Travel writing Books

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewWonderful... Evidence of both the breadth of Theroux's interests and his skill in bringing them to life * Sunday Times Culture *

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Book SynopsisIt was Rachel Signer''s dream to be that girl: the one smoking hand-rolled cigarettes out the windows of her 19th-century Parisian studio apartment, wearing second-hand Isabel Marant jeans and sipping a glass of Beaujolais redolent of crushed roses with a touch of horse mane. Instead she was an under-appreciated freelance journalist and waitress in New York City, frustrated at always being broke and completely miserable in love. When she tastes her first pétillant-naturel (pét-nat for short), a type of natural wine made with no additives or chemicals, it sets her on a journey of self-discovery, both deeply personal and professional, that leads her to Paris, Italy, Spain, Georgia, and finally deep into the wilds of South Australia and which forces her, in the face of her Wildman, to ask herself the hard question: can she really handle the unconventional life she claims she wants?Have you ever been sidetracked by something that turned into a career path? Did you ever think you were looking for a certain kind of romantic partner, but fell in love with someone wild, passionate and with a completely different life? For Signer, the discovery of natural wine became an introduction to a larger ethos and philosophy that she had long craved: one rooted in egalitarianism, diversity, organics, environmental concerns, and ancient traditions. In You Had Me at Pét-Nat, as Signer begins to truly understand these revolutionary wine producers upending the industry, their deep commitment to making their wine with integrity and with as little intervention as possible, she is smacked with the realization that unless she faces, head-on, her own issues with commitment, she will not be able to live a life that is as freewheeling, unpredictable, and singular as the wine she loves.

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Book SynopsisWill Randall travels with a purpose, as well as an outrageous sense of fortune. In INDIAN SUMMER he found himself, by chance, having the extraordinary experience of helping slum schoolchildren put on a play to help save their school. In Botswana he was taken up by a headmaster to teach a class of six year olds at The River of Life school. They are football crazy and one of Will''s jobs is to take them to play neighbouring (sometimes as much as 100 miles away) schools. Camping en-route or staying in farms and rural villages, often travelling by foot or dug-out punts, thousands of antelope, elephant, buffalo and zebra follow their progress. The sound of lions, leopards and hyenas become the soundtrack of their dreams. Against all the odds they find themselves preparing for the Grand Final of the season - the titanic clash with arch rivals, Victoria Falls Primary school.Both an endearing personal story and a travel book about a little-known but highly successful country, BOTSWANA TTrade ReviewThis is a good-humoured book, written by a man who went to Botswana with an open heart. The result is a wonderful, amusing and affirmative book about that remarkable country, filled with laughter, colour, and simple decency. Bravo, Mr Randall. Bravo. * Alexander McCall Smith *An engaging and insighful travel book about an amazing country. * WATERSTONE'S BOOKS QUARTERLY *A thoroughly uplifting book, BOTSWANA TIME manages to capture all the old fashioned humour of an Englishman abroad without one insulting the locals. * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *Both an endearing personal story and a travel book about a little-known but highly successful country. * LIVING ABROAD MAGAZINE *

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Book SynopsisPatrick Leigh Fermor was only 18 when he set off to walk from the Hook of Holland to Constantinople, described many years later in A Time of Gifts and Between the Woods and the Water. It was during these early wanderings that he started to pick up languages, and where he developed his extraordinary sense of the continuity of history: a quality that deepens the colours of every place he writes about, from the peaks of the Pyrenees to the cell of a Trappist monastery. His experiences in wartime Crete sealed the deep affection he had already developed for Greece, a country whose character and customs he celebrates in two books, Mani and Roumeli, and where he has lived for over forty years. Whether he is drawing portraits in Vienna or sketching Byron''s slippers in Missolonghi, the Leigh Fermor touch is unmistakable. Its infectious enthusiasm is driven by an insatiable curiosity and an omnivorous mind - all inspired by a passion for words and Trade ReviewThere is a pleasure to be had on every page. Here is a writer who can find something fascinating in the dullest characters and the most drab towns. He is a master stylist, too, revelling in the possibilities of language, striving always to be exact. Few travel writers can create atmosphere quite as thickly, but then few have such extraordinary anecdotes to tell...it [the anthology] serves as a reminder that Leigh Fermor is one of the greatest travel writers of all time * Anthony Sattin, Sunday Times *'The finest travel writer of his generation' Colin Thubron'The greatest of living travel writers' Jan MorrisPatrick Leigh Fermor is an exquisite among travel writers * Sunday Telegraph *Paddy Leigh Fermor - war hero, linguist, adventurer - is at heart a great storyteller ... he draws the reader, like his huge acquaintance, into instant intimacy. His achievement is to be who he is - even more than what he has done. This collection beautifully illustrates both. * Max Hastings, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *He makes exotic and entertaining friends wherever he goes, has read everything, been everywhere and writes like a dream * The Times *

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Book SynopsisAll the best armchair travellers are sceptics. Those of the fourteenth century were no exception: for them, there were lies, damned lies, and Ibn Battutah''s India.Born in 1304, Ibn Battutah left his native Tangier as a young scholar of law; over the course of the thirty years that followed he visited most of the known world between Morocco and China. Here Tim Mackintosh-Smith retraces one leg of the Moroccan''s journey -- the dizzy ladders and terrifying snakes of his Indian career as a judge and a hermit, courtier and prisoner, ambassador and castaway. From the plains of Hindustan to the plateaux of the Deccan and the lost ports of Malabar, the author reveals an India far off the beaten path of Taj and Raj.Ibn Battutah left India on a snake, stripped to his underpants by pirates; but he took away a treasure of tales as rich as any in the history of travel. Back home they said the treasure was a fake. Mackintosh-Smith proves the sceptics wrong. India is a jewel in tTrade ReviewThis is his first venture into India but he comes upon the scene like a breath of fresh air. * Charles Allen, author of Duel in the Snows *Were he to jump on a camel for his second volume in the great traveller's footsteps ... he would surely be the Burton of his day * Praise for previous works The Spectator *Mackintosh-Smith has all the assets a travel writer needs: erudition without pretension; rather subversive good humour without relentless jokiness; and a descriptive eye capable of sketching complex detail in a few telling lines of ink * Praise for previous work, The Daily Telegraph *Esoteric, raunchy, hilarious, erudite and transporting, The Hall of a Thousand Columns is a marvellous traveller's tale like no other. I sense that Ibn Battutah has finally met his match. * Eric Hansen *As a writer and traveller Tim Mackintosh-Smith has two great gifts: he slips effortlessly between the past and the present, and he takes us with him. This is his first venture into India but he comes upon the scene like a breath of fresh air. * Charles Allen *Tim Mackintosh-Smith has recreated, with enviable intimacy and elegance, the extraordinary life and times of the greatest traveller of pre-modern times. * Pankaj Mishra, author of The Romantics and *Funny, cultured, humane and highly idiosyncratic * Barnaby Rogerson, Literary Review *Part travel book, part biography, part detective story, this is a gripping read and a fitting testament to the Prince of Travellers. * Wanderlust *Tim's aim is to sift tangible history from magical reality ...and he proves the sceptics wrong: India is the Jewel in the Prince of Travellers' turban. * The Nehru Centre *Few writers have the talent to pull off a notable trilogy in any genre . . . Mackintosh-Smith's is not in doubt . . . Rich and fascinating * Sunday Times *With his hallmark combination of irreverence and empathy, Mackintosh-Smith . . . has confected a curiously addictive blend of history, travel and jokes . . . an engaging portrait of modern-day India - the charm, humour and quirkiness * Guardian *A curiously addictive blend of history, travel and jokes * Guardian Weekly *A book that travels in time as well as in space . . . Intersperses dizzying glimpses of 14th-century Islamic court life with [the author's] own comic attempts to navigate modern-day India * Daily Mail *This is engrossing writing to transport even the most languid armchair traveller. * Daily Express *Mixing Ibn Battutah's account with his own encounters and journeys, Mackintosh-Smith creates an enchanting text. * Ziauddin Sardar, Independent *A thoroughly engaging read . . . Smith writes articulately and with good humour . . . very rewarding * Adventure Travel magazine *Mackintosh-Smith seems to tread a pleasing path between using Ibn-Battutah's work as his personal guide book and taking in his surroundings as they come. The best thing about this book is how the past and the present are mingled * Global magazine *This is his first venture into India but he comes upon the scene like a breath of fresh air. * Charles Allen *A deft use of language, anecdote, scholarship and a daunting appreciation for all that is wonderful and absurd in the world. Esoteric, raunchy, hilarious, erudite and transporting, The Hall of a Thousand Columns is a marvellous traveller's tale like no other. I sense that Ibn Battutah has finally met his match. * Eric Hansen *Another triumph, travel writing of the very highest order and the perfect ripsote to any publisher or agent who has been predicting the demise of the genre. * The Spectator *Tim Mackintosh-Smith has recreated, with enviable intimacy and elegance, the extraordinary life and times of the greatest traveller of pre-modern times. * Pankaj Mishra, author of The Romantics and *'The author's research has been thorough, but his tone is often enjoyably light . . . The Hall of a Thousand Columns has achieved what its author intended' * Times Literary Supplement *Were he to jump on a camel for his second volume in the great traveller's footsteps ... he would surely be the Burton of his day * Praise for previous works The Spectator *'A rich texture of multiple perception . . . Beneath this funny, cultured, humane and highly idiosyncratic travelogue there is a darkly tragic theme. For interwoven with the real-time journey of Mackintosh-Smith through India is an enquiry into the nature of Islam in India' * Barnaby Rogerson, Literary Review *A first-rate travel book, enlivened by the author's erudition, subtle humour, and sheer enthusiasm for his subject * Traveller *Mackintosh-Smith has all the assets a travel writer needs: erudition without pretension; rather subversive good humour without relentless jokiness; and a descriptive eye capable of sketching complex detail in a few telling lines of ink * Praise for previous work, The Daily Telegraph *As a writer and traveller Tim Mackintosh-Smith has two great gifts: he slips effortlessly between the past and the present, and he takes us with him. This is his first venture into India but he comes upon the scene like a breath of fresh air. * Charles Allen *Few writers have the talent to pull off a notable trilogy in any genre . . . [Mackintosh-Smith's] talent is not in doubt. . . . The author appears as an enthusiastic researcher, a thirsty drinker, and a traveller who allows little to deter him from his path . . . Rich and fascinating * Anthony Sattin, Sunday Times *With his hallmark combination of irreverence and empathy, Mackintosh-Smith ... has confected a curiously addictive blend of history, travel and jokes. But above all, he engages with ideas, and his aim is that of the novelist - to send a bucket down into the subconscious. * Guardian Weekly *Part travel book, part biography, part detective story, this is a gripping read and a fitting testament to the Prince of Travellers. * Wanderlust *Tim's aim is to sift tangible history from magical reality . . . Mackintosh-Smith proves the sceptics wrong: India is the Jewel in the Prince of Travellers' turban * The Nehru Centre *Wisecracking . . . One of the most enjoyable things about Mackintosh-Smith's narrative is the way it intersperses dizzying glimpses of 14th-century Islamic court life with his own comic attempts to navigate modern-day India. A book that travels in time as well as in space * Daily Mail *Mixing Ibn Battutah's account with his own encounters and journeys, Mackintosh-Smith creates an enchanting text . . . This is an engrossing book * Ziauddin Sardar, Independent *This is engrossing writing to transport even the most languid armchair traveller * Daily Express *A thoroughly engaging read . . . Smith writes articulately and with good humour . . . very rewarding * Adventure Travel magazine *'An engaging portrait of modern-day India - the charm, humour, quirkiness and the way in which the country constantly juxtaposes the extraordinary with the mundane' * Guardian *'The wellspring of his writing is his profound immersion in a Muslim culture . . . the strength of his work derives from his position as both insider and outsider in the Arab world . . . Mackintosh-Smith is in that same learned yet good-humoured tradition [as Leigh Fermor]' * Daily Telegraph *Mackintosh-Smith seems to tread a pleasing path between using Ibn-Battutah's work as his personal guide book and taking in his surroundings as they come. The best thing about this book is how the past and the present are mingled * Global magazine *'An engaging homage to one of travel writing's founding fathers' * Henry Day. London Review of Books *Remarkable . . . [He] writes so engagingly and with such felicitous phrasing . . . Another triumph, travel writing of the very highest order and the perfect ripsote to any publisher or agent who has been predicting the demise of the genre * Justin Marozzi, The Spectator *'The author's research has been thorough, but his tone is often enjoyably light . . . The Hall of a Thousand Columns has achieved what its author intended' * Times Literary Supplement *'Mackintosh-Smith's own comments and causeries . . . transform mundane travel writing into the beguiling, the brilliant and the brave. The writing goes beyond descriptive or recollective to include a style - between commentary and epic poetry - that is as individual, as quirky, as IB's own . . . Engrossing . . . Classic' * Melbourne Age *'Refreshingly robust . . . Mackintosh-Smith perseveres with good humour, displaying a high tolerance for puns and a poet's ear for "linguistic oxymora" . . . A fascinating journey in good company - a traveller could have no better gift.' * Geographical *'Interesting' * Folkestone Herald and Dover Express *'Mackintosh-Smith is undoubtedly very clever' * The Hindu *'Mackintosh-Smith is an entertaining and thoughtful writer' * India Today *'The indefatigable Mackintosh-Smith continues his pursuit of the great Moroccan traveller' * Condé Nast Traveller *'Beguiling' * Publishing News *'Erudite and entertaining' * Bookseller *'Blending a passion for writing with a vanished world, he triumphs . . . Splendid . . . I would like to write an essay about this book, it is so good' * Good Book Guide *'Brilliant' * Classic FM *'A very beguiling mix of modern-day travelogue and a history of Magul India' * Sue Baker, Publishing News *

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Book SynopsisIn this, his first book, Patrick Leigh Fermor recounts his tales of a personal odyssey to the lands of the Traveller''s Tree - a tall, straight-trunked tree whose sheath-like leaves collect copious amounts of water. He made his way through the long island chain of the West Indies by steamer, aeroplane and sailing ship, noting in his records of the voyage the minute details of daily life, of the natural surroundings and of the idiosyncratic and distinct civilisations he encountered amongst the Caribbean Islands.From the ghostly Ciboneys and the dying Caribs to the religious eccentricities like the Kingston Pocomaniacs and the Poor Whites in the Islands of the Saints, Patrick Leigh Fermor recreates a vivid world, rich and vigorous with life.Trade ReviewPaddy's portrayal of the islands could be said to have jump-started the tourism industry upon which the Caribbean has since largely depended * Geographical Magazine *Being a natural romantic ... he was able to probe the hidden recesses of this mixed civilisation and to present us with a picture of the Indies more penetrating and original than any that has been presented before * Harold Nicolson, The Observer *He is the ideal traveller, inquisitive, humorous and vivid in depicting * Sunday Times *Bringing the landscape alive as no other writer can, he uses his profound and eclectic understanding of cultures and peoples ... to paint vivid pictures - nobody has illuminated the geography of Europe better * Geographical Magazine *John Murray is doing the decent thing and reissuing all of Leigh Fermor's main books ... But what else would you expect from a publisher whose commitment to geography is such that for more than two centuries it has widened our understanding of the world? * Geographical Magazine *A substantial and fascinating work, with the adventurer's signature across every page * Daily Mail *No-one has captured and evoked the extraordinary differences between the islands better * Geographical Magazine *Amusing, knowledgeable, and percipient, it is everything a travel book should be. * The Good Book Guide *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"captures the very essence of people and place" Yorkshire Post

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Book SynopsisAuthor & stalwart husband Harry follow in the footsteps of the heroes of the Trojan War. They travel to Turkey, Mt. Ida & Troy, then to Greece to see the palaces of the major Greek heroes, and end on Mt. Olympus, the mountain of the Gods. It is humorous & informative with selected quotes from the Iliad & the Odyssey - intended to awaken interest in the non-academic reader.

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE EDWARD STANFORD TRAVEL WRITING AWARDS 2024''As epic as it is engaging'' Tom Holland''Jaunty, highly informative and ultimately sobering'' New York Review of Books''A fine book... Leon McCarron''s tough journey paints a rich and enthralling portrait'' Sir Michael PalinThe river Tigris is in danger. It has been the lifeblood of ancient Mesopotamia and modern Iraq, but geopolitics and climate change have left the birthplace of civilisation at risk of becoming uninhabitable. In 2021, adventurer Leon McCarron travelled by boat along the full length of the river, in search of hope.From the source, where Assyrian kings had their images carved into stone, McCarron and his small team journeyed through the Turkish mountains, across north-east Syria and into the heart of Iraq. Passing by historic cities like Diyarbakir, Mosul and Baghdad, McCarron kept the company of fishe

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE 2016 EDWARD STANFORD ADVENTURE TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD''Levison Wood has breathed new life into adventure travel.'' Michael Palin''Levison Wood is a great adventurer and a wonderful storyteller.'' Sir Ranulph Fiennes''Britain''s best-loved adventurer... he looks like a man who will stare danger in the face and soak up a lot of pain without complaint.'' The TimesFollowing in in the footsteps of the great explorers, WALKING THE HIMALAYAS is Levison Wood''s enthralling account of crossing the Himalayas on foot. His journey of discovery along the path of the ancient trade route of the Silk Road to the forgotten kingdom of Bhutan led him beyond the safety of the tourist trail. There lies the real world of the Himalayas, where ex-paratrooper Levison Wood encountered natural disasters, extremists, nomadic goat herders, shamans (and the Dalai Lama) in his 1,700-mile trek across the roof of the worlTrade ReviewBritain's best-loved adventurer... he looks like a man who will stare danger in the face and soak up a lot of pain without complaint. * The Times *In the macho, adrenaline-fuelled arena of TV adventurers, Levison Wood is that rare beast: the real deal. * Radio Times *Wood's USP is that, unlike a great many pretenders, he is the real deal: a former paratrooper, a major in the army reserves and as hard as nails. * Telegraph *Adventurer Levison Wood is 'bewildered' by being called a sex symbol, as a death-defying trek through the Himalayas is set to have fans' pulses racing. * Daily Mail *Levison Wood is a great adventurer and a wonderful storyteller. * Sir Ranulph Fiennes *

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Book Synopsis Shortlisted for the Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year 2020''A thought-provoking treatise interwoven with blistered-feet-on-the-ground accounts of spots both pretty and gritty'' National Geographic''Compelling, thought-provoking, and courageous, this epic-poetic journey peels back layers of collective emotional and imaginative inheritance. Jubber gets under the skin of our complicated continent and his timing is dead right'' Kapka Kassabova''A genuine epic'' Wanderlust''The prose is colourful and vigorous...Jubber''s journeying has indeed been epic, in scale and ambition. In this thoughtful travelogue he has woven together colourful ancient and modern threads into a European tapestry that combines the sombre and the sparkling'' Spectator''Epic Continent sets out on a physical and mythological journey to uncover what it means to be European'Trade ReviewA fascinating, page-turning exploration of the stories, identity and the root of the European self. A must read for anyone interested in where we come from and where we may be going -- Jason WebsterCompelling, thought-provoking, and courageous, this epic-poetic journey peels back layers of collective emotional and imaginative inheritance. Jubber gets under the skin of our complicated continent and his timing is dead right * Kapka Kassabova *In the great literary tradition of writers like Jan Morris and Patrick Leigh Fermour, Jubber has a deep knowledge of the epics whose narratives and journeys he follows * The New European *An original and thoroughly absorbing book by a travel writer of immense ability * The New European *Epic continent is an Odyssey on its own, which travels both in space and time . . . Nick Jubber gets to the old heart of a still-troubled continent * Professor Tom Shippey *Brings out the many ironies of literary and political history ... and show[s] that the past is still with us all * TLS *A timely study of how epic can sadly harden frontiers and justify violence, while retaining the more hopeful possibility of re-invention to prompt dialogue and shape new communities of song -- Peter Davidson * author of The Idea of the North *Epic Continent sets out on a physical and mythological journey to uncover what it means to be European * Geographical *Compelling, thought-provoking, and courageous, this epic-poetic journey peels back layers of collective emotional and imaginative inheritance. Jubber gets under the skin of our complicated continent and his timing is dead right * Kapka Kassabova *

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Book Synopsis''A battleground of immense geological forces that is a centre of human tectonics as well, with sacred and secular, tradition and technology, all pushing up against each other . . .''In Himalaya, Michael Palin travels the length of the world''s most astonishing mountain range from its origins in the Khyber Pass to its final descent to the sea in the Bay of Bengal. Along the way he encounters landscapes both beautiful and deadly - and meets the extraordinary people who make these mountains their home.

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Book SynopsisTim Moore completes his epic (and ill-advised) trilogy of cycling's Grand Tours. Julian Berrendero's victory in the 1941 Vuelta a Espana was an extraordinary exercise in sporting redemption: the Spanish cyclist had just spent 18 months in Franco's concentration camps, punishment for expressing Republican sympathies during the civil war. Seventy nine years later, perennially over-ambitious cyclo-adventurer Tim Moore developed a fascination with Berrendero's story, and having borrowed an old road bike with the great man's name plastered all over it, set off to retrace the 4,409km route of his 1941 triumph - in the midst of a global pandemic. What follows is a tale of brutal heat and lonely roads, of glory, humiliation, and then a bit more humiliation. Along the way Tim recounts the civil war's still-vivid tragedies, and finds the gregarious but impressively responsible locals torn between welcoming their nation's only foreign visitor, and bundling him and his filthy bike into a vat of antiviral gel.Trade ReviewVuelta Skelter is really three books in one. It's the story of Moore's own epic 2,760-mile, lung-busting, thigh-wrenching journey... It is a rich, kaleidoscopic look a the legacy of the Spanish Civil War... And it is also a tribute to Berrendero - a tough, dour loner who refuses to give an inch, either to the mountains or to the authorities... Moore wants to restore JB [Berrendero] to his proper place in the ranks of cycling legends. He succeeds superbly. -- Roger Alton * Daily Mail, *Book of the Week* *Marvellous -- Richard Peploe * Road.cc *Reading Tim Moore is a joy... you will belly laugh at the bedraggled, gazpacho-guzzling figure Moore cuts in Vuelta Skelter... he emerges as a two-wheeled Groucho Marx and a thoughtful Simon Schama combined. -- Iain Marshall * Cycle *Vuelta Skelter's style is colloquial, full of jokes... the narrative races along like Berrendero on a good day... a valuable portrait of those post-war years of murder and hunger, and the modern Spain that still hardly dares mention them. -- Michael Eaude * Times Literary Supplement *Vuelta Skelter...[is] his best cycling book yet. The mixture of the hilarious and the harrowing really shouldn't work but, in the hands of a writer as skilled as Moore, it deftly combines his trademark mischievous wit and a love of cycling. * Cycling Plus *

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Book SynopsisIn the face of widespread misinformation and misunderstanding, a climate scientist ventures into the vast heart of America’s new oil country on just two wheels.Recently recovered from his epic bicycle journey that took him from the Delaware shore to the Oregon coast, distinguished climate scientist David Goodrich sets out on his bike again to traverse the Western Interior Seaway—an ancient ocean that once spread across half of North America. When the waters cleared a geologic age ago, what was left behind was vast, flat prairie, otherworldly rock formations, and oil shale deposits. As Goodrich journeys through the Badlands and Theodore Roosevelt National Park and across the prairies of the upper Midwest and Canada, we get a raw and ground-level view of where the tar sands and oil reserves are being opened up at an incredible and unprecedented pace. Extraordinary and unregulated, this “black goldrush” is boom and bust in every sense. In a manner reminiscent of John McPhee and Rachel Carson, combined with Goodrich’s wry self-deprecation and scientific expertise, A Voyage Across an Ancient Ocean is a galvanizing and adventure-filled read that gets to the heart of drilling on our continent.Trade Review“A gentlemanly excursion through dirty oil sites that features a caustic, urgent message.” * Kirkus Reviews *"A detail-rich chronicle. The miles fly by." * The Washington Post (Praise for A HOLE IN THE WIND) *"At the end of a high-level career in climate science, David Goodrich cycled from Delaware to Oregon looking for a “hole in the wind”—a human future in the unrelenting march of climate change." * Nature (Praise for A HOLE IN THE WIND) *"The text rolls along as easily as his heavily-laden bike must have on those welcome downhill stretches. For a read that engages, entertains, and also educates, I can’t recommend anything better than A Hole in the Wind." * The Daily Local (Praise for A HOLE IN THE WIND) *"This cyclist’s view of how things really are effectively cuts across head-butting arguments about global warming. A compelling narrative enlivened as much by the author’s encounters on the road as by his skillful unfolding of scientific knowledge." * Kirkus Reviews (Praise for A HOLE IN THE WIND) *"Entertaining and instructive, Goodrich’s travelogue showcases one man’s heroic efforts to confront this century’s greatest environmental crisis." * Booklist (Praise for A HOLE IN THE WIND) *Goodrich is a sure-footed, amiable guide to the science behind climate change. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisIn his gripping new book, Roger D. Taylor reveals the haunting story behind the most devastating voyage of his career.

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the The Great Outdoors Awards – Outdoor Book of the Year 2020 Shortlisted for the Boardman Tasker Award for Mountain Literature 2020 There are strange relics hidden across Scotland’s landscape: forgotten places that are touchstones to incredible stories and past lives which still resonate today. Yet why are so many of these ‘wild histories’ unnoticed and overlooked? And what can they tell us about our own modern identity? From the high mountain passes of an ancient droving route to a desolate moorland graveyard, from uninhabited post-industrial islands and Clearance villages to caves explored by early climbers and the mysterious strongholds of Christian missionaries, Patrick Baker makes a series of journeys on foot and by paddle. Along the way, he encounters Neolithic settlements, bizarre World War Two structures, evidence of illicit whisky production, sacred wells and Viking burial grounds. Combining a rich fusion of travelogue and historical narrative, he threads themes of geology, natural and social history, literature, and industry from the places he visits, discovering connections between people and place more powerful than can be imagined.Trade Review'An evocative tome detailing his adventures in tracking down some of Scotland's most remote monuments to history ... the lost relics and secret places of Scotland's wild, wild past' * Sunday Post *'Grippingly told…each of his journeys fills with atmosphere and emotion' * BBC Countryfile Magazine *'Good nature writers can create such strong images that we almost feel that we are standing on the same windswept moors, gazing out over the same landscapes. Patrick Baker is such a writer, and this book is perfect for armchair travel' * Sorted *'A lyrical exploration of Scotland's regions of "rumour and folklore," of hidden places and often-forgotten tales, that makes a compelling argument for a greater examination of "wild histories" beyond the most well-trodden narratives of adventure' * Boardman Tasker Award for Mountain Writing, Shortlisted 2020 *'The Unremembered Places breaks [the] mould. It describes Patrick Baker’s refreshingly quirky explorations on foot or kayak, often with his children, of remote and obscure locations' * Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal *'The Unremembered Places is packed with stories and reflections that dovetail into explanations of our relations with the land… For those with any inclination to adventure, natural beauty, or forgotten histories this will be a treasured read' * Geographical Magazine *'Wandering and kayaking through some of the UK’s wildest places, Baker reveals an area tantalisingly layered through with history and mystery in this fascinating exploration of the area. Along the way as he navigates Scotland’s peaks, creeks and cracks, he charts the labyrinth of ancient and modern history as well as the connections between the two, enriching any visit to the area' * Wanderlust Magazine *'Patrick Baker explores far-flung ruins and relics – from a cemetery for dam-builders to the remains of illicit stills – that serve as archives for Scotland's "wild histories". It's a haunting little book' * Telegraph - One of the Telegraph’s ‘best travel books to take you far away’, today *'The stories are well told, entertaining and informative, and the author's adventures, which don't always go smoothly, bring reality to the situations in which the historical events took place ... For anyone interested in the Scottish outdoors and the history of its wild places this is a great read. I thoroughly recommend it' -- Chris Townsend * Outdoors *'We are taken on a series of journeys, into areas of Scotland's history and geography of which most readers are likely to be ignorant. So the nine chapters of the book, each dealing with a different place, discovery and journey are educational and enlightening. They are also enjoyable. ... in short, anyone reading this engaging book will learn much and have pleasure in doing so' -- Allan Massie * Scotsman *'The stories in this compact book are the stuff of campfire nights... a book of great interest and insight. The effort of reaching these outposts is impressive in itself, but when he arrives at his destination, Baker brings a sensitivity to history, landscape, and the lingering spirit of those who once lived there that raises The Unremembered Places far above reportage. It is a reclaiming of remoteness, and a reminder that, no matter how far off the map, for those who lived here these locations were the centre of the world' -- Rosemary Goring * Herald *'Baker’s prose is so vivid that you see, hear, smell and feel his journeys with him. When writers often fall back on damaging divisions between ‘nature’ and ‘culture’, this book is a crucial reminder that there’s no contradiction in the term ‘wild histories’' -- David Gange'Baker draws on boyhood fascinations to unravel the draw that many adventurers feel for the Scottish Highlands. On this journey, Baker treads the same path as the shadowy figures of Scottish history: merchants, journeymen, vagrants who each made their way through an unforgiving countryside. For Baker, the landscape is a passageway through time, connecting modern backpackers with the forgotten folk of history' -- Jacob Dykes * Geographical magazine, Best Books of 2020 Nature, History of Place *'One of the few places that storytelling still exists is round a bothy fire. There's a very real sense that Patrick Baker's writing is bringing people back into connection with the landscape' -- John Burns'Baker is an excellent guide to the places he explores, curious, honest, informative, and charming in equal measure (the chickens of Inchkeith will not easily be forgotten) ... It's an excellent book whose relevance goes far beyond the Scottish landscape it explores, and which I strongly recommend' * Desperatereader.blogspot.com *'Baker brings to life Scotland's unnoticed and overlooked wild histories' * Waterstones Recommends *

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Book SynopsisWhether you're a regular globe-trotter or an armchair traveller, these 80 works conjure up the spirit of place for locations on every continent. Sometimes the setting of a novel is as important as the story – where would Dickens be without London, or Edith Wharton without New York? Who can read Jamaica Inn and not want to visit Bodmin Moor, or enjoy Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and not wonder whether perhaps Botswana should be on your bucket list? Covering every corner of the world, from the most visited cities of Europe to the rural outposts of Australia, there are classics by famous authors, alongside works by new writers. Sometimes a native of the country is best able to convey its true nature, but then an outside observer can recreate the attraction of the unknown. Whether you have already decided on a destination and want to get a feel for the place, or you are just looking for ideas for your next getaway, Around the World in 80 Novels is full of inspirational reads that will fire your imagination and have you reaching for your suitcase. Trade ReviewThis gorgeous book allows you to journey around the world by taking you to the different countries and cities that inspired some of literature's greatest works. Get ready for an amazing journey – The Passenger

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Book Synopsis'This important, disturbing and frequently heartbreaking book should be read by every politician in Westminster.' Adrian Tempany, Observer'In a few weeks' time, it would be thirty-five years to the day since those men and women had walked 340 miles to try to save their communities and their culture, and thirty-five years since I had turned down Pete's invitation to join them. I called work and booked some time off. Then I bought a one-way train ticket to Liverpool.'In 1981, Mike Carter's dad, Pete, organised the People's March for Jobs, which saw 300 people walk from Liverpool to London to protest as the Thatcher government's policies devastated industrial Britain and sent unemployment skyrocketing. Just before the 2016 EU referendum, Mike set off to walk the same route in a quest to better understand his dad and his country.As he walked, Mike found many echoes of the early eighties: a working class overlooked and ignored by Westminster politicans; communities hollowed out but fiercely resistant; anger and despair co-existing with hope and determination for change. And he also found that he and Pete shared more in common than he might have thought.All Together Now? maps the intricate, overlapping path of one man's journey and that of an entire country. It is a book about belonging, about whether to stay or go, and about the need to write new stories for our communities and ourselves.

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Book SynopsisRaised on its banks and an avid sailor, Caroline Crampton sets out to rediscover the enigmatic pull of the Thames by following its course from the river's source in a small village in Gloucestershire, through the short central stretch beloved of Londoners and tourists alike, to the point where it merges with the North Sea. As she navigates the river's ever-shifting tidal waters, she seeks out the stories behind its unique landmarks, from the vast Victorian pumping stations that carried away the capital's waste and the shiny barrier that holds the sea at bay, to the Napoleonic-era forts that stand on marshy ground as eerie relics of past invasions. In spellbinding prose, she reveals the histories of its empty warehouses and arsenals; its riverbanks layered with Anglo-Saxon treasures; and its shipwrecks, still inhabited by the ghosts of the drowned. The Way to the Sea is at once a fascinating portrait of an iconic stretch of water and a captivating introduction to a new voice in British non-fiction.Trade Review[A] praise-hymn to the muddy, marshy far reaches of the river... captivating -- Rose George * New Statesman *Short but rich... [Crampton] writes movingly, sometimes with flecks of nostalgia or melancholy, but ultimately her book is a rallying call for greater appreciation of the maligned and overlooked * Evening Standard *Like the Thames itself, this book carries you along on a journey full of rich detail and fascinating insight -- Madeleine BuntingAn affectionate portrait of an often neglected landscape... rich and fascinating... Crampton writes beautifully of the area's charms. Her first-hand knowledge of navigating the river gives the book the descriptive power that brings the whole area superbly to life * Sunday Times *Atmospheric and movingly written...rich and haunting * Spectator *In The Way to the Sea, the Thames - from its indistinct origins in a muddy Gloucestershire field, all the way east to the Nore sandbank in the estuary - runs through a lush landscape of personal memories of family sailing trips and Oxonian dunkings, of histories of cities and suburbs that rose and fell on its banks, populated by poets and painters singing the Thames' 'sweet song'. A memorial to Joseph Bazalgette, architect of the Thames' central London embankments, claimed he had 'put the river in chains', but in this tender, often startling, blend of memoir, nature-writing and social and cultural history, Caroline Crampton reveals instead how the river shapes us -- Rachel HewittThis is a remarkable, superbly researched book, and I was swept along by it from source to mouth. The Thames Estuary has found its chronicler, a young writer who opens a reader's eyes to its mystery, moodiness and downbeat beauty -- Christopher SomervilleCaroline Crampton's The Way to the Sea is a re-enchantment of the overlooked, everyday world of the Thames Estuary. A love letter to a place too changeable to define, this seductive journey is both beautifully written and highly recommended -- John HiggsA fascinating, brilliant book that carries you downstream on its quick-flowing current' -- Cal FlynnFascinating * Bookseller *Lyrically written... this book was a treat * Practical Boat Owner *A beautiful book * Five Books *Deeply literary and well researched... A thoughtful, beautifully-written appreciation * Yachting Monthly *[A] lyrical meditation on the meaning of the Thames...you won't find a more elegantly written guide * Literary Review *[A] wonderful account... [Crampton] writes with the quiet confidence and terminology of someone who has spent plenty of time aboard... captivating * I Paper *What makes [Crampton] a remarkable guide to the story of the Thames is that she sees it in an unexpected way. Instinctively, she writes of the river not from the shore, but from the water. She knows it, and loves it, from the inside * In the Moment *Fascinating . . . Ms Crampton's account of her lifelong relationship with this storied waterway is as elegant and sinuous as the river she loves * Economist *A consistently interesting and lyrical narrative, which seamlessly weaves historical anecdote, personal memoir and gentle warnings about the frailty of the environment into an enjoyable whole * Mail on Sunday *Engaging . . . A rich, resonant history * Sunday Express *Engaging, well researched and beautifully written * William Morris Society Journal *

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Book Synopsis'A fabulous piece of writing . . . I recommend it unreservedly' WILLIAM DALRYMPLE'A brilliant book' CHRISTINA LAMB, author of Farewell KabulOne of the first things I was told when I arrived in Kabul was never to walk...When journalist Taran Khan arrives in Kabul, she uncovers a place that defies her expectations. Her wanderings with other Kabulis reveal a fragile city in a state of flux: stricken by near-constant war, but flickering with the promise of peace; governed by age-old codes but experimenting with new modes of living.Her walks take her to the unvisited tombs of the dead, and to the land of the living - like the booksellers, archaeologists, film-makers and entrepreneurs who are remaking this 3,000-year-old city. And as NATO troops begin to withdraw from the country, Khan watches the cycle of transformation begin again.**Winner of the Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year Award 2021****Winner of the Tata Literature Live First Book Award for Non-Fiction 2020**'Powerfully evocative' Kapka Kassabova'A wonderful journey' Atiq Rahimi'Khan illuminates Kabul's life-affirming humanity' TLSTrade ReviewShadow City is no conventional travel book. For Khan gives us a Kabul of the imagination: it is the city that was, less the city that is, that fascinates her. Her perambulations represent a form of "bipedal archaeology", an exercise in exhuming the past and probing the lost... It is easy to cast Kabul as a tragic mess of a metropolis, but Khan illuminates its life-affirming humanity -- Oliver Balch * Times Literary Supplement *Offers a unique on-the-ground view of the city...a refreshing counterpoint to the macho foreign correspondent genre... Khan’s interviews during her walks powerfully evoke the fluctuating mood in a city that is trying to heal itself -- Amelia Gentleman * Guardian *These stories conjure a magic in the labyrinthine streets and reveal a fragile city in a state of flux, shape-shifting and flickering with the promise of peace -- Sophie Lam * i *Any reader of this book is sure to discover a Kabul so unlike what the media portrays. Taran’s love of her city comes across in her enchanting evocation of a city where so many tragedies echo from across Kabul’s decades of war. On her last walk, she writes: “to leave Kabul was to take it with you.” This is what happened when I finished reading this book, I took Kabul with me -- Raja Shehadeh, author of Palestinian WalksOn the surface, Kabul is a city caught "between the hope of peace and the habit of violence." The deeper reality, though, is even more complex and layered: like Kabul's actual lanes, those that map its character "twist and vanish . . . like well-kept secrets." It is an elusive, illusive place - bood, nabood, now you see it, now you don't. Taran Khan's achievement is to have caught it in an affecting and beautifully observed portrait, a word-map that will endure -- Tim Mackintosh-SmithBy excavating Afghanistan's forgotten past, Khan rescues its future, too. Her lyrical prose brings to life the most daring truth a writer can offer: that these tragedies were not preordained, and another Afghanistan is possible -- Anand Gopal, author of No Good Men Among the LivingA lyrical discovery... As a Muslim woman from India, Khan is able to present a unique social and historical perspective -- Edward Girardet * Global Geneva *Taran Khan invites and leads us into a wonderful journey through the streets of Kabul, its history and culture. Step by step with her, we breathe in the city’s air of mysticism and mystery, walk through gardens full of myths and secrets, and we caress the wounds and scars of war on the skin of the city and cross the bridge that is built over the river between Indo-Greek civilization -- Atiq RahimiShadow City moved me to tears... In the service of Kabul and Afghanistan, a region of the world about which we imagine we know much more than we actually do, no book has done a more honest and heart-warming job in recent years... Thrilling -- Supriya Nair * Mumbai Mirror *Traces the lost glory of the city and narrates contemporary miseries. A moving memoir...and a subtle dive into history -- Ashutosh Bhardwaj * Financial Express *Sparkling...a city and a part of the world that is particularly suited to the elegy... The Kabul stories Khan collects are like that: silent screams for a city that was and the city it could be -- Vikram Shah * Mint Lounge *An intricate, intimate portrait of a heartbreaking city, its people and its past, written with nuance, love and attention. In her multi-dimensional memoir Taran Khan explores Kabul as she wanders – through its streets but also its literature, its politics but also its passions – revealing as she does her own exacting, compassionate sense of what the city was and can still be -- Alice Albinia, author of Empires of the IndusThrough these deep and compassionate portraits of ordinary people who call Kabul home, Taran Khan tells the story of the city through war and peace as never told before. At a time when deep uncertainly hangs over Afghanistan’s future once again, Shadow City provides an invaluable perspective on life in its capital -- Snigdha PoonamKhan asks important questions of cities that have witnessed trauma in the palimpsests of what remains. The book carries valuable insights into the effects of war -- the fragility of books, films, ways of life; addiction as a war wound; the instability of 'home'. Mostly, it reminds us of the power of words to represent ways of seeing * India Today *A profound, beautifully written meditation -- Lucy Popescu * Tablet *

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Book SynopsisGuy Delisle's work for a French animation studio requires him to oversee production at various Asian studios on the grim frontiers of free trade. His employer puts him up for months at a time in 'cold and soulless' hotel rooms where he suffers the usual deprivations of a man very far from home. After Pyongyang, his book about the strange society that is North Korea, Delisle turned his attention to Shenzhen, the cold, urban city in Southern China that is sealed off with electric fences and armed guards from the rest of the country. The result is another brilliant graphic novel - funny, scary, utterly original and illuminating.Trade ReviewLike last year's Pyongyang, about his similar stint in North Korea, Shenzhen is a casual, dryly witty series of observations... Delisle's got an animator's eye for quirks of motion, analyzing the arc of a public fountain's water and the way street vendors make popcorn in a pressure cooker. The best artwork in the book is his impressionistic, unnarrated pen-and-ink-wash drawings of Shenzhen's drab buildings and billboards, but Delisle's keen awareness of how and why he can't connect to the city makes for a rarity: a thoroughly engaging memoir of being bored to distraction. -- Douglas Wolk * New York Times Book Review *

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Book Synopsis***SHORTLISTED FOR THE EDWARD STANFORD TRAVEL WRITING AWARD (2022), ILLUSTRATED TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR*** The Passenger collects the best new writing, photography, and reportage from around the world. Its aim, to break down barriers and introduce the essence of the place. Packed with essays and investigative journalism; original photography and illustrations; charts, and unusual facts and observations, each volume offers a unique insight into a different culture, and how history has shaped the place into what it is today. Brimming with intricate research and enduring wonder, The Passenger is a love-letter to global travel. IN THIS VOLUME, Arundhati Roy, Prem Shankar Jha, Tishani Doshi explore the contradictory, terrible and joyful chaos that lies at the heart of India. From its very first contact with the West, India has been subject to great mystification as the survival of ancient rituals, and its variety of languages and cultures, continues to fascinate the world. This narrative is intertwined with a newer one that sees the frenetic change of a society at the forefront of innovation. Success stories coexist alongside stories of daily struggle. A large slice of the population still does not have access to drinking water, and agriculture (still the main source of livelihood for most of the 1.3 billion people who live there) is threatened by climate change. India is a country that does not know how to eradicate one of the most infamous forms of classism/racism: the caste system. From the resistance of the Kashmiri people to that of atheists – hated by all religious communities – from the dances of the ‘hijra’ in Koovagam to the success of the female wrestler Vinesh Phogat, learn about the contradictory, terrible and joyful chaos that lies at the heart of India.Trade Review“These books are so rich and engrossing that it is rewarding to read them even when one is stuck at home.” * The TLS *“Few travel guides are confident enough to tell the stories of a destination’s complex realities as well as those of their beauty. [The Passenger] has a strong focus on storytelling, with pages given over to a mix of essays, playlists and sideways glances at subcultures and thorny urban issues.” * The Stack *“Half-magazine, half-book . . . think of [The Passenger] as an erudite and literary travel equivalent to National Geographic, with stunning photography and illustration and fascinating writing about place.” * Independent.ie (Best series of the year – 2021) *“The Passenger readers will find none of the typical travel guide sections on where to eat or what sights to see. Consider the books, rather, more like a literary vacation--the kind you can take without braving a long flight in the time of Covid-19.” * Publisher's Weekly *“Fresh and diverting, informative and topical without being slight or ephemeral [...] This supremely well-edited combination of current affairs, journalism, commentary, and fun facts is perfect for our pause-button moment.” * Australian Financial Review (Best Books of the Year) *“Tremendously eclectic and classily produced . . . each volume gets under the skin of a country or a city in a multifaceted way that feels essential in these times of narrowing national horizons.” * The Bookseller *

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Book SynopsisDo you love trains? Do you love adventure? If so, join Tom Chesshyre on his meandering rail journey across Europe from London to Venice. Escaping the rat race for a few happy weeks, Chesshyre indulges in the freedom of the tracks. From France (dogged by rail worker strikes), through Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland, he travels as far east as Odessa by the Black Sea in Ukraine. With no set plans, simply a desire to let the trains lead the way, he heads back via Hungary, the Balkans and Austria. Along the way he enjoys many an encounter, befriending fellow travellers as well as a conductor or two. This is a love letter to Europe, written from the trackside.Trade ReviewBristling with vitality, Chesshyre's new tome is a joyfully rudderless romp through Europe's railway system... It's a work of brilliant geekery, but for the most part it's a love letter to the continent, a Eurocentric work for our Brexit-beleaguered times * National Geographic, Top Ten Travel Books for Summer 2019 *He casually, and beautifully, bats away the earnestness of travel literature * The Literary Times Supplement - Caroline Eden *There is something nostalgic about the clatter of wheels and sleeper trains... by the end, the reader will struggle to resist the urge to follow his lead. * The Economist *We love reading about train travel... Pick up Slow Trains to Venice by Tom Chesshyre * Sunday Times Travel Magazine *An engaging picaresque series of encounters and reflections on Europe as many of its countries struggle to find common ground amid the populist reaction to its dilemmas * Anthony Lambert, author of Lost Railway Journeys from Around the World *At a time when European unity is fraying at an alarming rate, here comes Tom Chesshyre's travelogue to remind us of the virtues of connectedness. Better still, his explorations are made by train, and use the Continent's historic, unpredictable routes from the era before high-speed rail. A diverting and thought-provoking read. * Simon Bradley, author of The Railways *Beethoven with attitude, masochism in Lviv, the smell of cigarettes in the corridor, adventurous great aunts who travelled on the roofs of crowded trains, Carniolan pork-garlic sausage, Jimi Hendrix in the Slovene Ethnographic Museum and, of course, the 13:49 from Wroclaw. Tom Chesshyre pays homage to a Europe that we are leaving behind and perhaps never understood. Che bella corsa! He is the master of slow locomotion. * Roger Boyes, The Times *Far from being just another train travelogue, Slow Trains to Venice combines reports from a Europe on the brink of major change with amusing vignettes... An essential read. * Tom Otley, editor of Business Traveller magazine *Like the trains he travels on, Tom Chesshyre meanders through Europe and the result is entertaining and enjoyable. * Christian Wolmar, author of Blood, Iron and Gold: How the Railways Transformed the World *Meander through Europe in the excellent company of Tom Chesshyre, who relishes the joys of slow travel and seizes every opportunity that a journey presents: drifting as a flâneur in Lille, following in the tracks of James Joyce in a literary exploration of Ljubljana, cosseted in luxury on a trans-Ukrainian express, all decorated with a wealth of detail and intrigue.As Tom discovers, it's not just Brexit Britain - the whole Continent is in disarray. But at least Europe's railways still bind us together. * Simon Calder, The Independent *One of the most engaging and enterprising of today's travel writers, Chesshyre has an eye ever-alert for telling detail and balances the romance of train travel with its sometimes-challenging realities... but for all its good humour, the book impresses as a poignant elegy for the Europe which Britain once embraced * Stephen McClarence, travel writer, Daily Telegraph and The Times *

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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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Book SynopsisSpain's top city for tourism, Madrid attracts more than six million visitors a year. Helen Crisp and Jules Stewart relate the story of a city and its people through the centuries, while their carefully curated listings give a nod to well-known attractions and sights, as well as hidden gems. Spain's art capital, with its `Golden Triangle' of museums and myriad art galleries, Madrid is also a city of dazzling nightlife, with a profusion of cafes and bars. This is the story of a vibrant, energetic city, one that remains an enigma to many outsiders.Trade Review"There is no better guide to Madrid. A treasure trove of fascinating anecdotes and details, not to be missed."--Jason Webster, author of Violencia: A New History of Spain "This is now my favorite guidebook to a city I love. It is impressively knowledgeable and well-researched. A joy to read! Crisp and Stewart have beautifully captured the essence of the city."--Ainhoa Paredes, journalist and London correspondent for Spanish TV channel TelecincoTable of ContentsPrologue HISTORY 1 Magerit Becomes Madrid 2 The Golden Age Of Empire And Literature 3 City Of Enlightenment 4 Bourbon Farewell And Return 5 Madrid Comes Of Age 6 City Under Siege 7 We Go Movida Along 8 Madrid Gets A Facelift THE CITY TODAY 'Squares' Fiestas and Processions Cafe Society Football Madness Theatre Markets Picture this Look up Man of La Mancha Specialist Shops LISTINGS References Chronology Suggested Reading and Viewing Index

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Book SynopsisAs the nation's oldest serving detectives, we know more about London than almost anyone. After all, we've been walking its streets and impulsively arresting its citizens for decades. Who better to take you through its less savoury side? We'll be chatting about odd buildings, odder characters, lost venues, forgotten disasters, confusing routes, dubious gossip, illicit pleasures and hidden pubs. We'll be making all sorts of odd connections and showing you why it's almost impossible to separate fact from fiction in London. With the help of some of our more disreputable friends, each an argumentative and unreliable expert in his or her own dodgy field, we'll explain why some streets have genders, why only two Londoners got to meet Dracula, how a department store and a prison played tricks on your mind, when a theatre got stranded in the past, how a building vanished in plain sight, what excited Charlotte Brontë about the city and where the devils hide in London. We hope to capture something of the city's restless spirit by wilfully wandering off course, and it goes without saying that we'll bluff and bamboozle you along the way but that's all part of the fun. History is what you remember. London is what you forget (and we've forgotten a lot). So please do join us on this magical mystery tour of our city. Who knows where we'll end up?Trade ReviewOne of the glories of the modern crime fiction field? The deliriously eccentric books by Christopher Fowler. -- Barry Forshaw * FINANCIAL TIMES *Devilishly clever . . . mordantly funny . . . sometimes heartbreakingly moving. -- VAL McDERMIDIf you have never entered the curious world of Bryant and May, you're in for a treat. * THE TIMES *One of the glories of the modern crime fiction field? The deliriously eccentric books by Christopher Fowler. -- Barry Forshaw * FINANCIAL TIMES *

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Book Synopsis'The best book in English about one of the world's most brutal and under-reported conflicts ... fascinating' Christina Lamb, Sunday TimesIn the early hours of New Year's Eve 1994, Russian troops invaded the Republic of Chechnya, plunging the country into a prolonged and bloody conflict. Asne Seierstad reported regularly on the war, describing its effects on those trying to live their daily lives amidst the violence. In 2006 and 2007 she returned, travelling in secret, in constant danger. The tragedy of Chechnya had continued but the world had moved on. In a broken and devastated society she meets the orphans, the wounded, the lost - and tells their stories at last.'I devoured this in a few hours - a powerful book of heartbreaking yet flamboyant reportage from a forgotten hell' SIMON SEBAG-MONTEFIORE'Invaluable ... she has a real eye for detail and the human heart of a story' OBSERVERTrade ReviewThe best book in English about one of the world's most brutal and under-reported conflicts ... a fascinating, if often horrifying, read * Christina Lamb, Sunday Times *Invaluable ... she has a real eye for detail and the human heart of a story * Observer *Touching stories of loss, survival and bravery ... an invaluable account of the stormy conflicts that have blighted the area for centuries * Time Out *Impossible to ignore ... [An] important book * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisA narrative of Captain Scott's expedition to the Antarctic. This book provides a record of various aspects of the expedition which set out from Dundee in 1901, from the realities of daily routine to their wonder at discovering strange landscapes, as well as the trials of harsh weather conditions, food shortages and illness.

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Book SynopsisIn Tropic of Capricorn, bestselling author Simon Reeve embarks on a 23,000-mile trek around the southernmost border of the tropics - a place of both amazing beauty and overwhelming human suffering. Heading east through Africa, Australia and South America, Simon encounters breathtaking landscapes and truly extraordinary people: from Bushmen of the Kalahari and Namibian prostitutes battling with HIV to gem miners in Madagascar and teenagers in the Brazilian favela once described as the most dangerous place on earth. It is a collection of daring adventures, strange rituals and exotic wildlife, all linked together by one invisible line.Like the best travel writing, Tropic of Capricorn confronts important issues of our time - our changing environment, poverty, globalisation - by taking us on an unforgettable journey of discovery.Trade ReviewLike all the best travellers, Reeve carries out his investigations with infectious relish * Daily Telegraph *Brilliant...a fascinating, illuminating journey...much more than a travelogue * Daily Mail *A romping good travelogue * Wanderlust *

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Book SynopsisFollowing the spirit of the world’s longest coastal driving route, Paul Clements sets out to discover the real west of Ireland. Along the way he encounters memorable characters living on the Atlantic edge and presents a unique portrait of their lives. We meet the last man standing on a remote Galway island, listen to the banter at Puck Fair, and hear from a descendant of the original sixteenth-century wild Atlantic woman. Tagging along on his meandering journey is the swashbuckling presence of the Celtic sea god, Manannán Mac Lir. For his first travel book in 1991, Paul hitchhiked the same route. Now retracing his steps along the Wild Atlantic Way – this time by car and bike, on horseback and on foot – he looks at how Ireland has changed and realises everyone still has a story to tell. Laced with wry humour and endless curiosity, this is a distinctive mix of travel writing, social history and nature. Also by this author: `The Height of Nonsense: The Ultimate Irish Road Trip’ Praise for this author: “Stacks of free copies should be sent to all our tourist desks abroad.” – The Irish Times. “For sheer pleasure, nothing I read beat Paul Clements’ `The Height of Nonsense’.” – The Observer. “A compulsive, educational, laugh-out-loud read.” – Sunday Independent. "A fascinating journey around the hidden corners of Ireland." – BBC RadioTrade Review'A very enjoyable book, filled with educational, uplifting and side-splitting stories, an engaging mix of travel, nature and social commentary.' -- Damien Enright * Irish Examiner *'Clements is an affable, thoughtful guide, always alert to the small, telling detail.' * Irish Independent *'Utterly entertaining from beginning to end.' * Irish Examiner *'Engrossing portrait of western Ireland.' * Irish Mountain Log *'A good production, well designed in which the author discovers the west of Ireland, this book will appeal to a general readership.' * Books Ireland *'The author has discovered that the Wild Atlantic Way has revitalised the west and led to a newfound energy.' * Connacht Tribune *'Clements is an authority on the popular tourist route that has become the Wild Atlantic Way.' * Fermanagh Herald *'A wonderful book with inspiring insights.' * IrelandWays.Com *'The Wild Atlantic Way is far more than a tourist trail and this book charts Clements' return journey along it.' * Pol O Conghaile, Irish Independent *'A must-read book in which Clements experiences both the mythic and the human.' * Culture Northern Ireland *'An epic journey full of thoughtful observations and showing a zest for people.' * Tyrone Herald *'A distinctive mix of travel writing, social history and nature.' * Clare Champion *'Very visual writing that delves into the facts and fantasies of the west of Ireland.' * Irish News *'Nature's sights and aromas are all around him while the thundering wild Atlantic plays its own soundtrack.' * Leitrim Observer *'A well paced and illuminating book full of quirky stories.' * Sligo Weekender *'An insight into a changing world where wit, humour and small-town Ireland anecdotes are as warm and as endearing as ever.' * The Kerryman *'With his seamless word-tapestry, Clements has written a vibrant and honest word-picture of the rolling, rocky, craggy and compelling Wild Atlantic Way.' * Mayo News *'A delightfully varied book on the changing face of Ireland.' * Niall Delaney, Ocean FM *'An informative, colourful and engaging book.' * Shaun Doherty, Highland Radio *'Laced with wry humour and endless curiosity.' * Donegal News *'A brilliant read.' * Stephen McCauley, Radio Ulster book club *'Three hundred and forty fascinating pages and a beautiful storied book that touches the hearts and souls of the communities.' * Weeshie Fogarty, Radio Kerry *'A fascinating coastal journey that starts and continues in an unhurried way. Clements discovers the marvellous in the ordinary.' * BBC Radio *'Superb idea.' -- Sean Moncrieff * Newstalk *

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Book Synopsis Take the trip of a lifetime through poetry, journalism, historical fact, and science fiction with this daily anthology of travel writing. Travelling''s never been easier. Wherever you are, find yourself somewhere else with the newest anthology in the Batsford Bedside Companion series. Journey through different eras, continents and points of view, with one entry for each day of the year. Whether you''re in need of inspiration, you want to manifest your dream trip, or you just need a break, climb aboard and let some of the best travel writers of all time whisk you away to intriguing new lands. This collection is perfect for anyone who loves to travel, explore, and learn. Travel from Middle America to Peru with Bill Bryson, Jack Kerouac, and Michael Bond. See what the world has to offer, from Venetian Regattas to Iranian hospitality. Discover how others have moved through the world, from cities on foot with Lauren Elkin to countryside biking with Dervla Murphy, driving through Russia with Colin Thubron and waiting at railway stations with Bishwanath Ghosh. From London to Timbuktu via the Gobi Desert and the Brazilian Jungle, there''s poetry, travel guides, memoir, fiction and more as far as the eye can see. Swap your backpack for this book to keep by your bedside, and start or end your days with a trip to wherever you desire.

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Book SynopsisA magnet for trade and travellers from all over the world, stylish, cosmopolitan Amsterdam is a city of dreams and nightmares, of grand civic architecture and legendary beauty, but also of civil wars, bloody religious purges, and the tragedy of Anne Frank. In this fascinating examination of the city's soul, part history, part travel guide, Geert Mak imaginatively recreates the lives of the early Amsterdammers, and traces Amsterdam's progress from waterlogged settlement to a major financial centre and thriving modern metropolisTrade ReviewLovers of Amsterdam will revel in the exhaustive reconstruction of everyday life in the medieval city * Independent on Sunday *A strong sense of irony and a lively prose style make Geert Mak's Amsterdam one of the most unusual and engaging 'city books' I have read this year * Sunday Times *Mak's brief is... to bring Amsterdam into the modern age. This he does with wit and style. But his real achievement... is to make accessible unfussily - and unsentimentally - one of Europe's most astonishing urban success stories -- James Woodall * Financial Times *This excellent book is more than essential -- Irvine Welsh

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Book SynopsisPerceptive, funny, and nostalgic, E.B. White''s stroll around Manhattan remains the quintessential love letter to the city, written by one of America''s foremost literary figures. The New York Times has named Here is New York one of the ten best books ever written about the metropolis, and The New Yorker calls it 'the wittiest essay, and one of the most perceptive, ever done on the city.

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisKosovo: the name conjures up blood: ethnic cleansing and war. This book reveals another side to the newest country in the world a land of generous families, strong tastes and lush landscapes: a land of honey. Elizabeth Gowing is rushed to Kosovo, on a blind date with the place , when her partner is suddenly offered the position of adviser to Prime Minister Agim Ceku. Knowing nothing of the language or politics, she is thrown into a world of unpronounceable nouns, unfamiliar foods and bewilderingly hospitable people. On her first birthday in Kosovo she is given a beehive as a gift, and starts on a beekeeping apprenticeship with an unknown family; through their friendship and history she begins to understand her new home. Her apprenticeship leads her to other beekeepers too: retired guerrilla fighters, victims of human trafficking, political activists, a women's beekeeping group who teach her how to dance, and the Prime Minister himself. She dons a beekeeper's veil, sees the bees safely through winter, manages to use a smoker, learns about wicker skeps, gets stung, harvests her honey and drizzles it over everything. In between, she starts working at Pristina s forgotten Ethnological Museum, runs a project in a restored stone house below the Accursed Mountains and falls in love with a country she had known only as a war. Travels in Blood and Honey charts the author s journeys through Kosovo's countryside and its urban sprawl, its Serbs and Albanians, its history and heartache, its etymology and entomology, its sweet and its unsavoury. Describing new ways of living, and many new ways of cooking, the book contains traditional recipes, and the flavours of Turkish coffee, chestnut honey, and the iconic food called fli. It is a celebration of travel, adventure and the new tastes you can acquire far from home.Trade Review'A sheer delight; a beguiling, bittersweet story of a lively love affair with a traditional world, as ancient as apiculture, in transition to new nationhood.' ----The Times 'A wonderful writer about Pristina - Interesting and different.' -----Matthew Parris 'Enthralling... a hugely affectionate picture of the everyday lives of ordinary Kosovans and a wonderful evocation of a place that most of us know so little about. Food, above all honey, is the key that unlocks the doors between cultures. And I have every intention of trying some of the recipes.' ----Sophie Grigson

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Book Synopsis'Somewhere in the world there may be a noisier street than Acharnon Street; but I hope not.' 92 Acharnon Street is a loving portrait of Athens in all its dusty, dirty, trafficridden reality, complete with bars, prostitutes, corruption and imperious bureaucrats. This is a book about Greeks not just Greece, in all their rich and confusing humanity.

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Book SynopsisElizabeth Romer lives in the village or Arezzo, in Tuscany, during the cold winter months. She and her husband also live a rustic life in an Italian country farmhouse, but it is cut off by snow in the winter. She tells us about the culinary history of the region, historical cooks, their recipes gathered from editions of their original cooking books, and versions cooked by Beppina, whose account of life in Arezzo the author came across in a dusty shop. The result is a wonderful account of the produce, traditions and recipes, all given in detail. From Baroque times to the present day, the reader will feel they are walking through the market and gardens of Arezzo, sampling wines, cheeses and country produce that could be taken home to cook delicious meals with.

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Book SynopsisSamuel Pepys walked round London for miles. The 2½ miles to Whitehall from his house near the Tower of London was accomplished on an almost daily basis, and so many of his professional conversations took place whilst walking that the streets became for him an alternative to his office. With Walking Pepys’s London, the reader will come to know life in London from the pavement up and see its streets from the perspective of this renowned diarist. The city was almost as much a character in Pepys’s life as his family or friends, and the book draws many parallels between his experience of 17th-century London and the lives of Londoners today. Colliss Harvey’s new book reconstructs the sensory and emotional experience of the past, bringing geography, biography and history into one. Full of fascinating details and written with extraordinary sensitivity, Walking Pepys’s London is an unmissable exploration into the places that made the greatest English diarist of all time.Trade Review‘… invites us to step into Pepys’s shoes’ The Telegraph; ‘The writing is crisp, the directions are clear, the maps are usable … it is as good a book of its kind as one could hope for, and I urge anyone with a fondness for Pepys to buy it.’Times Literary Supplement

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Book SynopsisBased on historical fact and the author's personal experience, Operation Stealth is the fourth in a series of books involving Gurkha military units in SE Asia that may be read in any order. The author, JP Cross, a much revered retired Gurkha colonel, draws on real characters and events he witnessed across various theatres of war.

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Book SynopsisHamish Brown, who occupies a special place as a Scottish writer and traveller, turns his wealth of experience into captivating narratives of fascinating people and places; sometimes serious, at times laugh aloud in this new volume. Chasing the Dreams is a companion to Walking the Song, with the same kaleidoscopic range and variety, telling of treks in Scotland, the Alps, Atlas and Himalaya, of ventures by canoe and sailing, ski-ing and cycling.Trade ReviewThis is outdoors writing at its finest * CommonSpace *Perhaps the title of this book should be ‘Living the Dream’ for Hamish’s dream is one that thousands aspire to but rarely capture. He’s a legend and an inspiration. Read on and dream again...…the writings of a man who has experienced and thought deeply, remains fiercely curious … both evocative and dynamic. * Alpine Journal *This collection of essays surely confirms Brown as one of the world’s greatest mountain explorers. * Outdoor Focus Magazine *

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Book SynopsisAfter a huge storm destroyed their intended route to the North Pole in the darkness of winter, instead of retreating, a small expedition team decide to explore the beautiful but unforgiving region of Avanerriaq, the home of the Polar Eskimos. What followed was six months of harsh education, gripping adventure and...twenty unruly sled dogs.

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Book SynopsisMissionary Travels and Researches in South Africa, authored by David Livingstone, is a captivating and influential travel narrative that documents the extraordinary journeys of the Scottish explorer and missionary across Southern Africa during the 19th century. Readers are compelled to continue reading to find out what happens next since the title character is so indulgent. Some stories are gruesome and bizarre, while others softly creep up on you and pull you in. David Livingstone's book chronicles his efforts to combine his missionary work with extensive explorations of the African continent. Through vivid descriptions and firsthand accounts, he shares his encounters with diverse African cultures, wildlife, and landscapes. Livingstone's exploration of the Zambezi River and his discovery of the Victoria Falls are among the notable highlights detailed in the book. Livingstone's narrative also delves into the harsh realities of the African slave trade and his dedication to ending this brutal practice. He provides insights into the challenges he faced, including navigating treacherous terrain and fostering relationships with local communities. The book captures Livingstone's deep respect for African cultures and his commitment to understanding and improving the lives of the people he encountered.

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