively into the Nejdi desert, providing both London and Delhi with valuable intelligence about the vastly unknown interior as well as cultivating a personal relationship with Ibn Sa'ud, the Emir of Riyadh. At a time when London and Constantinople were negotiating the Anglo-Ottoman treaty, Shakespear almost became persona non grata for advocating the need to back the emir after his tribal warriors had expelled the Ottoman garrisons in al-Hasa in 1913. When war was declared in July 1914, Shakespear was one of the first to try to join the British Army to fight in France, but when the Ottoman Empire looked set to ally with Germany, the powers that had previously shunned him now needed his unique knowledge of Central Arabia and relationship with Ibn Sa'ud. That October, as many of his peers and countrymen crossed the English Channel to reinforce those already in the trenches, Shakespear set sail for Kuwait on special duty to rendezvous with the emir. It was a mission that T E Lawrence would later commend, acknowledging the crucial role that the political agent played during the early stages the Middle Eastern theatre of war. Shakespear was a pioneer in exploring the Nejd, capturing many firsts with his camera, although there were a few other equally intrepid British officials who preceded him into the desert. From the late-18th century, the East India Company collided numerous times with the House of Sa'ud as both attempted to understand the intentions of the other, before the political agent finally laid the foundations for formal diplomatic relations with Ibn Sa'ud, and later with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    1 in stock

    £22.50

  • Labyrinth of Ice

    St. Martin's Griffin Labyrinth of Ice

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisNational Outdoor Book Awards WinnerWinner of the BANFF Adventure Travel AwardA thrilling and harrowing story. If it's a cliche to say I couldn't put this book down, well, too bad: I couldn't put this book down. Jess Walter, bestselling author of Beautiful RuinsPolar exploration is utter madness. It is the insistence of life where life shouldn't exist. And so, Labyrinth of Ice shows you exactly what happens when the unstoppable meets the unmovable. Buddy Levy outdoes himself here. The details and story are magnificent. Brad Meltzer, bestselling author of The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington Based on the author''s exhaustive research, the incredible true story of the Greely Expedition, one of the most harrowing adventures in the annals of polar exploration. In July 1881, Lt. A.W. Greely and his crew of 24 scientists and explorers were bound for the last region u

    10 in stock

    £16.00

  • Journals

    Oxford University Press Journals

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisCaptain Scott's own account of his tragic race with Roald Amundsen for the South Pole thrilled the world in 1913. This new edition of his Journals publishes for the first time a complete list of the changes made to Scott's original text before publication.Trade ReviewDefinitive...Max Jones and the publishers are to be congratulated on this new version of a classic story, and for offering it at such a reasonable price. It should be the last word for a very long time. * Polar Record 42 *The mother of all books about walking ..beautiful edition. * Irish Timesn *

    Out of stock

    £8.54

  • VOYAGES OF DELUSION The Search for the North West Passage in the Age of Reason

    HarperCollins Publishers VOYAGES OF DELUSION The Search for the North West Passage in the Age of Reason

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisVoyages of Delusion in the Age of Reason: Williams’s book charts the 18th-century’s perilous and often fatal attempts to discover a passage through the Arctic to the Pacific. An astounding work of the history of arctic exploration.Trade Review‘Remarkable… never was there a tale which joined such horror and pity, disaster and triumph, such fortitude in adversity. Glyn Williams’ narrative brings out all the drama of the story.’ NAM Rodger, TLS

    15 in stock

    £12.34

  • The Gates of Africa  Death Discovery and the Search for Timbuktu

    HarperCollins Publishers The Gates of Africa Death Discovery and the Search for Timbuktu

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe history of the African Association, the world’s first geographical society, dedicated to the exploration of the interior of a continent known only through legend and vague report.Trade Review‘Enthralling. One of the most fascinating accounts of exploration that I’ve read in a long time.’ Jim Blackburn, Wanderlust ‘In “The Gates of Africa”, Anthony Sattin has excelled himself’.’ Conde Nast Traveller ‘Absorbing, highly readable and in places ironically humorous, a well-rounded and definitive study.’ Martin Booth, Sunday Times ‘An extraordinary panorama of adventure, scholarship, intellectual enterprise and ideological conviction, enlivened by frequent splashes of eccentricity and beautifully written throughout.’ Jan Morris

    15 in stock

    £14.24

  • A Sense of the World How a Blind Man Became

    HarperCollins A Sense of the World How a Blind Man Became

    10 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    10 in stock

    £15.19

  • Forest of the Pygmies

    HarperCollins Publishers Forest of the Pygmies

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisFrom one of the world's best loved storytellers, the trilogy that began with City of the Beasts comes to a thrilling climax.Alexander Cold knows all too well his grandmother Kate is never far from an adventure. When National Geographic commissions her to write an article about the first elephant-led safaris in Africa, they head with Nadia Santos and the magazine''s photography crew to the blazing, red plains of Kenya. Days into the tour, a Catholic missionary approaches the camp in search of his companions who have mysteriously disappeared. Kate, Alexander, Nadia, and their team, agreeing to aid the rescue, enlists the help of a local pilot to lead them to the swampy forests of Ngoubé. There they discover a clan of Pygmies who unveil a harsh and surprising world of corruption, slavery, and poaching.Alexander and Nadia, entrusting the magical strengths of Jaguar and Eagle, their totemic animal spirits, launch a spectacular and precarious struggle to restore freedom and return leadershTrade ReviewPraise for City of the Beasts: 'Written with Allende's characteristic verve, City of the Beasts is the kind of accomplishment to show young readers that there's more to life than Harry Potter.' Literary Review 'A vivid fable… Allende's prose soars' Guardian 'Marvellous, marvel-filled… Beautifully written and utterly entrancing' Independent on Sunday Praise for Kingdom of the Golden Dragon: ‘Allende again proves her talent for evoking exotic landscapes, spinning tall stories and weaving seductive magic.’ Sunday Times 'This spellbinding novel, like its predecessor, is storytelling at its best' Mail on Sunday

    2 in stock

    £9.49

  • On the Shores of the Mediterranean

    HarperCollins Publishers On the Shores of the Mediterranean

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisWith his trademark charm and sharp wit, Newby leaves no stone unturned in his quest for wonderfully detailed and quirky knowledge to share with his reader. Insightful, hilarious and sheer fun, this is an adventure not to be missed, by Britain's best-loved travel guide, and father of the genre.Trade Review‘One of the most stimulating and rewarding travel books to be seen for a long time' Spectator 'A splendid book . . . With its generosity, quirkiness, encyclopaedic love of facts, wisdom, humour, sense of history and change, this is a lot more than even the very best of travel books. Its author is a Ulysses, the book an Odyssey' Guardian 'Newby, the most companionable of literary vagabonds . . . Surely his best work since “A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush”' Scotsman 'Whatever Newby writes, I read with uncritical pleasure. The Newby travels are classics of their kind' Financial Times 'A new book by Eric Newby is something of an event…It is a feast that combines and juxtaposes many different textures and flavours . . . A superb reporter, Mr Newby paints marvelously detailed portraits. . . An unrivalled eye for the ridiculous and, although this is essentially a serious book, it is frequently very, very funny. . . He is an extremely elegant writer, beautifully paced and rhythmic . . . For Newby admirers, this particular event is a memorable one, and it should also recruit a lot of new admirers to his ranks' Daily Telegraph 'Any book by Eric Newby is a must for me. But “On the Shores of the Mediterranean” is a particular favourite…The man's books are a marvelous tonic on dark and dismal British days' Barbara Dickson, Mail on Sunday

    15 in stock

    £14.24

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