Travel writing Books

Book SynopsisHiking with Nietzsche is a tale of two philosophical journeys in the Swiss Alps: one made by John Kaag as an introspective teenager, the other seventeen years later in radically different circumstances - as a husband and father with his wife and small child in tow. Kaag travels to the peaks above Sils Maria where Nietzsche routinely summered, and where he wrote his mysterious landmark work, Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Both trips are made in search of the wisdom at the core of Nietzsche's philosophy, yet they bring Kaag to radically different revelations about the human condition. Entertaining, intimate and thought-provoking, Hiking with Nietzsche explores not only Nietzsche's ideals but how his philosophy relates to us in the 21st century. It is about defeating complacency, balancing sanity and madness and coming to grips with the unobtainable. As Kaag hikes into the high places, alone or with his family, but always with Nietzsche, he finds that the process of climbing and the inevitable missteps give one the chance, in Nietzsche's words, to 'become who you are'. Even when we think it too late to change, this most controversial of thinkers can inspire the rediscovery of meaning.Trade ReviewA thoughtful mix of biography and memoir * Observer *[Kaag] writes extremely well... clearly and with scholarly precision, but also personally and stylishly... An excellent introduction to Nietzsche's big ideas [and] Kaag brings a remarkable set of skills to the project... Remarkable * TLS *A fantastically well-written and engaging primer on Nietzsche's life and work ... Fascinating -- Roger Cox * Scotsman *A searing, very personal journey through John Kaag's own Nietzschean abyss -- Sue Prideaux, author * I Am Dynamite: A Life of Friedrich Nietzsche *A gripping and deeply involving weave of memoir and philosophy. In Alpine hiking, John Kaag finds the perfect analogue for Nietzsche's writings, bringing out all the risks, failures and sublimities to be discovered in each. He reminds us vividly that philosophy isn't an indulgence in hermetic abstraction, but a matter of life and death -- Josh Cohen, author * The Private Life: Why We Remain in the Dark *An utterly extraordinary book about the paths we tread. It holds you very close and meticulously unravels your soul -- Derren BrownKaag is a lively storyteller who brings Nietzsche's life into continual contact with his own... [He] challenges his readers to be what they might become -- Steven B Smith * New York Times Book Review *

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Book Synopsis''The most bizarre and delicious of travel books'' Observer Julian Green was born to American parents in Paris in 1900, and spent most of his life in the French capital. Paris is an extraordinary, lyrical love letter to the city, taking the reader on an imaginative journey around its secret stairways, courtyards, alleys and hidden places. Whether evoking the cool of a deserted church on a hot summer''s day, remembering Notre Dame in a winter storm in 1940, describing chestnut trees lit up at night like ''Japanese lanterns'' or lamenting the passing of street cries and old buildings, his book is filled with unforgettable imagery. It is a meditation on getting lost and wasting time, and on what it truly means to know a city.''Truthful, unpretentious and haunting'' The Times Literary SupplementTrade ReviewTruthful, unpretentious and haunting The Times Literary Supplement Exquisitely literary in a traditional French manner New York Review of Books Paris has many moments of truly arresting beauty...the attention to detail is astonishing, and reflects the memories of someone who has devoted years of their life to the art of getting lost in the city Observer A magical memoir of Paris...His non-fiction has a tender emotional directness that remains startling and original...Like many great writers on urban life, Green became the city he inhabited, and his book is as much a guide to the inside of his mind as it is to Paris Telegraph

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Book SynopsisChatwin’s brilliantly unique record of his adventures in Patagonia and the fascinating people he meets along the way. Beautifully written and full of wonderful descriptions and intriguing tales, In Patagonia is an account of Bruce Chatwin's travels to a remote country in search of a strange beast and his encounters with the people whose fascinating stories delay him on the road.VINTAGE VOYAGES: A world of journeys, from the tallest mountains to the depths of the mindTrade ReviewElliptical and alive, this is a brilliant travel book * Observer *It is hard to pin down what makes In Patagonia so unique, but, in the end, it is Chatwin’s brilliant personality that makes it what it is… His form of travel was not about getting from A to B. It was about internal landscapes. * Sunday Times *The chameleon traveller…who wrote books in a genre of their own, and whose life was his own subtlest creation… a complex, flamboyantly gifted and rather tragic figure -- Colin Thubron * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisDiscover Monocle's favourite places to stay, eat, shop and visit across Spain. Hot on the heels of Portugal: The Monocle Handbook, Monocle's latest title turns its focus to sunny Spain in the next of its country-specific books. This practical guide will steer you from the streets of Seville to the mountains of Mallorca, introducing Monocle's favourite places to stay, eat, shop and visit across the country. Discover the sleekest beachside boltholes in the Costa Brava, the family-run restaurants plating up the tastiest tapas in Andalucia and the buzziest bars in Barcelona before getting your cultural fix in Valencia, Bilbao or Madrid. You'll meet the Spaniards making waves in the fashion industry, visit the artisans turning out beautiful contemporary designs and hear from the chefs shaking up the country's food scene. And of course you'll find out the finest stretches of sand on which to lay down your towel. For those looking to put down roots in Spain, the book also profiles t

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Book SynopsisIn Journeys to Impossible Places, best-selling author and presenter Simon Reeve reveals the inside story of his most astonishing adventures and experiences, around the planet and close to home.Journeys to Impossible Places continues the story Simon started in his phenomenal Sunday Times bestseller Step by Step, which traced the first decades of his life from depressed and unemployed teenager through to his early TV programmes.Now Simon takes us on the epic and thrilling adventures that followed, in beautiful, tricky and downright dangerous corners of the world, as he travelled through the Tropics, to remote paradise islands, jungles dripping with heat and life, and on nerve-wracking secret missions. Simon shares what his unique experiences and encounters have taught him, and the deeper lessons he draws from joy and raw grief in his personal life, from desperate struggles with his own fertility and head health, from wise friends, fatherhood, inspiring villagers, brave fighters, his beloved dogs, and a thoughtful Indian sadhu.Journeys to Impossible Places inspires and encourages all of us to battle fear and negativity, and embrace life, risk, opportunities and the glory of our world.

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Book SynopsisMoving between geography and mythology, literature and history, South is the first book to look at all things Southern in one volume.Trade ReviewMoving between geography and mythology, literature and history, this is the first book to look at all things southern in one volume -- Nick RennisonSouth takes in an impressive array of artists, from Samuel Taylor Coleridge to Jorge Luis Borges, while Coverley comes up with some astute readings of great literature, and has a perceptive eye for how tourism has shaped our understanding of place -- Nick Major * The Herald *

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Book SynopsisAnthony Bourdain is a life-long line cook and author of Kitchen Confidential. Here, he sets off to eat his way around the world. He heads out to Saigon where he eats the still-beating heart of a live cobra, and travels deep into landmined Khmer Rouge territory to find the rumoured Wild West of Cambodia (Pailin).Trade Review'It works extremely well. In large part because Bourdain is a very funny writer; sharp, honest and with a beguiling mix of belligerence and sensitivity' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 'Brilliantly written up in a raw, stylish gonzo prose, with pitch-black humour and a devilish turn of phrase' EVENING STANDARD

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Book Synopsis'A wonderful evocation of Britain's natural beauty and a reminder of our need to connect with the wilderness' The Times Are there any genuinely wild places left in Britain and Ireland? Or have we farmed and built ourselves out of wildness? From forest to moor, mountain to saltmarsh, Robert Macfarlane explores the wild places of Britain to see the wonders we still possess. In his bewitching and inspiring modern classic of nature writing, the acclaimed author of Underland and The Lost Words presents a portrait of a vanishing but still miraculous British landscape. 'Time and again he takes the reader's breath away' Financial Times 'A marvellously evocative portrait of place' Sunday TelegraphTrade ReviewA wonderful evocation of Britain's natural beauty and a reminder of our need to connect with the wilderness * Times *Time and again he takes the reader's breath away * FT *A beautiful and inspiring book * Independent *A marvellously evocative portrait of place * Sunday Telegraph *A beautifully modulated call from the wild, that will ensorcell any urban prisoner wishing to break free * Will Self *A powerful and passionate book, essential reading * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisThe story of extraordinary women who lost their way - their sense of self, their identity, their freedom - and found it again through walking in the wild. 'Moving and memorable' Virginia Nicholson, author of How Was It for You?'A triumph ... I felt as though I were being lifted, carried up to peaks' Charlotte Peacock, author of Into the Mountain: A Life of Nan Shepherd'A beautiful and meditative memoir' Publishers WeeklyFor centuries, the wilds have been male territory, while women sat safely confined at home. But not all women did as they were told, despite the dangers; history reveals women for whom rural walking became inspiration, consolation and liberation.In this powerful and deeply inspiring book, Annabel Abbs uncovers women who refused to conform, who recognised a biological, emotional and artistic need for wilderness, water and desert - and who took the courageous step of walking unpeopled and often forbidding landscapes.Part wild-walk, part memoir, Windswept follows an exhilarating journey from Abbs's isolated, car-less childhood to her walking the remote paths trodden by extraordinary women, including Georgia O'Keeffe in the empty plains of Texas and New Mexico, Nan Shepherd in the mountains of Scotland, Gwen John following the Garonne, Simone de Beauvoir in the mountains and forests of France and Daphne du Maurier along the River Rhone. A single question pulses through their walks: How does a woman change once she becomes windswept?Trade Review*Praise for Annabel Abbs*Abbs has a healthy disregard for the "great man" theory of literary history... With a fine eye for period detail, Abbs confirms her standing as one of the best historical novelists today. * Observer **Praise for WINDSWEPT*A gorgeous and revelatory blend of memoir, travelogue, and long-forgotten history, Annabel Abbs's Windswept tells the stories of six extraordinary women and their intertwining journeys-one accomplished by foot and the other by the mind and heart. Abbs is a witty and engaging guide, seamlessly weaving her own experience with those of her "walking women," all of whom discovered that the simple act of taking one step at a time can be the most powerful-and defiant-of all. * Abbott Kahler, New York Times bestselling author of The Ghosts of Eden Park *Amazing... lovely, haunting, inspiring and so well done. * Professor Amy Von Lintel, author of The Wartime Texas Letters of Georgia O’Keeffe, and Georgia O’Keeffe Watercolours. *A triumph ... I felt as though I were being lifted, carried up to peaks. * Charlotte Peacock, author of Into the Mountain: A Life of Nan Shepherd *'I couldn't put it down...The interweaving of different chronologies, the lives of these fascinating women, with scientific information about the value of walking is incredibly deft. The humour, the very prescient section on women's unsafe walking in public, sexual harassment, the chapter headings like Victorian novels, the sac a dos as walking companion, the range: menstruation, mothering, art, literature sexuality and more! Quite extraordinary. And yet written in such a free flowing, readable style. I'm in awe.' * Maggie Humm, author of Talland House, Washington Independent Review of Books '51 Favourite Books of 2020' *I love how the act of walking connects the lives of these women - and how it transforms them. It makes me want to go for a hike just to see what happens. Windswept satisfies my endless appetite for untold stories of women's history, filling important gaps and bringing their stories into light. * Mia Kankimäki, author of Women I Think About At Night *An invigorating paean to the liberating power of rural rambles ... inspiring...riveting...deeply researched... unfailingly interesting and even revelatory. * The Wall Street Journal *[A] beautiful and meditative memoir. This lush narrative serves as the perfect excuse to get moving. * Publishers Weekly *A compelling, erudite book that mixes travel memoir with tantalising oblique biography. * Saga *Brilliant... clever, clever Annabel * Postcards from Midlife *I loved it. So many 'yes' moments! -- Catie Friend * Chatting with a Friend podcast *Exhilarating * Country Walking *Should be read by all women and those who love the outdoors. * Booklist Magazine *A fascinating, deeply thoughtful read -- Laurie Hertzel * The Star Tribune *Brings to life the joys and inspirations that only a nature walk can provide. * Powell’s Best Books of the Fall *A lovely ode to moving one foot in front of the other. * Porchlight, Staff Pick *Interesting, well written and full of both spiritual and practical inspiration. * Kirkus Reviews *One of the best travel books of 2021 * Wanderlust Magazine *Inspirational * Smithsonian Magazine, Best Travel Books 2021 *A book for all women who love the outdoors... a summer must read * Travel Magazine *Moving and memorable * Virginia Nicholson, author of How Was it For You? *

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Book SynopsisA global phenomenon, The Alchemist has been read and loved by over 62 million readers, topping bestseller lists in 74 countries worldwide. Now this magical fable is beautifully repackaged in an edition that lovers of Paulo Coelho will want to treasure forever.A special deluxe edition of the extraordinary and beloved international bestseller.Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. This is such a book a beautiful parable about learning to listen to your heart, read the omens strewn along life's path and, above all, follow your dreams. The Alchemist has become a modern classic.Santiago, a young shepherd living in the hills of Andalucia, feels that there is more to life than his humble home and his flock. One day he finds the courage to follow his dreams into distant lands, each step galvanised by the knowledge that he is following the right path: his own. The people he meets along the way, the things he sees and the wisdom he learns are life-changing.With Paulo Coelho's visionary blend of spirituality, magical realism and folklore, The Alchemist is a story with the power to inspire nations and change people's lives.

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Book SynopsisIn a world of globetrotting explorers and record-breaking journeys - of which he has been part himself - Johno Ellison decided to return to his roots and walk the entire length of the River Wharfe, the Yorkshire waterway beside which he grew up. In his new book for Bradt, Walking the Wharfe, Ellison retraces the steps of Victorian author Edmund Bogg to investigate how the riverscape and its communities have evolved during the intervening 120 years. While wild camping, meeting modern-day Vikings, wartime ghosts and the fearless 'Dales Dippers', and learning how not to deal with a herd of over-inquisitive cows, Ellison encounters a microcosm of English history and culture. Starting in the Vale of York, Ellison walks upstream to explore the region's Viking and Roman heritage, as well as more modern developments such as Tadcaster's disastrous bridge collapse in 2015. He examines a profusion of Victorian spa towns, considers the impact of the Industrial Revolution and enjoys rare wildlife such as red kites and an otter, creatures that have returned to the area following successful conservation initiatives. Traversing the Yorkshire Dales National Park, including along the Dales Way long-distance footpath, Ellison is first bewitched by local legends of giants, trolls and witches, then seduced into wild swimming in a chilly river - albeit not the Strid, a section of the Wharfe notorious worldwide for reportedly drowning everyone who has ever tumbled into it - before seeking refuge in a candlelit pub during a storm that caused a power blackout. During his ascent, Ellison learns from a family who have farmed the Yorkshire hills for five generations before reaching the Wharfe's trickling source amid a vast boggy moorland. This enchanting travelogue is a must-read for anyone interested in nature, 'the great outdoors', or English history and culture. Residents and fans of Yorkshire will love it, as will anyone who has hiked the Dales Way. Above all, by combining personal connections with journalistic curiosity and a nose for a story, Walking the Wharfe affirms that even lesser-known parts of the small island of Britain can hold their own against renowned tourist sites the world over.Trade Review"In Walking the Wharfe, Johno Ellison shows that adventure is very much a state of mind, uncovering interesting tales and tackling challenges in his own backyard." - Ed Stafford, author, Walking the Amazon "A fascinating exploration of a beautiful corner of England. Johno Ellison writes a poetic love letter to the river of his roots with this enchanting walk along one of the country's hidden gems." - Alastair Humphreys, author and adventurerTable of ContentsPreface Bogg's Book Chapter1 75,000 Gallons of Ale Cawood to Ryther Chapter 2 Fenton Jumping Ryther to Ozendyke Chapter 3 The Great Heathen Army Ozendyke to Kirkby Wharfe Chapter 4 A Town Divided Kirkby Wharfe to Tadcaster Chapter 5 'I don't knaw owt aboot t' Romans' Tadcaster to Thorp Arch Chapter 6 'Nothing more beautiful and truly English can be imagined' Thorp Arch to Boston Spa Chapter 7 'He loves every human being, 'cept other dogs' Boston Spa to Wetherby Chapter 8 The Best Pub in Yorkshire Wetherby to Linton Chapter 9 'Avoid this place as you would a plague' Linton to Netherby Deep Chapter 10 Beware, Rombald's Wife Netherby Deep to Rougemont Chapter 11 'T'Owd Chief' Rougemont to Pool Bank Chapter 12 Hannibal Crossing the Chevin Pool Bank to Farnley Chapter 13 A Friend of the Navvies Farnley to Otley Chapter 14 'Ow Much?! Otley to Burley-in-Wharfedale Chapter 15 All Along the Ilkley Moor Burley-in-Wharfedale to Ilkley Chapter 16 A Prize-winning Heifer Ilkley to Addingham Chapter 17 England's Killer Creek Addingham to the Strid Chapter 18 Of Trolls and Wolves The Strid to Appletreewick Chapter 19 Maypoles and Hogbacks Appletreewick to Loup Scar Chapter 20 The Dancing Reverend Loup Scar to Ghaistrill's Strid Chapter 21 Dane's Blood and Kilnsey Nan Ghaistrill's Strid to Littondale Chapter 22 Wartime Ghosts Littondale to Kettlewell Chapter 23 The Beast of Buckden Kettlewell to Hubberholme Chapter 24 Giant's Grave Hubberholme to Nethergill Chapter 25 'Child of the clouds' Nethergill to Cam Fell Chapter 26 'Adieu to hills, glens and river'? Wharfe's Mouth to the source About the Author Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisWhilst on holiday in Kenya, Corinne Hoffman fell in love with a Masai warrior. Eventually she moved into a tiny shack with him and his mother and spent four years in Kenya. However, slowly but surely, the dream began to crumble. She eventually fled back home with her baby daughter. From wild animals through starvation to ritual mutilation, this is a book steeped in humanity and one that tells a fascinating tale.At once a hopelessly romantic love story and a gripping adventure yarn, The White Masai is a compulsive read.Trade Review"'I've been completely riveted by it - in fact haven't put it down all morning. What an amazing story!... one of the bravest and most vivid I've read in years and I'm not surprised it's a bestseller' - Deborah Moggach 'Hofmann is a talented writer, describing with unflinching detail the consequences of a passion that combines the element of a holiday romance with troubling fantasies about the noble savage. Gripping' - Joan Smith, Independent 'This extraordinary story is a dashing tale of love and adventure in contemporary Kenya' - Mavis Cheek, Daily Mail Critic's Choice 'A deliciously readable book - it really is possible to gulp it down in one long sitting' - Mail on Sunday 'The White Masai has already sold four million copies in Europe and has now been turned into a big Hollywood film. Theses successes suggest that, in publishing terms at least, Corinne Hofmann has finally struck gold' - Ireland on Sunday 'An extraordinary and unputdownable tale' - Bookseller 'It's a truly riveting read, better than any reality TV show' - Publishing News 'It is the most extraordinary story (as the four million people who have already bought the book in Europe would no doubt agree!)' - Robert Gwyn Palmer (Sunday Telegraph) 'Extraordinary' - Hollywood Reporter"

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Book SynopsisPeter Matthiessen was a naturalist, explorer and writer. His works of fiction include At Play in the Fields of the Lord, Far Tortuga and the acclaimed 'Watson Trilogy'. His explorations resulted in many fine works of non-fiction, among them The Snow Leopard, The Cloud Forest and The Tree where Man was Born. He died in 2014, aged 86.Trade ReviewA beautiful book, and worthy of the mountains he is among -- Paul TherouxWhat began as a practical search for the rare snow leopard, revered Buddhist emblem, developed into a quest for the meaning of Being. An enjoyable combination of mountaineering and mysticism * Observer *It's a tale of an inner struggle for calm, and would be an inspiring and sustaining desert island companion -- Emily BarrAs much the chronicle of an inner journey as it is the learned recording of an unfamiliar territory...a timeless account * Independent *An evocative account of a remote and timeless place and its people * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisTaking the Risk - engaging memoir about serendipitous adventures in travel and publishing from a travel industry trailblazer. Hilary Bradt looks back on 50 years of escapades, surprises, mishaps, disasters. and success. Contains stories from six decades of hitch-hiking, tour leading and living in the USA, South America, the Falklands and Africa.

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Book SynopsisSet in the valley of the Mesta, one of the oldest inhabited river valleys in Europe and a nexus for wild plant gatherers, Elixir is an unforgettable exploration of the deep connections between people, plants and place.‘Kassabova had me under her spell from page one’GUARDIANOver several seasons, Kapka Kassabova spends time with the men and women of this magical region. She witnesses their rare knowledge, not only of mountain plants and the ancient practice of herbalism, but also of how to transform collective suffering into healing. Elixir is, at its heart, an urgent, hopeful call to rethink how we live – in relation to one another, and to the world around us.‘Dark and mysterious and beautiful’ FINANCIAL TIMES‘Uplifting and beautifully written’ MARK COCKER, SPECTATOR‘Extraordinary’ COUNTRY LIFETrade ReviewThe mark of a good book is that it changes you. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. Nan Shepherd, Robin Wall Kimmerer and Jay Griffiths have all wielded that power over me, but I’ve rarely been so aware of an internal change being wrought, word by word, as I have these past days immersed in Kapka Kassabova’s alchemical prose. I fancy she had me under her spell from page one * Guardian, *Book of Day* *Her ability to bring out the best in her subjects is born of a genuine horror at the unsustainability of the ways we live... But Elixir is not a lecture... Like the forests and fells it inhabits, it is by turns dark and mysterious and beautiful. Ecologically minded writing can often tell too much and show too little, but Kassabova sensibly lets the landscape and locals do the talking. * Financial Times *Uplifting and beautifully written... Elixir provides a glorious cycle of stories and personal testimonies. * Spectator *Subtle prose that mingles empathy with perspective. * Economist *Humanity glitters under her gaze in all its facets. Her prose is spectacularly good and her storytelling is a joy. -- Philip Marsden, author of Rising Ground

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Book SynopsisSteven Froelichâs true-life shenanigans, featuring a reckless, drug-fuelled odyssey through Belize in chaotic company.

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Book SynopsisTed Simon is the author of the classic travel book JUPITER''S TRAVELS. It documents his four-year journey round the world by motorbike, travelling through Europe, Africa, South and North America, and Asia. A number one bestseller in the late 1970s, it is still regarded as one of the greatest motorcycle books - indeed, one of the greatest travel books - ever written. In 2001, at the age of 69, Ted Simon decided to retrace his journey, and DREAMING OF JUPITER is the result. It took him two and a half years - during which time he revisited all the countries he had travelled through in the 1970s. He found much had changed, and he reflects upon the increased poverty, political upheavals, environmental issues and indeed the changes in himself. But ultimately, DREAMING OF JUPITER is a hugely inspiring read with a positive message at its heart - that even at the age of 70 you can still set off on an adventure, and be surprised and excited by what life throws at you along the wayTrade ReviewGloriously luminescent, but always self-deprecating. Simon's physical powers are diminishing, but his writing just gets better. The wonderful portraits of the people he encounters, often redolent of Bruce Chatwin, are sometimes so enticing that, were this a movie, you'd swear they were a plant for later on * OBSERVER *This book has barely left my side in the past few days. It is, by turns, sad, funny and immensely uplifting * TELEGRAPH *A trip of dreams - and Ted Simon has done it twice . . . a terrific read * RTE GUIDE *He was on the road for three years, and his new book, Dreaming of Jupiter, is a compelling account of the adventures en route, including breaking a leg in the middle of a vast plain in Ethiopia; a reunion with a camel rider he'd met 25 years before in Eg * SAGA MAGAZINE *

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Book SynopsisLiving the Luxury Hotel Experience at Home. What if you could live the luxury hotel experience at home, every day? Hotels to Home answers that question by creating a new lifestyle template that bridges the gap between your fondest hotel memories and everyday living. Imagine stepping into your entryway with the eager anticipation as when entering your favorite hotel lobby, defining your familys hotel brand as a lifestyle strategy, finely orchestrating room service for your household, or celebrating the end of each day with personalized turndown service. Taking what might have once been considered ordinary homelife and making

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisAn enchanting and fascinating insight into Japanese landscape, culture, history and future. Originally written in Japanese, this passionate, vividly personal book draws on the author''s experiences in Japan over thirty years. Alex Kerr brings to life the ritualized world of Kabuki, retraces his initiation into Tokyo''s boardrooms during the heady Bubble Years, and tells the story of the hidden valley that became his home.But the book is not just a love letter. Haunted throughout by nostalgia for the Japan of old, Kerr''s book is part paean to that great country and culture, part epitaph in the face of contemporary Japan''s environmental and cultural destruction.Winner of Japan''s Shincho Gakugei Literature Prize, and now with a new preface.Alex Kerr is an American writer, antiques collector and Japanologist. Lost Japan is his most famous work. He was the first foreigner to be awarded the Shincho Gakugei Literature Prize for the best work of nonTrade ReviewOne of the finest books about Japan written in decades * Insight Japan *

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Book SynopsisThe hilarious bestselling travel book that journeys round areas made famous by Radio 4''s Shipping Forecast''One of those simple yet brilliant ideas'' Daily Mail''Engaging and often very funny'' Sunday Times''A wonderfully eccentric study'' ObserverThe Shipping Forecast is a curious piece of broadcasting; at once impenetrably baffling yet at the same time reassuringly familiar, most of us have grown up with this sonorous gazetteer firmly planted in our subconscious. But where are these places, and what secrets do they conceal? Charlie Connelly sets off on a journey round the forecast to find out, unearthing the history and culture behind one of Britain''s best-loved broadcasting institutions.More than simply a hilarious travel book, Attention All Shipping ensures that the evocative stanzas of the shipping forecast will remain a mystery no more.A RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEKTrade ReviewAn engaging and often very funny book in which a metropolitan man, buffeted by winds and high seas, travels from Norway's smallest island to Europe's westernmost pointing search of the reality behind the reassuring Radio 4 recital * Sunday Times *A wonderfully eccentric study * Observer *One of those simple yet brilliant ideas... A book that's as gentle and pleasing as the shipping forecast itself * Daily Mail *If listening to 'Sailing By' to the bitter end every night is the surest sign of a Radio 4 addict, then buying Charlie Connelly's book runs it close * Independent on Sunday *Armchair travelling will never be the same again * Western Mail *He brings the shipping forecast to life, revealing the reality to be bizarre, quirky and fantastic * Guernsey Press *Charlie Connelly proves to be a suitably intelligent and amusing guide around these coastal stations and provides an illuminating history of the forecast itself * Hampstead and Highgate Express *Attention All Shipping went down a storm with this sea lover. It has great humour. It has great atmosphere... a very entertaining read and, believe me, you'll never see cod in the same way again * Sunday Tribune *Connelly has a light, humorous touch * Glasgow Evening Times *A fascinating and very funny book * Weekly News *A comic tribute to a radio bulletin ... also a quirky history of the outposts of northern Europe * Irish Times *More than a travelogue ... anecdotes delight in the diversity of the remote communities, while biographies of unsung heroes of British maritime history emphasise that the forecast has been crucial in saving lives * Waterstones Books Quarterly *A real gem * Bookseller *

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Book Synopsis''Magical and transporting . . . Wayward proves that Bunyan has lived the best possible life, on her own idiosyncratic terms''Maggie O''Farrell''A gorgeous account of outsiderness and survival: a map of how to live outside the boundaries and of striving for an authentic artistic life. A quietly defiant and moving work'' Sinéad Gleeson''An epic in miniature . . . I loved - and lived - every sentence'' Benjamin MyersIn 1968, Vashti Bunyan gave up everything and everybody she knew in London to take to the road with a horse, wagon, dog, guitar and her then partner. They made the long journey up to the Outer Hebrides in an odyssey of discovery and heartbreak, full of the joy of freedom and the trudge of everyday reality, sleeping in the woods, fighting freezing winters and homelessness. Along the way, Vashti wrote the songs that would lead to the recording of her 1970''s album Just Another Diamond Day, the lilting lyrics and guitar conveying innocent wonder at the world around her, whilst disguising a deeper turmoil under the surface. From an unconventional childhood in post-war London, to a fledgling career in mid-sixties pop - recording a single written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards - to the despair and failure to make any headway with her own songs, she rejected the music world altogether and left it all behind. After retreating to a musical wilderness for thirty years, the rediscovery of her recordings in 2000 brought Vashti a second chance to write, record and perform once more. One of the great hippie myths of the 1960s, Wayward, Just Another Life to Live, rewrites the narrative of a barefoot girl on the road to describe a life lived at full tilt from the first, revealing what it means to change course and her emotional struggle, learning to take back control of her own life.Trade ReviewThis is a magical and transporting memoir, relating how Bunyan ducked out of the London music scene, instead choosing to make her way - by foot and wagon - to the Outer Hebrides. Her mesmerising viewpoint and lyrical outlook on life will be familiar to anyone who, like me, loves her music, but Wayward proves that Bunyan has lived the best possible life, on her own idiosyncratic terms -- Maggie O'FarrellA gorgeous account of outsiderness and survival; a map of how to live outside the boundaries and of striving for an authentic artistic life. A quietly defiant and moving work -- Sinéad GleesonVashti Bunyan possesses one of the purest voices English music has ever produced, and now that unique otherness translates to literature. Wayward is an epic in miniature, a mythical tale with echoes of her ancestor John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, made all the more magical by the fact it actually happened. I loved - and lived - every sentence -- Benjamin MyersA quietly beautiful and gentle read, full of light and kindness. Underneath its easygoing exterior is a proud story about gut instinct and persistence, and I have much affection for what it showed me about choosing a pace of life, and how we might find our place in the world as we move through it -- Jennifer Lucy AllanThis simply beautiful memoir cast the same spell on me as Vashti Bunyan's music. Her account of a legendary road-trip taken at horse pace through a gone England is hedgerow rich in vivid detail. But this is no nostalgia piece: Bunyan is needle-sharp on the way so many men tried to cut her - and her songs - down to size: essential reading for women in the arts now. I read the last pages through tears, deeply moved by the wilder life she embarked on, step by step, song by song. If you loved Patti Smith's Just Kids then you need to read Wayward next. -- Tanya Shadrick, author of The Cure for SleepBunyan weaves her captivating nomad's tale with a rambler's eye for detail and a dreamer's visionary ambition. Her perpetual search for utopia, and the experiences behind her songs of innocence, are romantic and revelatory -- Rob YoungDefiant and surprisingly unromantic, painting her cross-country journey in shades of muddy green, this is a fascinating and brave memoir -- Bob StanleyLike the music she makes, Vashti Bunyan's writing in this memoir of an unusual musical life is ethereal and dream-like, skipping from one thought to the next, lingering long enough to leave a clear impression but not to overburden the reader's experience . . . a story of finding meaning in the right location, with beautiful music as a backdrop * Record Collector *Extraordinary * Mojo *

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Book Synopsis---Selected by the New York Times as one of the best cookbooks of 2020--- Be transported to the bountiful islands of Indonesia by this collection of fragrant, colourful and mouth-watering recipes. ‘An exciting and panoramic selection of dishes and snacks’ – Fuchsia Dunlop, author of The Food of Sichuan Coconut & Sambal reveals the secrets behind authentic Indonesian cookery. With more than 80 traditional and vibrant recipes that have been passed down through the generations, you will discover dishes such as Nasi goreng, Beef rendang, Chilli prawn satay and Pandan cake, alongside a variety of recipes for sambals: fragrant, spicy relishes that are undoubtedly the heart and soul of every meal. Lara uses simple techniques and easily accessible ingredients throughout Coconut and Sambal, interweaving the recipes with beguiling tales of island life and gorgeous travel photography that shines a light on the magnificent, little-known cuisine of Indonesia. What are you waiting for? Travel the beautiful islands of Indonesia and taste the different regions through these recipes. ‘Start with Lara’s fragrant chicken soup, do lots of exploring on the way whilst dousing everything with spoonfuls of sambal, and end with her coconut and pandan sponge cake’ – Yotam Ottolenghi, author of SIMPLE ‘An incredibly delicious Indonesian meal on your table every time’ – Jeremy Pang, chef and founder of School of WokTrade ReviewMemories and mentorship take Lara Lee on an intriguing journey into Indonesia’s food. This piece of paradise, made up of 17,000 islands, is definitely where I would go to discover new tantalizing flavours. I would start with Lara’s fragrant chicken soup (soto ayam), do lots of exploring on the way whilst dousing everything with spoonfuls of sambal, and end with her coconut and pandan sponge cake (kue pandan dan kelapa) -- Yotam OttolenghiIt is exquisite! -- Drew BarrymoreLara Lee shares beautiful stories and the food of her Indonesian heritage. With delicious recipes that showcase the diverse tastes of traditional Indonesian food, this is truly a cookbook worth discovering -- William WongsoI have travelled in Indonesia, a fascinating nation with an incredibly diverse yet barely known cuisine. It’s packed with flavour, tradition and stories. Lara brings to life the food of Indonesia through her grandmother Popo’s recipes with favourites that are absolutely delicious and easy to make. I, for one, will be making her peanut kerupuk again and again. -- Peter GordonLara Lee has written a heartfelt homage to her Indonesian culinary heritage, with an exciting and panoramic selection of dishes and snacks from all over the archipelago. The clear instructions and lively descriptions make this lavishly flavoured cuisine both appealing and accessible. -- Fuchsia DunlopI can only say how excited I am about a book which honours and distils the beautiful Indonesian cuisine and translates it for the contemporary cook. -- Helen GohI urge you to follow Lara's recipes and without a doubt, you will have an incredibly delicious Indonesian meal on your table every time. -- Jeremy PangThis book will guide you through Indonesia’s wide and diverse food offerings one bite of a time, with a generous dollop of sambal! -- Judy JooCoconut & Sambal by Lara Lee has got my mouth watering for the first time in ages -- Samin NosratNot only does she have a vast knowledge of Indonesian food, her recipes are easy to use and deliver outstanding results. -- Kay Plunkett-Hogge, author of BaanI am thrilled to see a young Asian chef ... contributing delicious recipes to our growing knowledge of Asian cuisine! -- Ken Hom, OBESo full of mouthwatering dishes that it’s been hard to choose what to cook first. The writing is warm and inviting, and the recipes accessible without sacrificing authenticity – ideal for a newcomer to Indonesian food like me. -- Tim Anderson, author of Tokyo Stories and Japaneasy Alive with the fabulous flavours of Indonesia * Western Morning News *Her anecdotes are food for the soul, as are the recipes. This book is a gem * Delicious *Coconut and Sambal is as colourful as Lee’s grandmother’s kitchen, with both the food and photography offering an escape to the fishing villages of the Maluku islands, the food markets in Ubud and the street food stands of Jakarta * Caterer *If you’re wishing for distant shores, get a sense of the exotic rainforests, tropical seas and crowded markets of Indonesia by cooking up a storm with these tempting recipes * Top Sante Health and Beauty *

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Book SynopsisFredrik Sjöberg's Swedish bestseller about summer, islands, freedom and boundaries.'The light, the warmth, the smells, the mist, the birdsong - the moths. Who can sleep? Who wants to?'Fredrik Sjöberg finds happiness in the little things. Millions of them, in fact. This beguiling bestseller is his unique meditation on collecting hoverflies. It is also about living on a remote Swedish island, blissful long summer nights, lost loves, unexpected treasures, art, nature, slowness, and how freedom can come from the things we least expect.'Full of charm, a book about how to find meaning in life' Melissa Harrison, The Times, Books of the Year'I often return to The Fly Trap, it remains close to my heart. The minute observations from nature that reveal sudden insights into one's life. Sometimes I almost think that he wrote it for me' Tomas Tranströmer, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature'Charming, witty and original' Patrick Barkham, Guardian 'Nature writing that can laugh at itself, a real tonic' Gregory Day, Sydney Morning Herald'Delightful, at once informative and often humorously digressive . . . a humane man of wide-ranging curiosity, Sjöberg writes with infectious passion' Paul Binding IndependentFredrik Sjöberg collects hoverflies on the island Runmarö, in the archipelago east of Stockholm. He is also a literary critic, translator, cultural columnist and the author of several books including The Art of Flight and The Raisin King, which form a trilogy with The Fly Trap.Trade ReviewCharming, witty and original . . . a sly challenge to virtually every contemporary orthodoxy -- Patrick Barkham * Guardian *Its joy lies in Sjöberg's loose-limbed prose . . . at once whimsical and yet laden with erudition and a deep feeling for the natural world and our place in it * Financial Times *Delightful, at once informative and often humorously digressive . . . a humane man of wide-ranging curiosity, Sjöberg writes with infectious passion * Independent *Subtle, convincing . . . Sjöberg thrives in the indistinct boundary between science and literature * New Scientist *A quirky tapestry . . . an enjoyable if wayward tale * Ecologist *Entertaining . . .iconoclastic . . . the writing is whimsical, digressive and pleasingly devoid of anything too weighty or purposeful -- Richard Coniff * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisA reckless, drug-fuelled dive into Guatemalaâs many contrasts, featuring Steven Froelichâs true-life shenanigans, resulting in unexpected connection amidst the chaos.

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Book SynopsisIt''s surprising what you can find by simply stepping out to look. Award-winning poet Kathleen Jamie has an eye and an ease with the nature and landscapes of Scotland as well as an incisive sense of our domestic realities. In Findings she draws together these themes to describe travels like no other contemporary writer.Whether she is following the call of a peregrine in the hills above her home in Fife, sailing into a dark winter solstice on the Orkney islands, or pacing around the carcass of a whale on a rain-swept Hebridean beach, she creates a subtle and modern narrative, peculiarly alive to her connections and surroundings.Trade ReviewProse essays of a sharpness of looking, and directness of thought, that will make them last a long time; some of the best writing out of rural Scotland for many decades. Jamie observes the extraordinary, alien natural world around her with a frank uncluttered candour, while nevertheless standing rooted in the middle of modern family life. -- Andrew MarrKathleen Jamie is a supreme listener. Her attention - to the beckoning calls of the peregrines that nest near her house, to the brimful darkness in the neolithic chambers at Maes Howe, to the mute appeals of embryo skeletons in a medical museum - has a directness that borders on the heroic. And in the quietness of her listening, you hear her own voice: clear, subtle, respectful, and so unquenchably curious that it makes the world anew. This is as close as writing gets to a conversation with the natural world. -- Richard MabeyFrom the moment you meet Kathleen Jamie's words, you meet a passion for the environment, not as an abstract quality but as what surrounds her...the small birds in the garden, the landscapes of her native Scotland, even ordinary familiar domestic cares are illuminated with curiosity, affection, knowledge and a deep concern. -- Rosalind Coward, writer and journalist

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Book SynopsisMark Kurlansky is the author of 23 books of fiction, nonfiction, children's writing. His best-selling Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World won the 1999 James Beard Award for Food Writing and the 1999 Glenfiddich Award. His other works include: Salt, The Basque History of the World and the short story collection The White Man in the Tree. He lives in New York City with his wife and daughter.Trade ReviewRefreshing and invigorating, full of fascinating fact * Independent on Sunday *This is an extraordinary little book, unputdownable, written in the most lyrical, flowing style which paints vivid pictures and, at the same time, punches into place hard facts that stop you dead in your tracks. A compulsive read -- Sir Roy Strong * Express on Sunday *Crisply and elegantly written - piques the appetite and sharpens the senses * Sunday Telegraph *A rich stew about every salt-influenced concoction and creation, from the first sausages and cured hams and fish sauces to the invention of parmesan, tomato ketchup and Tabasco sauce * Financial Times *An entertainingly anecdotal and lovingly partisan history. * Independent *

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Book SynopsisBill Bryson’s first travel book, The Lost Continent, was unanimously acclaimed as one of the funniest books in years. In Neither Here nor There he brings his unique brand of humour to bear on Europe as he shoulders his backpack, keeps a tight hold on his wallet, and journeys from Hammerfest, the northernmost town on the continent, to Istanbul on the cusp of Asia. Fluent in, oh, at least one language, he retraces his travels as a student twenty years before.Whether braving the homicidal motorists of Paris, being robbed by gypsies in Florence, attempting not to order tripe and eyeballs in a German restaurant or window-shopping in the sex shops of the Reeperbahn, Bryson takes in the sights, dissects the culture and illuminates each place and person with his hilariously caustic observations. He even goes to Liechtenstein.Trade ReviewA breezy and entertaining account of what it is like to be utterly at sea in a continent most of his readers will regard as familiar * Independent on Sunday *Hugely funny (not snigger-snigger funny, but great-big-belly-laugh-till-you-cry funny) * Daily Telegraph *Undoubtedly the most enjoyable travel book of the year * Time Out *This is the travel book that every Inter-Rail vagrant would love to write; the Animal House of the genre * New Statesman *

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Book Synopsis''All those interested in South Asia and its complex politics and culture should read this book'' - Pankaj MishraThe demise of Pakistan - a country with a reputation for volatility, brutality and radical Islam - is regularly predicted. But things rarely turn out as expected, as renowned journalist Declan Walsh knows well. Over a decade covering the country, his travels took him from the raucous port of Karachi to the gilded salons of Lahore to the lawless frontier of Waziristan, encountering Pakistanis whose lives offer a compelling portrait of this land of contradictions.He meets a crusading lawyer who risks her life to fight for society''s most marginalised, taking on everyone including the powerful military establishment; an imperious chieftain spouting poetry at his desert fort; a roguish politician waging a mini-war against the Taliban; and a charismatic business tycoon who moves into politics and seems to be riding high - till he takes up the wrong cause. Lastly, Walsh meets a spTrade ReviewDeclan Walsh describes, with intellectual power and cool elegance, a much-misunderstood country. All those interested in South Asia and its complex politics and culture should read it -- Pankaj Mishra[A] thrilling, big-hearted book … a richly observed study of how humans respond to the extraordinary pressures of a sometimes-choking society -- Memphis Barker * Telegraph *A wonderful book that sets a new benchmark for non-fiction about the complex palace of mirrors that is Pakistan … as profoundly nuanced as it is sharply perceptive -- William DalrympleAn irresistible combination of storytelling panache and in-depth knowledge; Declan Walsh brings vividly to life characters and situations that illuminate some of the most significant phases of Pakistan’s history -- Kamila ShamsieCaptivating … What shines through is the relish with which Walsh throws himself into the far corners of Pakistan, into crowds, celebrations and rites, with a drive born of fascination with the land and its people -- Julian Borger * Guardian *Rarely have revelations about Pakistan made for such good reading -- Farzana Shaikh * Literary Review *If you want to read one book about contemporary Pakistan, it has to be The Nine Lives of Pakistan. An intimate yet sweeping account of Pakistan's contemporary history ... [it] left me breathless -- Mohammed Hanif, author of 'Red Birds'Clear-sighted and exhaustive, these dispatches paint a scrupulously layered portrait of a country that defies easy explanations * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisThe Slender-billed Curlew, Numenius tenuirostris, 'the slim beak of the new moon', is one of the world's rarest birds. It once bred in Siberia and wintered in the Mediterranean basin, passing through the wetlands and estuaries of Italy, Greece, the Balkans and Central Asia. Today the Slender-billed Curlew exists as a rumour, a ghost species surrounded by unconfirmed sightings and speculation. The only certainty is that it now stands on the brink of extinction. Birds are key environmental indicators. Their health or hardship has a message for us about the planet, and our future. What does the fate of the Slender-billed Curlew mean for us, and for the natural world? What happened to it, and why? In Orison for a Curlew Horatio Clare journeys through a fractured Europe in search of the Slender-billed Curlew, following the bird's migratory path on an odyssey that takes us into the lives of the men and women who have fought to save the landscapes to which the bird belongs. This is a story of beauty, triumph, and the struggles of conservation. It is a homage to a bird which may never be seen again.Trade Review"Busy and vigorous humanity is the subject to which Clare is best suited; he has a sharp ear for it, and thanks to Clare's generosity toward his subjects, the wealth of backstory and anecdote in his Orison practically hums with it." Times Literary Supplement;"Clare finds hope in the grit and vision of the conservationists he meets on his travels." The Independent

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Book Synopsis From one of the most important chroniclers of our time, come two extended excerpts from her never-before-seen notebooks – writings that offer an illuminating glimpse into the mind and process of a legendary writer. Trade Review‘Didion at her most fascinatingly unfiltered, recording folksy vernacular at a motel pool, having G & Ts with Walker Percy, and searching fruitlessly for Faulkner’s grave in an Oxford cemetery … her riffs on everything from Gertrude Atherton to crossing the Golden Gate bridge for the first time in three-inch heels captures the thrill of a writer discovering her richest subject: the American mythologies that governed her own romantic girlhood, a yearning for an MGM-style heritage that never really was – a yearning that feels freshly perilous in its delusions.’ Vogue ‘Every era needs better criticism … And so it’s been a relief to read [South and West], investigating the South and its “vertiginous preoccupation with race, class, heritage, style and the absence of style”’ Adam Thirlwell, TLS, Books of the Year ‘Let your heart skip a beat. For here be new writing from the mind behind The Year of Magical Thinking and The White Album – Joan Didion. But this isn’t just for Didionites … For an understanding of certain parts of modern America, it still has eerie resonance … An insight into the process of a writer who can truly be referred to as an icon’ Emerald Street ‘A compelling book — rooted utterly in a past now all but lost to us, while also incredibly timely and relevant … It bears the hallmarks of Didion’s sparkling prose’ Los Angeles Review of Books ‘You'll learn more about America's future from Didion's 40-year-old field notes than you will from tomorrow's newspaper’ Esquire ‘There’s a universal rule against reading someone else’s diary – but in this case, it’s not just OK, it’s required reading’ Marie Claire ‘The power of Didion’s work is on striking display in this slender volume … Didion’s notes are remarkably polished and slicing; they shimmer with dark implications’ Booklist ‘Here are many of the splendid, sharp-eyed sentences for which [Didion] has long been admired … An almost spectral text haunted by a past that never seems distant’ Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisAnother Kyoto is an insider''s meditation on the hidden wonders of Japan''s most enigmatic city. Drawing on decades living in Kyoto, and on lore gleaned from artists, Zen monks and Shinto priests, Alex Kerr illuminates the simplest things - a temple gate, a wall, a sliding door - in a new way. ''A rich book of intimate proportions ... In Kyoto, facts and meaning are often hidden in plain sight. Kerr''s gift is to make us stop and cast our eyes upward to a temple plaque, or to squint into the gloom of an abbot''s chamber'' Japan Times''Kerr and Sokol have performed a minor miracle by presenting that which is present in Kyoto as that which we have yet to see. I know that I will never pass a wall, or tread a floor, or sit on tatami the same way again'' Kyoto JournalTrade ReviewBy exposing the convenient demarcations which define Kyoto, Alex Kerr and Kathy Sokol have deconstructed Kyoto cliche´s and in the process have produced a surprising and refreshing addition to Kyoto lore. ... Kerr and Sokol have performed a minor miracle by presenting that which is present in Kyoto as that which we have yet to see. I know that I will never pass a wall, or tread a floor, or sit on tatami the same way again.... Another Kyoto is a kind of rapturous rupture which explodes the field of cultural, social, and poetic possibilities. * Kyoto Journal *

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Book Synopsis'Roger Deakin is the perfect companion for an invigorating armchair swim. Engaging, thoughtful and candid' TelegraphWaterlog celebrates the magic of water and the beauty and eccentricity of Britain.In 1996 Roger Deakin, the late, great nature writer, set out to swim through the British Isles. From the sea, from rock pools, from rivers and streams, tarns, lakes, lochs, ponds, lidos, swimming pools and spas, from fens, dykes, moats, aqueducts, waterfalls, flooded quarries, even canals, Deakin gains a fascinating perspective on modern Britain.Detained by water bailiffs in Winchester, intercepted in the Fowey estuary by coastguards, mistaken for a suicide on Camber sands, confronting the Corryvreckan whirlpool in the Hebrides, he discovers just how much of an outsider the native swimmer is to his landlocked, fully-dressed fellow citizens.This is a personal journey, a bold assertion of the native swimmer's right to roam, and an unforgettable celebration of the magic of water.Trade ReviewI jumped in with both feet and wanted to stay for more.Erudite, funky and passionate, a total delight * Independent on Sunday *Charmingly and elegantly written * Daily Telegraph *A delicious, cleansing, funny, wise and joyful book, so wonderfully full of energy and life. I loved itHighly entertaining...Waterlog is a book about a cold, wet subject written with a warmth and passion it surely deserves, but has rarely had before * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisHailed as Newby''s ''masterpiece'', Love and War in the Apennines is the gripping real-life story of Newby''s imprisonment and escape from an Italian prison camp during World War II.After the Italian Armistice of 1943, Eric Newby escaped from the prison camp in which he''d been held for a year. He evaded the German army by hiding in the caves and forests of Fontanellato, in Italy''s Po Valley. Against this picturesque backdrop, he was sheltered for three months by an informal network of Italian peasants, who fed, supported and nursed him, before his eventual recapture.Love and War in the Apennines' is Newby''s tribute to the selfless and courageous people who were to be his saviours and companions during this troubled time and of their bleak and unchanging way of life. Of the cast of idiosyncratic characters, most notable was the beautiful local girl on a bike who would teach him the language, and eventually help him escape; two years later they were married and would spend the rest ofTrade Review'His masterpiece' Spectator 'Superbly funny … as civilizing, generous and affecting as “Vivere in Pace”, and the men, women and children, weather and woodsmoke are as fresh as yesterday' Observer 'A vivid description of Italian village life, full of notable characters … and the reactions of one sensitive man to being out of the war in the middle of one' Daily Telegraph 'It is necessary to state with emphasis that this is a very good book indeed' Times Literary Supplement 'An exciting story, superbly told. And wisdom, courage and generosity illuminate it' Punch

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Book Synopsis'The best knitwear, the best furniture design, the best fairy tales, the best female prime ministers... a book that anyone with an ounce of style will need to read.'What links Sarah Lund and Lars von Trier? Or Carlsberg and Kierkegaard?Or even Shakespeare and Metallica?The answer lies in Denmark, the country that has gripped the British imagination more than any other in recent memory. But though we watch their TV series, wear their jumpers, and play with their toys, how much do we really know about the Danes themselves? From Lego to lava lamps - via Borgen, The Killing, and the Muhammed cartoons - Patrick Kingsley takes us on a journey into the mysterious heart of Denmark, the happiest country in the world.Part reportage, part travelogue, How to be Danish is a fascinating introduction to contemporary Danish culture that spans politics, television, food, architecture and design.Trade ReviewFascinating * New York Times *"Kingsley is an eloquent and inquiring observer". * Sunday Times *Delightful. * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE 2023 JAMES CROPPER WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING''Unparalleled.'' THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE''A true masterpiece.'' TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT''A tour de force.'' GUY SHRUBSOLE''Quietly courageous.'' PATRICK BARKHAM''Lyrical, wholehearted and wise.'' LEE SCHOFIELD''A knockout. I loved it.'' MELISSA HARRISON''Honest, raw and moving.'' SOPHIE PAVELLE''An extraordinary book by an extraordinary author.'' CHRIS JONES''A book of wit, wonder and of wisdom.'' NICK ACHESON''Beautiful.'' NICOLA CHESTERA visit to the rapid where she lost a cherished friend unexpectedly reignites Amy-Jane Beer''s love of rivers setting her on a journey of natural, cultural and emotional discovery.On New Year''s Day 2012, Amy-Jane Beer''s beloved friend Kate set out with a group of others to kayak the River Rawthey in Cumbria. Kate never came home, anTrade ReviewA true masterpiece; generous, elegant, acute, tender and furious. -- Charles Foster * Times Literary Supplement *The perfect commingling of deep research with sparkling observation and quiet eddies of feeling, helmed by a lifelong kayaker, biologist and all-round adventurous soul... small wonder The Flow is such a knockout. I loved it. * author of All Among the Barley *A rich mix of history and mythology, of science and nature writing at its very best. -- PD Smith * The Guardian *Our 2023 Nature Book of the Year winner is regrettably very topical, and every judge absolutely loved the book. The glorious detail and personal experiences, all written in such elegant and beautifully poetic language, was unparalleled. -- Alastair Giles * Director of the James Cropper Wainwright Prize *A quietly courageous, open-hearted exploration of Britain's becks, bourns and streams. -- Patrick Barkham * author of The Butterfly Isles *Lyrical, wholehearted and wise, The Flow is a hymn for the rivers of Britain. -- Lee Schofield * author of Wild Fell *Honest, raw and moving, Amy’s prose is as captivating as the rivers she describes. I thought I knew what rivers were, but this stunning book is a powerful reminder of their infinity, their mystery, and their bewildering complexity. -- Sophie Pavelle * author of Forget Me Not *The Flow moves deftly between deeply touching personal experience and carefully-researched erudition. It is a book of wit, of wonder and of wisdom. -- Nick Acheson, naturalist and conservationistThe Flow is an extraordinary book by an extraordinary author.In a golden age for nature writing, this stunning book is one of the very best. -- Ben Hoare * BBC Countryfile *A gutsy biologist with webbed feet, Amy-Jane Beer plunges the reader into rivers the length and breadth of Britain. We emerge bathed in wonder and full of fresh understanding. -- Derek Niemann * author of Birds in a Cage *Part memoir, part celebration of the many rivers and waters of Britain, The Flow is passionately alive – a work of tremendous range and scope by one of our finest writers about the living world. -- Caspar Henderson * author of The Book of Barely Imagined Beings *The Flow is a tour de force: blending crystal-clear prose with mythic poetry and a cascade of lucid facts, washed down with uplifting insights into life, death and the water that sustains us. -- Guy Shrubsole * author of Who Owns England? *A fascinating travelogue […] Beer’s prose has the luminous beauty of poetry, blending personal experience and absorbing research with a sense of awe. -- Hannah Beckerman * The Observer *Haunted by loss, The Flow is about the urgency of a life, land and love. -- Nicola Chester * author of On Gallows Down *From the incredibly moving opening scene, to a delightful conclusion, Amy-Jane Beer takes us on a journey on, in and through the waterways of Britain, in sparkling prose. A worthy successor to Roger Deakin's Waterlog. -- Stephen Moss * author of The Robin *The Flow is a wonderful book: as passionate as it is knowledgeable. From Yorkshire Derwent to Dart to Dee via the Zanskar, Amy-Jane Beer really does take us, in her phrase, ‘as close as we might ever get to being a river’. -- Mark Wormald * author of The Catch *A fascinating mix of research into our waterways and gut-wrenching emotion. I can’t find the words to do it justice: read it! -- Charlotte Smith, broadcaster * BBC Countryfile *With a poet’s gift for description, Beer makes her global travels vivid […] She’s got an ability to make even a small moment resonate, such as her child’s serendipitous discovery of a carnivorous sundew plant, with sharp prose and quick pacing. The result is an aquatic tour de force. * Publishers Weekly *Beer’s book examines the reverential place rivers hold in our culture and the stories hidden in their depths. -- Joe Shute * The Sunday Telegraph *A sublime and companionable meditation on nature’s processes. -- Charles Foster * Times Literary Supplement *I have read dozens of books about rivers and The Flow is one of the finest. -- David Profumo * Country Life *Necessary reading for us all. -- Julie Brominicks, landscape writer * BBC Countryfile *This erudite book is a joyous combination of science, nature, history, and mythology […] a genuinely moving voyage of discovery of our ecological and personal place in the nature that surrounds us. * Yorkshire Life *The Flow is an epic memoir that inspires awe for rivers and reveals their dual nature as both boundaries and portals. -- Kristine Morris * Foreword Reviews *Beer’s moving book is about water and landscapes as well as friendship, memory, loss and resilience. It is full of quiet wisdom and passion, and shows us what words can do when the personal and the ecological are blended organically. -- Elif Shafak * New Statesman *Water courses through biologist Amy-Jane Beer’s deep-dive into the lyrical beauty of Britain’s rivers. * Country & Town House *Simply beautiful. -- Stephen MossThe Flow is gutsy and profound from the off, with exquisite evocation of place, dives into deep time, moments of humour and surging anger at what we’ve done to our rivers. -- Ben Hoare * BBC Countryfile *As with all the best books about nature, The Flow is a marriage of two things: a hard-won knowledge of the subject and a rare ability to write beautifully [...] a warm and immersive book. -- Ian Carter * British Wildlife *Beautiful book. -- Nicola Chester * RSPB Magazine *Table of ContentsPrologue: Only water, moving on Chapter 1: Fresh and yet so very old Eddy: Snow dome Chapter 2: Torrent Eddy: Hollowing Chapter 3: Oak-water Eddy: Groundwater Chapter 4: Fly while we may Eddy: Dark water Chapter 5: Lines upon the land Meander: Bath toys Chapter 6: The meanings of water Eddy: Otter Chapter 7: The Bell Guy and the Gypsey Chapter 8: A willow grows aslant a brook Eddy: Minus seven Chapter 9: The cry of the Dart Meander: Flow Chapter 10: Trespassers will Eddy: Summer on the Nene Chapter 11: Chalk stream dreaming Eddy: Heron Chapter 12: Land covered by water Eddy: High water Chapter 13: Ouroboros Meander: Ghosts in the willows Chapter 14: The silver fish Chapter 15: Light and water Eddy: Damnation Chapter 16: Anadrome Chapter 17: Riverwoods Eddy: Flowover Chapter 18: Confluence and influence Meander: A river released Chapter 19: The Mucky Beck Eddy: Withow Gap Chapter 20: Rodents of unusual size Eddy: The narrow bridge Chapter 21: Heartland Chapter 22: A descent into Hell Gill (and out the other side) Epilogue Author’s note and acknowledgements Further reading Index

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Book Synopsis'Difficult to put down ... irresistible' Daily TelegraphTrade Review'Recounted with great skill . . . opens a window onto a fascinating world' * Financial Times *'Highly readable and elegant' * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisPete McCarthy''s tale of his hilarious trip around Ireland has gained thousands of fans all over the world. Pete was born in Warrington to an Irish mother and an English father and spent happy summer holidays in Cork. Years later, reflecting on the many places he has visited as a travel broadcaster, Pete admits that he feels more at home in Ireland than anywhere. To find out whether this is due to rose-coloured spectacles or to a deeper tie with the country of his ancestors, Pete sets off on a trip around Ireland and discovers that it has changed in surprising ways. Firstly obeying the rule ''never pass a pub with your name on it'', he encounters McCarthy''s bars up and down the land, and meets English hippies, German musicians, married priests and many others. A funny, affectionate look at one of the most popular countries in the world.Trade Review'In its freewheeling, informal, jokey way, it is nothing less than an portrait of modern Ireland, in all its splendid contradictions. For a study on Ireland and Irishness, the book is exhilaratingly cosmopolitan in outlook ... Television's loss has been literature's gain.'TelegraphMcCarthy is a hilariously funny writer * The Times *An engaging, evocative book. Four out of five stars * Daily Mail *'Pete McCarthy is a funny man. You will know this if you have seen his award-winning television work or heard him on the radio ... It is impossible to mention comic travels without bringing up the name of Bill Bryson. McCarthy is more to my liking: less smug, delivering more of a sense that he actually noticed the places he passed through without making them seem a freak show. And funny enough to have my neighbours pulling long faces as I sniggered on the Tube the other day.'Sunday Times'A genuinely funny, yet affectionate and informative portrait of the west of Ireland. His book is a collection of wry observations and anecdotes, a skill he developed presenting eight series of Travelog on Channel 4 ... I can guarantee a read that will make you laugh out loud'Sussex LifeHilarious, informed and intelligent ... a wonderful debut. By the end, we, too, would like to move to Ireland * Amazon.co.uk *One of the funniest writers around. If you were asked to choose the ideal travelling companion, you would put Pete McCarthy near the top of your list. But if he doesn't happen to be available, MCCARTHY'S BAR is the next best thing * Yorkshire Evening Post *'Comedian and broadcaster McCarthy takes a hysterical journey through the Ireland of his childhood. An extremely enjoyable book that had me rolling with laughter one minute and deep in thought the next'The Latest (Brighton)'McCarthy is a hilariously funny writer'The TimesDon't panic - this is not the same story you hear from every tourist you meet ... This book will make you laugh out loud through recognition and embarrassment * Irish News *If you're not pissing yourself within minutes of picking up this gem by Pete McCarthy, there's every chance you're actually dead * SX *'Travel books these days are two a penny, but McCarthy's really is a volume to savour. The people of whom he writes will surely appreciate his sharp eye and gentle humour, and the natural beauty which he finds so awe-inspiring cannot but fail to impress even the most world-weary traveller.'Books MagazineMcCarthy mines a rich seam of humour as he finds himself on the receiving end of some warm but unsophisicated hospitality. But then, he could probably make a phone book funny. * Independent on Sunday *'Highly entertaining ... hilarious. A five star book'Rí-Rá'After reading this hilarious, informed and intelligent book, I am tempted to buy books by every other McCarthy around. This is a serious writer struggling to make himself heard above the many excellent jokes and this is what makes McCarthy's book so distinctive. Although he can crack Brysonesque quips with the best of them and take us through hilarious and largely drunken set pieces, McCarthy is equally at home discussing Celtic standing stones and the potato famine. The resulting book is a wonderful debut. By the end, we, too, would like to move to Ireland. You sense that McCarthy has such a genuine feeling for Ireland, Irishness and Irish history that he can only temper his writing with side-splitting humour. In this way, his first book successfully embodies much of what it is to be Irish.'Amazon.co.uk'McCarthy chronicles his drunken voyage with humour and insight, the people he meets are portrayed with sensitivity and wit. He has an ear for dialogue, but also a love of Ireland and Irish history. This comes across as a lot more than a gimmicky travel book, but as genuinely well written and very funny, managing to balance humour and observation in tight and witty prose'WH Smiths online'Meant to be funny, this succeeds nicely. His rule - never pass a bar that has your name on it - makes a simple and pleasing frame. Authors should never record their own books, except autobiography, which this is, and McCarthy gets away with it.'Guardian'Pete would provide you with miles of smiles on the road to wherever you happen to be going ... The hugely entertaining, and very funny, McCarthy's Bar is not a traditional travel book, it's one man's story of an expedition of discovery in search for his roots and an explanation for his gut desire to feel Irish. McCarthy's my kind of tourist, he avoids the obvious and delights in meeting the locals and soaking up their stories (some of them possibly even true) like a beer mat. If you've seen Pete's TV shows you'll know that his idea of travelling includes blisters and all, and McCarthy's Bar is filled to bursting with fascinating folk and their folklore. It may be a spit-and-sawdust view of Ireland, but I'll drink to that.'Peterborough Evening Telegraph'Warrington-born McCarthy's prose is not classic, but his travelogue is warm and inquisitive. McCarthy's discretion in refusing to name the best quality, best value hotel/eating house in the whole of Ireland won my heart. If your feelings about things Irish transcend Paddy McGinty's theme bars and Riverdance, this book is a must.'Manchester Evening News'McCarthy, whose sardonic wit will be familiar to listeners of Radio 4's Breakaway, is as lively and entertaining on the page as he is on the airwaves. Bristling with quips and jokes, he blends his wry humour with intelligent, measured discussions about Irish identity, the potato famine and ancient Celtic religions. The result is a delightful book that is as satisfying as a drop of the black stuff'Travis Elborough, Waterstone's Online'An entertaining meander about the Irish Republic. Warrington-born Pete McCarthy has set out to discover his Celtic roots and the changing face of Ireland in the nicest way possible. McCarthy finds that generous hospitality and good conversation are still to be found and that McCarthy's Bar is a fine place to start looking'Daily Mail'One of the funniest writers around ... A warmly affectionate, humorous and entertaining journey, which perhaps reveals as much about Pete McCarthy as it does about Ireland and the Irish. If you were asked to choose the ideal travelling companion, you would probably put Pete McCarthy near the top of your list. But if he doesn't happen to be available, MCCARTHY'S BAR is the next best thing'Yorkshire Evening Post'McCarthy's Bar is entertaining throughout and although the author is always seeking a romantic image of the Ireland he knew as a child, he does so with good humour and intelligent insight. I could easily sink a few pints with this man and even indulge in a bowl of Singapore noodles afterwards.'The Irish World'Pete McCarthy's entertaining account of his journey through Eire searching for the links that bind him to the place ... The McCarthys turn out to be something of a publican mafia and Pete does them proud, both in the drinking and the telling'Sunday Times'A hilarious odyssey which charts his quest to connect with his Celtic side. Though extremely funny, McCarthy's Bar also takes a serious look at changing times in a country until very recently caught in a 1950s timewarp'Manchester Evening News'His adventures are a joy to read. If he decides to go again, I'll volunteer to carry his case'Northern Echo'If you're not pissing yourself within minutes of picking up this gem by Pete McCarthy, there's every chance you're actually dead. McCarthy's debut book is a witty, charming, insightful ride through his mother's homeland of Ireland. Dotted with hilarious rules of travel ... this one stands out in the often ho-hum world of travellers tales. Full of fascinating, friendly, usually drunken, people and experiences, McCarthy's Bar has you clambering for the next ticket to Ireland, hoping you'll find the author to help share a pint or six'SX'Don't panic - this is not the same story you hear from every tourist you meet. This is a travelogue of Ireland, a journey by someone who feels both intimate and distant to a truly extraordinary country. It is an unusual insight, told through great set pieces and jokes that you have probably heard a hundred times before but you still laugh at them anyway. The author seems to have a natural aptitude (or some might say handicap) for meeting funny, strange and fascinating people. This book will make you laugh out loud through recognition and embarrassment, as you realise that you either know, are related to or are yourself like so many of the people who generally foist themselves upon an unsuspecting Pete McCarthy. This book is not a shamrocks and fiddles view of Ireland, more of a surrealist portrait of the character of a people not defined by any laws of normality. The skill of his writing means he can smoothly go from discussing the drunken craic in a plethora of village pubs to the atmospheric Celtic history of standing stones. This book is really worth a look, especially if you want a good laugh and an unsettling insight into the people, places and general madness that lies dangerously close to your own front door'Irish News'Pete McCarthy's funny book about travel will have you trying to contain your mirth. Of equal importance, it will inspire you to visit places you haven't visited before, and tell you things about humankind you didn't know. With McCarthy's Bar, your only pain will be from sides split by laughing. He's a funny writer is what's-his-name'The Herald (Glasgow)'Like Bryson, McCarthy is a master of characterisation. All of those he meets, from ageing English hippies to impossibly shy hoteliers, are treated with the same gently barbed humour. He isn't too condescending or too self-effacing, which makes it easy to love this book. You will smile throughout and laugh out loud frequently' Wanderlust'This is not a traditional travel book. McCarthy takes the local approach to planning the day - he goes to the pub and waits to see what transpires ... An engaging, evocative book. Four out of five stars'Mail on Sunday'Pete McCarthy takes an incisive but affectionate look at how Ireland has changed since the Angela's Ashes years'Conde Nast Traveller'A humorous look at what the west of Ireland has become. Save this for a rainy day when you're sitting by a peat fire with a bottle of Paddy's whiskey wearing thick socks'Standard'All is related with a wicked sense of humour that will have you laughing out loud. Be warned that if you plan to read this book in public you are likely to get some strange looks as you try to choke back the giggles. This is no mere travel book - it is a walk down memory lane, a look at the differences between the Irish and the English and a comedy delight. Slainte!'Coventry Evening Telegraph'An acutely observed and often hilarious series of snapshots of a country that can induce an onrush of sentimental cliche. A funny and believable travelogue'The Sunday Times'The finest travel book of the year to date. A wonderful, wonderful book - clever and funny in all the right places. Observant, thought-provoking and bold, it does the Irish people justice and gives them an authentic voice. MCCARTHY'S BAR is Bryson without the boring bits and I can pay its writer no higher compliment'The Oxford Times'Wonderful ... It's a surprise to discover that this is McCarthy's first book because he is an excellent writer, enthralling his readers with vivid descriptions of the Irish countryside, wonderful comic timing and a knack for the telling phrase. This is a hugely enjoyable book, heartfelt, self-aware and very funny ... full of funny anecdotes, keen observation and an intelligent exploration of what it means to be Irish, to belong here'Kilkenny People'A wonderfully funny journey around Ireland. In and out of McCarthy's Bars he went, encountering the mad, bad and gloriously wacky. He narrates MCCARTHY'S BAR with the help of a couple of actors, and it's a delight'Express on Sunday'The funniest book I've read this year'John Walsh, Independent (October17th 2000)'Funny and touching'Irish Post'He could probably make a phone book funny'Independent on Sunday

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Book SynopsisGordon Buchanan is an award-winning presenter and wildlife cameraman, his credits including the Planet Earth and Frozen Planet series and, as presenter, the popular Family & Me series of documentaries. He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2020 for services to conservation and wildlife filmmaking. Gordon lives in Glasgow with his wife and family. In the Hide is his first book.

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE ORION BOOK AWARD Part travelogue, part manifesto for wildness as an essential character of life, Wild is a one-of-a-kind book from a one-of-a-kind author''Undefinable, untameable, profound and extraordinary'' Observer _________________________''I took seven years over this work, spent all I had, my time, money and energy. Part of the journey was a green riot and part a deathly bleakness. I got ill, I got well. I went to the freedom fighters of West Papua and sang my head off in their highlands. I met cannibals infinitely kinder and more trustworthy than the murderous missionaries who evangelize them. I found a paradox of wildness in the glinting softness of its charisma, for what is savage is in the deepest sense gentle and what is wild is kind. In the end - a strangely sweet result - I came back to a wild home.'' Wild describes an extraordinary odyssey, courageous and sometimes danTrade ReviewWild is like nothing else I've ever read: thrilling, troubling, frightening, exhilarating. Jay Griffiths' courage and energy are formidable, but so is her sheer intelligence and literary flair * Philip Pullman *Reality is such that both language and imagination have to exaggerate in order to confront it truly. Living with such exaggeration you need a very good head for heights and a lot of bravery. In this book Jay Griffiths has both. If bravery itself could write (by definition it can't), it would write, I believe, like she does * John Berger *

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Book SynopsisA book about intense physical and personal experience, narrating how Victoria Whitworth began swimming in the cold waters of Orkney as a means of escaping a failing marriage. This is a memoir of intense physical and personal experience, exploring how swimming with seals, gulls and orcas in the cold waters off Orkney provided Victoria Whitworth with an escape from a series of life crises and helped her to deal with intolerable loss. It is also a treasure chest of history and myth, local folklore and archaeological clues, giving us tantalising glimpses of Pictish and Viking men and women, those people lost to history, whose long-hidden secrets are sometimes yielded up by the land and sea.Trade ReviewThere's no shortage of books about wild swimming... Perhaps the most intriguing of the lot is Swimming with Seals' * Scotland on Sunday *onderfully evocative... Fascinating... The writing is consistently alert and engaging' * Scotsman *Attentive, astute and beautiful... I adored it' -- Amy Liptrot, author of The OutrunI finished this book wanting to find a cold lido, or jump into a lake, or walk into the cold sea and stay there for as long as I could stand it, and then do it again * Guardian *Each little "dreamlike postcard" in this captivating book takes you deeper into the world novelist Victoria Whitworth experienced as a sea-swimmer in the wild waters of Orkney' * Sainsbury's Magazine *The author's descriptions of the coastline in Orkney and the savannah in Kenya, where she spent some of her childhood, are sharp and original... enjoy wallowing in the richness of her theological, philosophical and literary knowledge' * The National *An eloquent celebration of swimming in the cold waters of Orkney and a fascinating memoir * Half Man Half Book *A tale of redemption through nature and water's powerful ability to heal * Outdoor Photography *Intelligent, wide-reaching memoir... somehow refreshing, and calming, even in its introspection' * The Bookseller. *Absorbing and thrilling -- Ella Foote, Outdoor SwimmingThe first thing that hooked me into this story was the sea... An unusual [memoir]' * Evening Standard *She writes beautifully of selkies and mermaids * Guardian *This isn't really a book about swimming at all, but a book about how we are controlled by the voices of the dead; about how the whole of life is necessarily a seance. That's a humbling perspective * Five Books *An extraordinary book * TLS *An intensely painful and personal memoir... This tapestry of myth, folklore and history, woven alongside her own story, imbues it with extra meaning and emotion. You'll be raring to jump into the freezing cold sea after reading this' * Scotland Magazine *

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisSeven years after her mother’s death, Leonie Charlton is still gripped by memories of their fraught relationship. In May 2017, Leonie trekked through the Outer Hebrides in the company of a friend and their Highland Ponies in search of closure. When Leonie’s pony has a serious accident, she begins to realise that finding peace with her mother is less important than letting go. Leonie Charlton blends travel and nature writing with intimate memoir in this beautifully written account of grief and acceptance.Trade Review‘Beautiful, meditative memoir.’ * Sunday Express *‘Her mesmerising account blends travel and nature writing as Charlton reflects on grief, catharsis and acceptance.’ * The Herald *‘Poetic.’ * Scottish Field *‘An evocative look at a mother-daughter relationship, with a Hebridean backdrop.’ * The Simple Things *‘Marram is a story about love – love for a string of windswept islands, for their people and wildlife, for a couple of shaggy ponies and for a lost and parent. With an affectionate eye for the smallest detail and an indulgent ear for the softest lament, Leonie Charlton does them all proud.’ -- John Keay, author and presenter‘Tried by nature’s elemental rawness, washed with fear and despair, Marram is Leonie Charlton’s telling of a gruelling journey as she wrestles with the ragged memories left by her mother’s untimely passing.’ -- Alastair McIntosh, author of Poacher’s Pilgrimage‘What a joy Marram is! Images of place and people flood the senses in a truly unputdownable account of two journeys intertwined. A beautiful and evocative piece of writing.’ -- Karen Matheson, singer with Capercaillie‘Leonie has conjured a memorably magical world of nature and wildlife, places and people, that lingers in the imagination long after finishing the book. You don’t have to like ponies or wild islands to enjoy reading Marram, but for those who do, this book will become a special treasure.’ -- Juliet Blaxland, author of The Easternmost House‘A huge sense of accomplishment radiates from the final pages, filling the reader with affection for the writer, for what she has endured, and the things she has learned along the way.’ * On: Yorkshire Magazine *‘Beautifully and elegantly descriptive. A wonderful read that I enjoyed a great deal.’ * Pythia Reads *

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Book Synopsis*Longlisted for the RSL Ondaatje Prize 2019* A unique blend of travelogue, musings and poetry, A Stranger's Pose draws the reader into a world of encounters haunted by the absence of home, estrangement from a lover and family tragedies. The author's recollections and reflections of fragments of his journeys to African cities, from Dakar to Douala, Bamako to Benin, and Khartoum to Casablanca, offer a compelling and very personal meditation on the meaning of home and the generosity of strangers to a lone traveller. Alongside accounts of the author's own travels are other narratives about movement, intimacy, the power of language and translation. Whilst echoing the writings of Anne Michaels and John Berger, this remarkable book charts a path of its own that will redefine travel writing.

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Writing AwardsIn The Hidden Ways, Alistair Moffat traverses the lost paths of Scotland - its Roman roads tramped by armies, its byways and pilgrim routes, drove roads and railways, turnpikes and sea roads - in a bid to understand how our history has left its mark upon our landscape. As he retraces the forgotten paths that shaped and were shaped by the lives of the now forgotten people who trod them, Moffat charts a powerful, surprising and moving history of Scotland.Trade ReviewOur ancestors walked everywhere, unless they lived by a river or loch and travelled by boat, or were rich enough to keep a horse or pony. So Moffat will walk. He will walk over much of Scotland, following, sometimes struggling to follow, old roads that are now sometimes hard to find. This book is the story of a dozen such walks. This is a splendidly rich book - a treasure-house of information, memories and speculation -- Allan Massie * * The Scotsman * *This fascinating and compelling narrative will leave you spellbound and in no time you'll be looking for your hiking boots and waterproofs . . . An absorbing and thought-provoking addition to the literature of Scotland's byways * * Countryfile * *The Hidden Ways makes us think about Scotland and its history in a completely different way . . . A truly fascinating read * * Sunday Mail * *Retracing and walking Scotland's lost paths makes Alistair Moffat reflect upon the country's history in a different sort of way . . . From Perthshire to Ballachulish, Moffat explores the land in a personal, inquisitive way and searches for evidence of the people who helped shape it * * Outdoor Photography * *A treasure trove of stories * * The Great Outdoors * *A fine history of the wild, walkable country * * Wanderlust * *Praise for The Great Tapestry of Scotland: 'Not just visually stunning but intensely moving and occasionally very funny * * The Times * *Praise for The Border: 'Quirky, learned and utterly absorbing -- ALLAN MASSIEPraise for The Scots: 'Truly fascinating * * Scotsman * *Praise for Scotland: 'A very readable, well-researched and fluent account * * Scotland on Sunday * *

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