Travel writing Books

Book SynopsisWinner of the National Geographic Reader's Award 2018 Shortlisted for the Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year 2018 Shortlisted for the BBC Countryfile Magazine Country Book of the Year 2018 'For all the islomaniacs out there, Patrick Barkham's Islander looks unmissable' Robert Macfarlane 'Brimming with nature, this is a fitting tribute to the strangeness and beauty of our British isles' Financial Times 'Islander is a charming and attractive book... his shrewd study of the islander mentality [...] could stand for the entire country' Spectator The British Isles are an archipelago made up of two large islands and 6,289 smaller ones. Some, like the Isle of Man, resemble miniature nations, with their own language and tax laws; others, like Ray Island in Essex, are abandoned and mysterious places haunted by myths, ghosts and foxes. There are resurgent islands such as Eigg, which have been liberated from capricious owners to be run by their residents; holy islands like Bardsey, the resting place of 20,000 saints, and still a site of spiritual questing; and deserted islands such as St Kilda, famed for the evacuation of its human population, and now dominated by wild sheep and seabirds. In this evocative and vividly observed book, Patrick Barkham explores some of the most beautiful landscapes in the British Isles as he travels to ever-smaller islands in search of their special magic. Our small islands are both places of freedom and imprisonment, party destinations and oases of peace, strangely suburban and deeply wild. They are places where the past is unusually present, but they can also offer a vision of an alternative future. Meeting all kinds of islanders, from nuns to puffins, from local legends to rare subspecies of vole, he seeks to discover what it is like to live on a small island, and what it means to be an islander.

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Book SynopsisOver the years, authors, artists and amblers aplenty have felt the pull of the Thames, and now travel writer Tom Chesshyre is following in their footsteps.He's walking the length of the river from the Cotswolds to the North Sea - a winding journey of over two hundred miles. Join him for an illuminating stroll past meadows, churches and palaces, country estates and council estates, factories and dockyards. Setting forth in the summer of Brexit, and meeting a host of interesting characters along the way, Chesshyre explores the living present and remarkable past of England's longest and most iconic river.Trade ReviewAn enjoyable refuge from everyday life * Clive Aslet, The Times *I found myself quickly falling into step beside Tom Chesshyre, charmed by his amiable meanderings, pointed observations and meetings with strangers along the way... but most of all Chesshyre champions the joys of a good walk through fascinating surroundings - with beer and blisters at the end of the day * BBC Countryfile Magazine - Fergus Collins *Readers should perhaps prepare themselves for a whole new wave of Whither England? type books in the months and years ahead, and Chesshyre's is a not unwelcome early attempt to answer that seemingly urgent question. * Ian Sansom, Times Literary Supplement *'Beautifully written and exquisite in observation, Tom Chesshyre's latest book, From Source to Sea is a fitting tribute to the mighty Thames that flows like a golden thread through the history of Britain. * Harry Bucknall, author of Like a Tramp, Like a Pilgrim *Chesshyre cuts an engaging figure... He has a true journalist's instinct for conversational encounters - Kurdistani picnickers in the river meadows upstream of London, pub thugs in the badlands of the lower Thames, other Thames Path pilgrims he rubs up against along the way. He also demonstrates a nose for a juicy tale, from a pre-Raphaelite ménage-àtrois at Kelmscott Manor to the discreet nookie column in the Marlow Free Press. Chesshyre's journey is rich in history and thick with characters, fables and happenstance - a highly readable and entertaining saunter along England's iconic river. * Christopher Somerville, author of Britain’s Best Walks *Chesshyre's book stands out from other accounts of walking the Thames Path in its contemporary (post-Brexit, pre-Trump) immediacy. A portrait of England and the English in our time, it is peppered with fascinating historical and literary markers. It's also a usefully opinionated guide to watering-holes and B&Bs from the sleepy Cotswold villages to the dystopian edgelands of the estuary. * Christina Hardyment, author of Writing the Thame *Journalist Tom Chesshyre has produced a readable, richly entertaining and highly informative book in From Source to Sea * Chris Gray, The Oxford Times *The result is this enjoyable travelogue, guiding the reader through the delightful towns and cities strung like pearls along the river, the 'liquid history' of the Thames from the Romans to the Profumo Affair and the beloved works of art and literature inspired by life on its banks, most famously Alice in Wonderland, Three Men in a Boat and The Wind in the Willows... a welcome addition to the Thames cannon. * Richard Tarrant, The Lady *Beautifully written and exquisite in observation, Tom Chesshyre's latest book, From Source to Sea is a fitting tribute to the mighty Thames that flows like a golden thread through the history of Britain. * Harry Bucknall, author of Like a Tramp, Like a Pilgrim *

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Book Synopsis'Jonathan Raban is simply one of the great writers of non‐fiction at work today. I hold his work in awe.' Robert Macfarlane 'Unfailingly witty and entertaining.' Salman RushdieFollowing in the footsteps of countless emigrants, Jonathan Raban takes ship for New York from Liverpool, to explore how succeeding generations of newcomers have fared in America. He finds a country of massive contrasts, between the Street People and the Air People in New York, between small town and big city, between thrusting immigrants and down-at-heel native Americans. Having outgrown his minute rented New York apartment, he heads for Guntersville, Alabama, where he settles for a few months as a good ol' boy in a cabin on the lake with a 'rented' elderly lab. From there he flies to the promise of Seattle, discovering its thrusting but alienated Asian community and thence to the watery lowlife of Key West. The result is a breathtaking observation of the States – a travelogue, a social history and a love letter in one.

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Book Synopsis‘I am already planning the next adventure. The wanderlust that infected me has no cure.’It all started in Fishguard in the mid-1970s when, aged fifteen, Martyn Howe and a friend set off on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path armed with big rucksacks, borrowed boots, a Primus stove and a pint of paraffin, and a thirst for adventure. After repeating the route almost thirty years later, Martyn was inspired to walk every National Trail in England and Wales, plus the four Long-Distance Routes (now among the Great Trails) in Scotland. His 3,000-mile journey included treks along the South West Coast Path, the Pennine Way, the Cotswold Way and the West Highland Way. He finally achieved his ambition in 2016 when he arrived in Cromer in Norfolk, only to set a new goal of walking the England and Wales Coast Paths and the Scottish National Trail.In Tales from the Big Trails, Martyn vividly describes the diverse landscapes, wildlife, culture and heritage he encounters around the British Isles, and the physical and mental health benefits he derives from walking. He also celebrates the people who enrich his travels, including fellow long-distance hikers, tourists discovering Britain’s charm, farmers working the land, and the friendly and eccentric owners of hostels, campsites and B&Bs.And when he is asked ‘Why do you do it?’, the answer is as simple as placing one foot in front of the other: ‘It makes me happy.’Table of ContentsIntroduction1 – Pembrokeshire Coast Path2 – The Ridgeway3 – South West Coast Path4 – Thames Path5 – Offa’s Dyke Path6 – Glyndwr’s Way7 – Pennine Way8 – Cotswold Way9 – North Downs Way10 – South Downs Way11 – Hadrian’s Wall12 – Yorkshire Wolds Way13 – Cleveland Way14 – Pennine Bridleway15 – Southern Upland Way16 – West Highland Way17 – Great Glen Way18 – Speyside Way19 – Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path

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Book SynopsisCharles Darwin joined HMS Beagle when he was just 22 at the request of Captain FitzRoy, who wanted to have a naturalist on board. The ship set sail from Plymouth Sound on 27 December 1831 and returned nearly five years later on 2 October 1836. The journey took Darwin from the Cape de Verde Islands to Mauritius, visiting locations as varied as Brazil, Tierra del Fuego, the Galapagos archipelago, South Africa, New Zealand and the Azores. Darwin’s book is a vivid travel diary of this trip with personal anecdotes and observations on religious beliefs and racial typecasting, as well as a detailed scientific field journal covering biology, geology and anthropology. He found bones of extinct mammals, experienced volcanoes and discovered many new bird species. The book was instantly acclaimed and the insights he gained through his investigations eventually led to his theory of natural selection.

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Book SynopsisAway from the five-star hotels and beyond luxury hideaways, Tom Chesshyre travels to see the real, unexplored Maldives, skirting around the archipelago's periphery, staying at simple guesthouses, and using cargo ships and ferries. He discovers that beyond the glossy brochures lies an almost undiscovered country that is brimming with life, yet also a paradise teetering on the brink of trouble.In the Maldives outsiders used to be banned from islands not officially endorsed as tourist resorts, but now a thousand sandy shores can be visited in this remote nation deep in the Indian Ocean the flattest on Earth.This is island-hopping for the twenty-first century, sailing around 600 miles of the most beautiful islands and atolls on Earth, often to communities that have not seen an outsider for decades, ...and gatecrashing the odd posh hotel.Trade ReviewIn Gatecrashing Paradise Tom sets out to explore the other Maldives, not the one where all the tourists go. Until quite recently tourists were very restricted when it came to Maldives travel. That's changed and as a result small guest houses and hotels have sprung up and you can make your way like Tom around the island by local ferry services and domestic flights. You don't need an economics degree to know most of the money from the five star resorts would have gone straight back to their overseas owners. Tom [travels] all around the scattered atolls of the low lying nation where he encounters climate change concerns (nothing is naturally much more than two or three metres above sea level), worker exploitation, tsunami fears and some decidedly murky politics, often as opaque as the lagoon waters are transparent. -- Tony Wheeler, founder of Lonely PlanetTom Chesshyre bravely and entertainingly exposes the dimensions of the Maldives that the tourist board is strangely shy of illuminating. -- Simon CalderI loved Gatecrashing Paradise. It should be mandatory reading for all visitors. -- Francisca Kellett, Travel editor at TatlerRevealing aspects of a surprising little tropical nation wholly unknown to holidaymakers, Gatecrashing Paradise compares honorably with Arthur Grimble's A Pattern of Islands. -- Alexander Frater, author of Chasing the MonsoonChesshyre is an affable and enthusiastic traveller, and his sojourn in the Maldives covers interesting ground in a country full of contrasts. * Times Literary Supplement *Gatecrashing Paradise is an entertaining travelogue that visits the corners most tourists never see. * Marie Claire *'Away from the sumptuous water villas of the Maldives, trouble is brewing in this renowned 'honeymoon heaven'. This is the story of a nation you won't read in your glossy weekend supplement. * The Journalist, the magazine of the National Union of Journalists *Gatecrashing Paradise clearly depicts a guesthouse scene largely undiscovered, which offers the chance to experience the warm communities and rich culture of island life. * Minivan News: Independent News for the Maldives *I loved it. Tom Chesshyre discovers that beyond the glossy brochures lies an almost undiscovered country that is brimming with life, yet also a paradise teetering on the brink of trouble. * Mrs. O Around the World *

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Book Synopsis'Mak is the history teacher everyone should have had' Financial TimesFrom the author of the internationally acclaimed In Europe, a stunning history of our present, examining the first two decades of this most fragile and fraught new millennium.How did the great European dream turn sour? And where do we go from here?In this illuminating book, Geert Mak - one of Europe's best-loved commentators - charts the seismic events that have shaped people's lives over the past twenty years. He moves through the rocky expansion of the EU, the aftermath of 9/11 and terrorist attacks across Europe, the 2008 financial crash and the euro crisis, and on to the rise of right-wing populism and Brexit.Like no other, Mak blends history, politics and culture with the stories and experiences of the many Europeans he meets on his travels. He brings this continent to life, and asks: what role does Europe now play, and how might we face our fresh challenges together?'A powerful, humane and serious mind' Guardian'Mak is a truly cosmopolitan chronicler' IndependentTrade ReviewInstinctively cosmopolitan, Mak sweeps over his home continent in a colourful, convivial sprawl well captured in Liz Waters' pacy translation. * Financial Times *Compelling... Anecdotal nuggets sparkle on every page. * Economist *Absorbing... an illuminating odyssey... Mak is an astute observer. -- Piers Brendon * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisIt's 2017. Three friends in their twenties decide to take a year off, shunning the career ladder to drive from Italy to China, following the ancient Silk Roads. On Being from Nowhere relates their 23,000-km-long journey, which lasts over a hundred days, traverses sixteen countries and fulfils a childhood dream of exploration. Sponsors provide the trio with just enough money to cover the journey between Venice and Beijing, in exchange for news on China's modern-day Silk Road-type initiatives, such as its 'One Belt, One Road', a trillion-dollar infrastructure project seeking to improve the connections between Chinese and European markets. The debut of Giulio De Osis, On Being from Nowhere, is more than a travel narrative following in the steps of great writers such as Marco Polo and Nicolas Bouvier. As the friends venture east, they find themselves contemplating their identities, the responsibilities that come with travel and what it means to travel at a time when borders are closing - when, to quote former UK Prime Minister Theresa May people who believe they 'are a citizen of the world' are actually 'a citizen of nowhere'. Individual chapters relate experiences and encounters in Italy, the Balkans, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and China. The friends are interrogated by the authorities, deal with a broken-down car and fear for their life in a storm in the Kyrgyz mountains. The friends' own stories weave around those of the varied cast of characters they meet along the way - providing opportunities for the protagonists to think about their surroundings, their own identities and the meaning of travel. On Being from Nowhere merges the story of the Silk Roads, with those of its modern inhabitants and the adventures of a group of three friends indulging in the journey of a lifetime. It is part travelogue, part adventure story, part cultural history and part self-examination. This is a book for people who love travel writing, for travel buffs interested in the Silk Road regions and their history, and for anybody who has experienced a young adult's wanderlust and the drive to explore.Table of ContentsCONTENTS I. ITALY II. THE BALKANS III. TURKEY IV. GEORGIA V. AZERBAIJAN VI. IRAN VII. TURKMENISTAN VIII. UZBEKISTAN IX. KYRGYZSTAN X. KAZAKHSTAN XI. CHINA

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Book SynopsisCommunist Albania was unlike any other European nation. It was a 'hermit state' ruled by a dictator, Enver Hoxha, who presided over a repressive Stalinist regime. When John Watkins visited Albania in the late 1980s, he saw peasants toiling in the fields and enormous state-owned factories scarred the landscape. In 1991, the old regime was overthrown. Hoxha's statues were pulled down and his books burned. But reminders of his Albania were everywhere: in the monotonous apartment blocks and derelict factories; in the old collective farms and irrigation channels; in the thousands of bunkers that still dotted the landscape. But how much deeper did Hoxha's influence go? What marks had he left on the political system and on the nation's psyche? To answer these questions, the author returned to the places he had visited in the 1980s. He started in Shkoder and travelled south through Durres and Tirana to Sarande. He had taken photos on those first tours. He wanted to find the exact spots where he had taken them, so he could use them as a barometer of change. But the real power of the images lay not just in their evocation of the past, but in the connections they allowed him to make in the present. Through the photos, he was able to talk to Albanians from different generations and walks of life. For those born after 1991, they were revelatory, images of a world they knew little about. For older people, they were a key that unlocked memories, both good and bad. These exchanges, together with eyewitness research over thirty years, have given the author an in-depth insight into how Albanians are coping with the transition from dictatorship to an often-chaotic free market economy. As Albania emerges as a modern democratic state, this book reveals that it is still struggling with the legacy of its traumatic past. 'Enver Hoxha's Long Shadow,' a colourful account of this enigmatic country's landscapes and people, is essential reading for anyone wanting a fuller understanding of contemporary Albania.Trade Review'A stimulating overview of a changing society complete with all its future uncertainties.' - New Eastern Europe; 'Watkins is a knowledgeable, clear-sighted fellow-traveller of the ideologically unrestricted variety, and there is nothing else like his book on the market.--Studies in Travel Writing

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Book SynopsisA compelling personal journey of discovery, illuminating the Iran that lies beyond the headlines. For Cyrus Massoudi, a young British-born Iranian, the country his parents were forced to flee thirty years ago was a place wholly unknown to him. Wanting to make sense of his roots and piece together the divided, divisive and deeply contradictory puzzle that is contemporary Iran, he embarked on a series of journeys that spanned hundreds of miles and thousands of years through the many ebbs and flows of Iranian history. Rich portrayals of Sufis and ageing aristocrats, smugglers and underground rock bands are all woven together with history, religion and mythology to form a unique portrait of contemporary Iranian society. The thread running through the heart of the narrative is Massoudi's poignant personal quest; his struggle echoing that of Iran itself, as it fights to forge a cohesive modern identity. Land of the Turquoise Mountains reveals a world beyond the propaganda-driven, media-fuelled image of fractious, flag-burning fundamentalism and provides a compelling glimpse both into the heart of a deeply misunderstood nation and what it is to seek out and discover one's heritage.Trade ReviewA fascinating insider-outsider view of a complex country we badly need to know more about. Writers like Cyrus Massoudi who illuminate our ignorance are vitally important. -- William DalrympleTable of ContentsPreface Land of the Turquoise Mountains Notes Bibliography

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Book SynopsisBestselling Van Life author Foster Huntington shares his experiences - as well as others - living by his own rules in this aspirational book filled with awe-inspiring photographs of unique homes in unexpected places.After spending three years on the road living in a camper van, Foster Huntington continued his unconventional lifestyle by building a two-story treehouse. Foster, like many others, are finding freedom, tranquility, and adventure in living off the grid in unconventional homes.Perfect for fans of Van Life and Cabin Porn and those who yearn for a simpler existence, Off Grid Life showcases unique dwellings from all around the world. Organized into sections like tree houses, tiny houses, shipping containers, yurts, boathouses, barns, vans, and more, the 250 aspirational photographs feature enviable settings like stunning beaches, dramatic mountains and picturesque forests. Also included are images of fully designed interiors

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Book SynopsisThe Independent Best Book for Walkers 2022 Where can a walk take you?Trade Review Praise for WHERE MY FEET FALL The Independent Best Book for Walker 2022 ‘If you think great travel writing is all about moving through places in another person’s shoes, then you need this collection of essays from 20 writers about the pleasure of putting one foot in front of another. From bustling walks through Karachi with Kamila Shamsie, to rain-soaked treks in Germany with Jessica J Lee, every entry comes with its own unique flavour and makes you realise that this most rudimentary form of transport can be one of the most evocative. Editor Duncan Minshull, who pulled the collection together, has written three books about walking, so he knows a thing or two about it’Helen Coffey, Independent ‘A new collection of essays both sprightly and ruminative.. exploring the delights – and the challenges – of the placing of one foot in front of the other. . . Where My Feet Fall features such appropriately sturdy literary names, among them Richard Ford, Kamila Shamsie and Patrick Gale . . . Reading about walking in Where My Feet Fall allows you to inhabit the walker's imagination fully – surely the ultimate in armchair travel’Hephzibah Anderson, Observer ‘This wonderful new anthology about walking and creative thinking’Inside A Mountain, Charlie Lee Potter ‘A beautiful book’Walk The Pod, Rachel Wheeley ‘Another great book by the writer and editor now established as the go-to authority on walking. His latest is a collection of twenty thoughtful essays… twenty strolls around the imaginations of some great writers’Chris Paling, author of After The Raid and A Very Nice Rejection Letter

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Book Synopsis''The rollicking adventures of an English garden designer in Provence'' Independent ''Escapist reading-magic'' The TimesAlex Dingwall-Main left London with his wife and dog nine years ago for the Luberon region of the South of France. A landscape gardener of international renown he was in search of a challenge - a new climate, a new way of gardening and a new way of life. This is his account of gardening his way round Provence, and in particular, of attempting to restore the secret garden of M-nerbes. Situated high on the plains of the Luberon region, M-nerbes is a famously beautiful village - but this garden had long been forgotten. It trailed down over seven levels, thick with brambles and hornets'' nests, almond blossom and ancient fig trees. It was an archetypal Proven-al garden and for one whole year it dominated Alex Dingwall-Main''s life. From distant dreams came growth and disasters, but ultimately, the garden is reclaimed. From truffle dealers to local mayors, film starTrade Review'The rollicking adventures of an English garden designer in Provence' Independent 'Escapist reading...magic' The Times

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Book SynopsisInspired by views and romantic dreams of finding love in the mountains, the author impulsively buys a house in the French Pyrenees. Here, he plans to finally fulfil his childhood fantasy of mastering the piano, untroubled by the problems of the world. This book shares his experience on how not to buy a house in France.Trade ReviewHugely entertaining * The Mirror *Funny and irreverent as ever * Wanderlust *A warmly comic adventure * Daily Mail *Hawks is effortlessly entertaining...a delightful holiday read for anyone * Waterstones Books Quarterly *

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Book SynopsisChristopher Winn's first book was the bestselling I Never Knew That About England. Volumes on Ireland, Scotland, Wales, London, the English, Irish and Scottish followed and he has recently published books on the Lake District, Yorkshire and the River Thames alongside an illustrated edition of I Never Knew That About England. A freelance writer and collector of trivia for over 20 years, he has worked with Terry Wogan and Jonathan Ross and sets quiz questions for television as well as for the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph. He is married to artist Mai Osawa, who illustrates all the books in the series. His website is www.i-never-knew-that.com.

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Book SynopsisTravels with Boogie is the story of two city slickers - one an unattractive but streetwise mongrel from Stockwell, the other the long-suffering author - and how they came to terms with England''s countryside and waterways.First they had to survive against all odds as they embarked on a heroic journey up hill and down dale, with rucksacks full of Kennomeat, along Britain''s longest coastal footpath - from Somerset to Devon, from Cornwall to Dorset. And they did it. Then, undaunted, they took on the treacherous waters of the Thames. Not exactly as Mark had planned, however: this time his companion was to be the delectable Jennifer - but she was held up at the office, and when Boogie was dropped off at the kennels the other dogs complained.Travels with Boogie is a witty and fascinating account of a mismatched couple and of the people they meet and places they visit.Trade ReviewThe humorous travel book we've been waiting for * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisTim Butcher is a best-selling author who blends travel with history. His first book, Blood River, was a number one bestseller, a Richard & Judy Book Club selection and was shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize, while his next, Chasing the Devil, was longlisted for the George Orwell Prize. A journalist with the Daily Telegraph from 1990 to 2009, in 2010 he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Northampton for services to writing. Born in Great Britain, he is based in Cape Town with his family.Trade ReviewEngaging...descriptions of walking through the bush, of sweltering heat, sweat and swelling blisters are juxtaposed against moments of beauty...a test of endurance -- Aminatta Forna * Sunday Telegraph *A brave book by a writer of skill and principle... He exposes the toxic cocktail of colonial exploitation, tribal conflict, ritual violence and blood diamonds that spits out regional monsrosities such as Charles Taylor... an admirable book -- Brian Schofield * Sunday Times *Tim Butcher has a respect and affection for West Africa that is genuine and touching, writing in a way that brings out the exuberance and wit of its people. This book is required reading for anyone even vaguely interested in this remote and enigmatic region * Daily Mail *Butcher is really a Victorian explorer and writer endowed with the sterling grit of that age... He is tough and he's honest * Evening Standard *Butcher's book is packed with incident... fascinating, harrowing and eventful -- Joan Smith * Independent *

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Book SynopsisIn the mid-1970s, Saul Bellow visited Israel and To Jerusalem and Back is his account of his time there. Immersing himself in its landscape and culture, he records the opinions, passions and dreams of Israelis of varying viewpoints from Prime Minister Rabin to a kibbutznik escaped from the Warsaw ghetto.

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Book SynopsisHERE, THERE, ELSEWHERE draws together for the first time William Least Heat-Moon''s greatest short-form travel writing. From Japan, England, Italy, and Mexico to Long Island, Oregon, Arizona, and more, HERE, THERE, ELSEWHERE is a sharply observed, funny, and touching series of uncommon adventures narrated by America''s keenest writer of place, people, and sublime connection.For decades, William Least Heat-Moon''s readers have been clamoring for him to gather his shorter pieces; now, that wait is over. A perfect treasury of prose and wry provocation for readers old and new, HERE, THERE, ELSEWHERE is further confirmation of Least Heat-Moon''s status as an American master.Trade ReviewHeat-Moon wanders off in every direction in this scintillating collection of short writings...A master at conjuring place, Least Heat-Moon intertwines primeval geology with modern social mores, gorgeous scenery with tourist tackery, vast landscapes with intricate psychologies...There is a dazzling variety of places, people and curiosities, linked by a highway of funny, perceptive, and generous prose. - Publishers WeeklyHallelujah! William Least Heat-Moon is on the road again...[He] slices down through layers of biography, history, folklore and geology to deliver a place in full." - Bill Marvel, Dallas Morning News[Heat-Moon is] at his finest when in often overlooked places...Here, There, Elsewhere is worth the investment in time, a good dictionary, and open-mindedness. - Katherine Hauswirth, Christian Science Monitor[Heat-Moon's] curiosity and adventurous nature have not dimmed, however, making him a first-rate travel guide. He is an original, memorable word-smith. - Steve Weinberg, St. Louis Post-DispatchThis captivating new collection of his short-form travelogues ... are always greater than the sum of their parts. But the most endearing tales are those closest to his home and heart. - Kristin Baird Rattini, American WayLeast Heat-Moon is truly one of this nation's best travel writers, if not the best. He takes travel writing seriously as a literary genre. An essential title; highly recommended. - Lee Arnold, Library JournalPRAISE FOR ROADS TO QUOZ: "Altogether wonderful . . . Heat-Moon loves the funky byways of America. . . . His destinations matter less than the infectious curiosity he brings to every journey." - Entertainment Weekly"This is a call to get out a map and explore rural America the beautiful. If urban life makes you feel like you're losing your mind and your way, set out to your own blue highway to quoz." - Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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Book SynopsisGraham Robb was born in Manchester in 1958 and is a former Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford. He has published widely on French literature and history. His 2007 book The Discovery of France won both the Duff Cooper and Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prizes. For Parisians the City of Paris awarded him the Grande Médaille de la Ville de Paris. He lives on the English-Scottish border.Trade ReviewQuirky, amused and très British. -- Julian Barnes, author of The Sense of an Ending'A collection of true stories, culled from Robb's insatiable historical reading and lit by his imagination . . . So richly pleasurable that you feel it might emit a warm glow if you left it in a dark room. -- John Carey, Book of the Week * Sunday Times *This book is the sort of triumph that we have no right to expect to come from anyone in the steady way that Robb's masterly books come from him. -- Philip Hensher * Daily Telegraph *As Parisian and as bracing as a freshly mixed Pernod and water. * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisV. S. Naipaul was born in Trinidad in 1932. He came to England on a scholarship in 1950. He spent four years at University College, Oxford, and began to write, in London, in 1954. He pursued no other profession.His novels include A House for Mr Biswas, The Mimic Men, Guerrillas, A Bend in the River, and The Enigma of Arrival. In 1971 he was awarded the Booker Prize for In a Free State. His works of nonfiction, equally acclaimed, include Among the Believers, Beyond Belief, The Masque of Africa, and a trio of books about India: An Area of Darkness, India: A Wounded Civilization and India: A Million Mutinies Now.In 1990, V. S. Naipaul received a knighthood for services to literature; in 1993, he was the first recipient of the David Cohen British Literature Prize. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001. He lived with his wife Nadira and cat Augustus in Wiltshire, and died in 20Trade ReviewSceptical, enquiring, sharply observant and unfailingly stylish. * Guardian *Peerless . . . the human encounters are described minutely, superbly, picking up inconsistencies in people’s tales, catching the uncertainties and the nuances . . . there is a candour to his writing, a constant precision at its heart. * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisInspired by the swashbuckling travelogues of Victorian diplomat Lord Dufferin, frail surburbanite Tim Moore sets out to prove his physical and spiritual worth before his sceptical Nordic in-laws by retracing Dufferin''s epic voyage to Iceland and Spitzbergen. Dufferin''s battles with icebergs, polar bears and the deep potations of hospitable Norsemen is a tale of derring-do; Moore''s struggle against seasickness, vertigo and over-priced groceries is all too plainly one of derring-don''t. As his bid to emulate the Empire tradition of fearless pluck in the face of adversity crumbles before haughty Icelandic skippers, a convoy of Norwegian Vikings and Spitzbergen''s Soviet ghost towns, he finds himself transferring his affections to Dufferin''s valet Wilson, a man so profoundly gloomy that ''he was seen to smile but once, when told that his colleague, the steward, had been almost thrown overboard''. As Moore says, ''Dufferin seems the personification of Kipling''s ''If''. I''m more of a ''But... '' man myself.'' FROST ON MY MOUSTACHE is the wretched apologia of a big earl''s blouse.Trade ReviewThere won't be a funnier or more original contender until Tim Moore publishes his next volume ... There hasn't been such a fresh voice among itinerant writers since Redmond O'Hanlon or Bill Bryson got started * SPECTATOR *Regularly had me laughing out loud * SUNDAY TIMES *His is a rare comic talent, and his debut a brilliantly sustained piece of travel writing * THE TIMES *One of the funniest travelogues you will ever read * EXPRESS *Made me laugh out loud helplessly in public, like an escaped psychopath * Observer *A Joy -- Vic ReevesBook of the Year * Spectator *A hilarious journal of sustained sardonic humour * Esquire *

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Book Synopsis''One of Britain''s most respected television journalists, with a reputation built up over many years of covering world events'' Guardian''Tributes will rightly be paid to a fantastic journalist and brilliant broadcaster - but George was the most decent, principled, kindest, most honourable man I have ever worked with'' Jon SopelAs a five-year-old, George Alagiah emigrated with his family to Ghana - the first African country to attain independence from the British Empire. A Passage to Africa is Alagiah''s shattering catalogue of atrocities crafted into a portrait of Africa that is infused with hope, insight and outrage. In vivid and evocative prose and with a fine eye for detail, Alagiah''s viewpoint is spiked with the freshness of the young George on his arrival in Ghana, the wonder with which he recounts his first impressions of Africa and the affection with which he dresses his stories of his early family life. A sense oTrade ReviewThe emphatic authority that George Alagiah has brought to his reports from Africa for BBC News is just as strong a component of his book * THE TIMES *'Without rhetoric or rancour, his eloquent book places these issues in their true context, and frames some of the major moral questions of our time * INDEPENDENT *

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Jupiter''s Travels and Dreaming of Jupiter comes an entertaining and inspiring new journey round Britain.Having crisscrossed the globe twice, Ted returns to the British Isles to rediscover the country of his youth. The result is a revealing portrait of modern Britain and a witty and affectionate journey back to the past, when Ted would hitchhike across the country visiting friends (and girlfriends).He returns to the site of his old school with its astonishing war time history and visits familiar haunts where he did his National Service and got his first job in newspapers. He also visits less-familiar places. Some inspire him (Winchester Cathedral). Others defeat him (a tax office in Nottingham). As he rolls through the Isles, he discovers that a great deal has changed: busier roads, bureaucracy and, worst of all, the dreaded ''Sat Nav''. But there is also much to celebrate and enjoy along the way.Packed with

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Book SynopsisThis book is about the authora s amazing trip across six continents and the world economy and society. It discusses whoa s sinking and whoa s swimming, which countries are on the rise and which are collapsing, where you can make a million and where you could lose one.Trade Review"Eclectic and didactic, yet strangely compelling." -- Business AgeTable of ContentsPart I: Dunquin to Tokyo. 1. A flight to Russia. 2. New York. 3. Crossing Europe. 4. Linz. 5. Central Europe. 6. On to Istanbul. 7. Old Turkistan. 8. China. 9. Xi'an. 10. Xi'an to Beijing. Part II: Tokyo to Dunquin. 11. First class in the first world. 12. At the edge of the world. 13. Across the wild Tayga. 14. Siberia. 15. Ulan-Ude, Zima, and Kansk. 16. Novosibirsk and west. 17. Moscow. 18. On to Ireland. Part III. 19. Africa: the Sahara Desert. 20. Sub-Saharan Africa. 21. Down a lazy river. 22. Home of the always victorious warrior. 23. Escape. 24. Zambia and the Great Zimbabwe. 25. Botswana. 26. South Africa. Part IV. 27. Overland Down Under. 28. The uttermost edge of the world. 29. Buenos Aires. 30. Chile and Easter Island. 31. On the shining path. 32. On Darwin's trail. 33. The Darien Gap. 34. The canal to the Rio Grande. 35. Home and beyond. Afterword. Appendix I. Appendix II. Index.

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Book SynopsisFascinated by the exotic history of this quintessentially English crime writer, he decided to retrace the trip from London to Baghdad which she made in 1928 - a journey which was to change Agatha Christie completely and led to her other life as the wife of an archaeologist in the deserts of Syria and Iraq.Trade ReviewIf there ever was a lesson in how to construct a travel book, this is it. Eames has the acute eye and polished pen of an outstanding observer ... a splendid read * The Daily Telegraph *Two terrific subjects ... the surprisingly adventurous life of Agatha Christie and the major hotspots of current world politics * Daily Mail *Vivid and atmospheric ... Eames has succeeded in the difficult task of closing an entertaining travel narrative with the brutal conclusions of modern history * Independent *The best travel book of 2004 * Daily Mail *A thoroughly enjoyable read that combines an Agatha-centric travelogue with a thought-provoking journey through a benighted land * Geographical Magazine *

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Book SynopsisFor fans of Nala''s World and Arthur, this is an uplifting and unforgettable true story about how the love of a good dog can save your life.Rob Kugler adopted his chocolate Lab Bella as a puppy - a bundle of fun and love to keep his girlfriend company as he headed off to war. But when Rob''s brother died and his relationship fell apart, it was Bella who was there to help heal the wounds, and make Rob''s life worth living again. So when Rob was told Bella had cancer - first in her leg, which had to be amputated, and then in her lungs - he was devastated.With only months of Bella''s life left, he knew just what he had to do for his furry best friend. Determined to show her the same unconditional love she had always shown him, Rob decided to give Bella the farewell adventure of her doggy dreams. Criss-crossing the USA from coast to coast, making many new friends along the way, Bella taught Rob never to give up and to live each day as thoTrade ReviewFor fans of Marley and Me. * Best *Engaging and sometimes heart-rending ... a certain tear-jerker for dog lovers. Love, devotion and slobbery kisses abound in this heartwarming story of a man and his treasured chocolate Lab. * Kirkus *Give me a good pet story and I'm hooked... [This] is about the encounters man and dog had with strangers who became friends along the way - teaching the reader a wealth about the value of making human connections. * Forbes *A beautiful memoir. * Psychologies *A beautiful, beautiful book. * Jenna Bush Hager *

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Book SynopsisSarah Macdonald is a journalist and radio broadcaster who lives in Sydney with her husband, ABC journalist Jonathan Harley, and their baby daughter Georgina. HOLY COW! is her first book.Trade ReviewFunny, touching and addictive * More *British images of India are invariably filtered through the apologetic hangover of the Raj or the ganja whiff of the hippy trail. In this refreshingly cliche-free and highly readable memoir, we are given a blunter, Australian view... frequently wry and thoughtful * Daily Telegraph *Refreshingly ambivilent about the country's so-called charms. Part travelogue, part life-changing odyssey, part love story * The Scotsman *Kathy Lette meets Tom Robbins on a slow train to Varanasi with Bill Bryson supplying the onion bhajis... Very, very funny. Sarah MacDonald captures everything that is frustrating, infuriating and exhilarating about India and presents it in an irresistible package. Will make even the most die-hard atheist want to don a sari and go on a spiritual journey -- Peter MooreSarah Macdonald pays up in the spiritual mega-market... Raunchy religion with redemption on the side -- Justine Hardy, author of Bollywood Boy

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Book SynopsisMichael Wood retraces Alexander the Greats amazing journey from Greece to India, searching for the truth behind the legend and experiencing the tremendous scale of his achievements. Using the ancient historians as his guides, Wood follows Alexanders journey as closely as possible, crossing deserts and rivers, from Turkey to war-torn Afghanistan. As the journey progresses, he recreates the drama of Alexanders epic marches and bloody battles. All along the way he finds proof of the survival of the legends surrounding Alexander, a leader whose life has excited the worlds imagination for the 2,000 years. ''Wood tells a glorious story with some very dark shadows.'' New York Times ''Wood is a perceptive, entertaining and enthusiastic companion.'' Sunday Times ''Wood is a lively storyteller.'' The Washington Post

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Book SynopsisIn a wonderfully evocative collection of her travel writing and reportage from over five decades, Jan Morris - a constant traveller - has produced a unique portrait of the twentieth century. Ranging from New York to Venice, Sydney to Berlin, and the Middle East to South Africa, Jan Morris was a witness to such seminal moments as the Eichmann trial, the first ascent of Everest, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the handover of Hong Kong. Offering a tremendously perceptive and highly personal view of the world, she is as much concerned with conveying the ''feel'' of these moments as the events themselves. And, as ever, she displays her unique and inimitable literary style, at once funny, wise and sad. Jan Morris''s collection of travel writing and reportage spans over five decades and includes such titles as Venice, Coronation Everest, Hong Kong, Spain, Manhattan ''45, A Writer''s World and the Pax Britannica Trilogy. Hav, her novel, was shortlisteTrade Review'A matchless collection... Required reading.' Conde Nast Traveller; 'A five-star portrait of our planet.' Daily Express; 'A reminder of just how entertaining, how informative and how thought-provoking a restless, inquisitive, experienced writer can be.' Sunday Times

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Book Synopsis''Exquisite, powerful . . . I can think of no better way of commemorating British exploration''s culminating triumph.'' Simon Winchester? Coronation Everest offers a breathtakingly intimate evocation of the most famous of all mountaineering exploits - and of perhaps the last great old-fashioned Fleet Street scoop. ''It was Morris who broke the news that a British-led expedition had conquered Mount Everest the day before the Queen''s coronation in 1953 . . . Allied to physical courage in getting down the mountain and a dogged resourcefulness in getting the news home, Morris scooped the world and was launched on one of the most remarkable literary careers in the second half of the twentieth century.'' Guardian Jan Morris''s collection of travel writing and reportage spans over five decades and includes such titles as Venice, Coronation Everest, Hong Kong, Spain, Manhattan ''45, A Writer''s World and the Pax Britannica Trilogy. Trade Review'Morris scooped the world'. Guardian

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Book SynopsisFresh from her successful scoop reporting the first ascent of Everest in 1953, Jan Morris spent a year journeying across the United States, by car, train, ship and aeroplane. In herwords a period piece, Coast to Coast describes an American identity markedly different from today. In her brilliant prose, Morris records with exuberence and curiosity a time of innocence in the US - when television was in its infancy, the Big Mac had not been invented and the popular song of the day was Chattanooga Choo-Choo.

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Book SynopsisIn Contact! Jan turns her brilliantly observant eye to the human contacts she made, across the globe and though the decades. As a series of vignettes, some only a few lines long, she records hundreds of brief glimpses and fleeting encounters, celebrating the people who helped spark her view of the world and mould her responses. A vast range of human experience is here: most are anonymous, everyday encounters - children playing, a homeless man in Manhattan, a lascivious taxi-driver - but she also remembers celebrated figures, from Yves San Laurent to King Hussein of Jordan, President Truman to Peter OToole. Contact! is a must for any fans of Jan''s writing. Her great sense of amusement, shrewd eye for detail and huge enthusiasm for her contacts makes these episodes incredibly enjoyable - and often profound.

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Book SynopsisFrom petticoat duels and lucky cats to the Stiffs Express, Lord Nelson''s spare nose, the Piccadilly earthquake and the Great Beer Flood of 1814, A Curious Guide to London takes you on a captivating, wildly entertaining tour of the city you think you know, unearthing the capital''s secrets and commemorating its rich, colourful and unusual history. Brimming with tales of London''s forgotten past, its strangest traditions and its most eccentric inhabitants, this book celebrates the unique, the unusual and the unknown. Perfect for tourists, day-trippers, commuters and the millions of people who call London home, this alternative guidebook will make you look at the city in a whole new light.

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Book SynopsisThis is the first scholarly edited collection devoted to the work of the Anglo-Irish writer and cartographer Tim Robinson -- .Trade Review‘Robinson comes across not only as a brilliant storyteller and interpreter of the landscape but also as intensely human. Thus, the contributors to Unfolding Irish Landscapes mirror Robinson’s own practice: just as he unfolds the Irish landscape, revealing its history to his readers, so, too, do these scholars reveal Robinson to us.’Leila Crawford, University of Otago, Irish Studies Review, Issue 24.4, November 2016‘The volume is an impressive, ambitious and timely endeavor to chart the depth and range of the career of one of the most influential and original figures in the field of Irish Studies and the philosophy of landscape.’Anne Karhio, National University of Ireland, Nordic Irish Studies -- .Table of ContentsForeword – Robert MacfarlaneIntroduction: Ireland’s ‘ABC of earth wonders’ – Christine Cusick and Derek GladwinPart 1: Explorations in cartography and geography1. Genius loci: the geographical imagination of Tim Robinson – Patrick Duffy2. Catchments – John Elder3. ‘The fineness of things’: the deep mapping projects of Tim Robinson’s art and writings, 1969-1972 – Nessa Cronin4. Documentary map-making and film-making in Pat Collins’ Tim Robinson: Connemara – Derek GladwinPart 2: Topographic writing and narrative5. ‘And now intellect, discovering its own effects’: Tim Robinson as narrative scholar – Christine Cusick6. Not-knowing as aesthetic imperative in Tim Robinson’s Stones of Aran – Kelly Sullivan7. Thirteen ways of looking at a landscape: the poetic in the work of Tim Robinson – Moya Cannon8. Tim Robinson and Chris Arthur: in defence of the Irish essay – Karen BabinePart 3: Place and the Irish cultural imagination9. ‘But his study is out of doors’: Tim Robinson’s place in Irish studies – Eamonn Wall10. Maps, movements, and migrants: reading Tim Robinson though Gluaiseacht Chearta Sibhialta na Gaeltachta – Jerry White11. ‘About nothing, about everything’: listening in / to Tim Robinson – Gerry Smyth12. ‘another half-humanized boulder lying on unprofitable ground’: the visual art of Tim Robinson/Timothy Drever – Catherine Marshall13. ‘An ear to the earth’: matrixial gazing in Tim Robinson’s walk-art-text practice – Moynagh Sullivan14. Essayist of place: postcolonialism and ecology in the work of Tim Robinson – Eóin FlanneryEpilogue: On the rocks road – Andrew McNeillieBibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA sensational blend of travel and history in the spirit of the man who invented it.Trade Review'Inspired' * Anna Kirk, Telegraph Review *'Marozzi is a fine advocate for Herodotus' * Sunday Herald *'Marozzi is a seasoned traveller-historian who pursues his scholarly quarry with the tenacity of a beagle...a rattling good read and a superior work of reflective instruction' * History Today *The most brilliant of the new generation of travelwriter-historians * Sunday Telegraph *'Justin Marozzi is that most precious rarity: a serious traveller who is also a real writer, with a wonderful feel for language, a gift for narrative and an enviable sensitivity and lightness of touch. Brave, romantic, erudite and humane, South from Barbary is a genuinely remarkable debut' * William Dalrymple *'The perfect travel book ...observant, shrewd, patient and exceedingly well attuned ... It is a measure of Marozzi's skill that he handles the big themes of history and the small irritations of third-millennium camel travel with equal charm and felicity' * Financial Times *'Excellent...a superbly rounded and vivid portrait of one of history's most fascinating personalities' * Andrew Roberts, Evening Standard *'Captivating, a delightful and fortunate conjunction between the world of [Tamerlane] then and that world transformed today' * Spectator *'Herodotus may have lived 24 centuries ago but he is our 21st century contemporary and companion - the father not just of history but of comparative ethnography too, not only a brilliant storyteller and indefatigable traveller but also a shrewd and tolerant observer of human fads and foibles on the grandest global scale. Justin Marozzi, himself a veteran traveller and journalist and intrepid crosser of cultural frontiers, does his hero full justice in this scintillating, thought-provoking and entertaining hommage' * Paul Cartledge, Cambridge University *'A tour de force of travel writing' * John Keay, Literary Review *'Intellectually stimulating but still able to raise a smile from the reader' * Adventure Travel *'This is a book of remarkable substance and style, brimming with humanity' * Jeremy Seal, Telegraph *'A tribute to the man acknowledged as "the father of history", who was also the world's first travel writer, a geographer, anthropologist, explorer and moralist' * Bookseller *'This is a book of remarkable substance and style, brimming with humanity' * Sunday Telegraph *'Intellectually stimulating yet still able to riase a smile from the reader' * Adventure Travel *'The Man Who Invented History proves to be a tour de force of travel writing' * Literary Review *It's a good excuse to return to his outlandish stories of war and the exotic sexual practices of forgotten cultures * Sunday Times *'Marozzi sets out faithfully to dog the footsteps of Herodotus, reporting the modern world in its customary warlike state' * The Times *This is a book of remarkable substance and style, brimming with humanity * Sunday Telegraph *'Marozzi's energy drives the book forward ... where (he) succeeds above all is in whetting the appetite' * Financial Times *'The power of the story is the essence of this book and it is to Marozzi's immense credit that his storytelling is almost as good as his mentor's. Together they are marvellous' * Sunday Herald *'A delightful book, fit companion to the Father of History himself' * Scotsman *'A very Herodotean book ... entertaining, engaging and humane' * Times Literary Supplement *'Compelling ... Where Marozzi succeeds above all is in whetting the appetite, making us long to return to the master' * Financial Times *'Marozzi himself is an unambiguously Herodotean figure ... The English Patient ... inspired thousands to rish out and buy the Histories. This book deserves to have the same effect' * Anglo Hellenic Review *'This is a fascinating and rich tale of a truly influential and seminal writer' * Catholic Herald *'Marozzi's excitement is catching,' * Seven Magazine, The Sunday Telegraph *'His enthusiasm is everywhere apparent" * Saturday Guardian *"Marozzi has an easy, readable style...but he does connect the ancient and modern worlds in an entertaining way" * The Observer *

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Book SynopsisBetween 1970 and 1975 Jon Swain, the English journalist portrayed in David Puttnam''s film, The Killing Fields, lived in the lands of the Mekong river. This is his account of those years, and the way in which the tumultuous events affected his perceptions of life and death as Europe never could. He also describes the beauty of the Mekong landscape - the villages along its banks, surrounded by mangoes, bananas and coconuts, and the exquisite women, the odours of opium, and the region''s other face - that of violence and corruption.Trade ReviewA remarkable heart-breaking book -- Gavin YoungJon Swain's powerful and moving book goes further than anything else I have read towards explaining the appeal of Indo-China and its tragic conflicts... A brilliant and unsettling examination of the age-old bonds between death, beauty, violence and the imagination, which came together in Vietnam and nowhere else -- J. G. Ballard * Sunday Times *An absolutely riveting book... Haunting, compulsive and beautifully written, River of Time looks set to become a classic -- Alexander Frater * Observer *His book is a damning indictment and a triumphant witness. Brief, wrenching, it is surely the freshest and most sensitive account of those times -- Michael Binyon * The Times *A sombre, magnificent book * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisA celebration of the language and culture of Italy, La Bella Lingua is the story of how a language shaped a nation, told against the backdrop of one woman’s personal quest to speak fluent Italian. For anyone who has been to Italy, the fantasy of living the Italian life is powerfully seductive. But to truly become Italian, one must learn the language. This is how Dianne Hales began her journey. In La Bella Lingua, she brings the story of her decades-long experience with the “the world’s most loved and lovable language” together with explorations of Italy’ s history, literature, art, music, movies, lifestyle and food in a true opera amorosa — a labor of her love of Italy.Over the course of twenty-five years, she has studied Italian through Berlitz,  books, CDs, podcasts, private tutorials and conversation groups, and, most importantly, time spent in Italy.   In the process the Italian language became not just a passion and a pleasure, but a passport into Italy’s storia and its very soul. She invites readers to join her as she traces the evolution of Italian in the zesty graffiti on the walls of Pompeii, in Dante’s incandescent cantos and in Boccaccio’s bawdy Decameron.  She portrays how social graces remain woven into the fabric of Italian:  even the chipper “ciao,” which does double duty as “hi” and “bye,” reflects centuries of bella figura.  And she exalts the glories of Italy’s food and its rich and often uproarious gastronomic language:  Italians deftly describe someone uptight as a baccala (dried cod), a busybody who noses into everything as a prezzemolo (parsley), a worthless or banal movie as a polpettone (large meatball). Like Dianne, readers of La Bella Lingua will find themselves innamorata, enchanted, by Italian, fascinated by its saga, tantalized by its adventures, addicted to its sound, and ever eager to spend more time in its company.

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Book SynopsisFrom central Glasgow to rural Wiltshire, a husband-and-wife team track down Britain’s enigmatic mammalsTrade Review‘Spring has barely ticked over into summer, but I’ve already found the book that I’ll be recommending for the rest of the year.’ -- BBC Countryfile Magazine'If you care about Britain’s beautiful mammals – which of course you do – this hilarious book is a must-read. Weasely my favourite book of the year so far.' -- Dave Goulson, author of Silent Earth'Engaging, humorous and full of fascinating facts you probably never knew, Black Ops and Beaver Bombing celebrates, mourns and champions the wonderful variety of British mammals.' -- Waterstones, Best Books of 2023'You will laugh and learn in equal measure.’ * BBC Wildlife Magazine *‘Delightful… The authors’ sadness is clear, yet the text is more readable because they don’t take themselves too seriously, and scatter the text with memorable details.’ -- Irish Times‘Everything you could hope for in a book about our beleaguered native mammals. Elegiac, informative and funny; some truly magical encounters in the wild; an almost baffled indignation at our institutional and collective failures of policy and imagination; and best of all… some actual solutions.’ -- Peter Fiennes, author of Oak and Ash and Thorn'Packed full of useful information and acutely up to date… As she's one of the ablest mammalogists of our age, it's well worth listening to Fiona Mathews. I would heartily recommend this book to all.' -- Derek Gow, author of Bringing Back the Beaver‘This book is, or should be, a big wake-up call to anyone who hasn’t already realised that Britain’s native mammals are in trouble… Black Ops and Beaver Bombing provides an entertaining and informative look at some of our native mammalian species as well as the wider issues associated with species conservation in Britain. It should be required reading for anyone with a passing interest in our native wild mammals as well as for those who would like to do more to help with conservation. I particularly hope that it will be read by the politicians and other people who are in a position to make positive changes to reverse the decline of our native mammals.' -- GreenSpirit Magazine

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Book SynopsisPresents a portrait of the Greece the author came to know through a lifetime of exploration. This work is a fusion of experience, a gift of insight from one philhellene to all those who have come to love Greece.

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Book SynopsisOne summer, writer and musician, Jasper Winn set himself an extraordinary task. He would kayak the whole way round Ireland - a thousand miles - camping on remote headlands and islands, carousing in bars and paddling clockwise until he got back where he started. But in the worst Irish summer in living memory the pleasures of idling among seals, fulmars and fishing boats soon gave way to heroic struggles through storm-tossed seas ... and lock-ins playing music in coastal pubs.Circling the country where he grew up, Jasper reflects on life at the very fringes of Ireland, the nature and lore of its seas, and his own eccentric upbringing - sprung from school at age ten and left free to explore the countryside and its traditional life.Charming, quietly epic, and with an irresistible undertow of wit, Paddle is a low-tech adventure that captures the sheer joy of a misty morning on Ireland''s coast. As the sun breaks through, you''ll be longing to set off too.Trade ReviewDelightfully immersing -- Chris StewartA fantastic voyage. Mad, inspiring, funny and a great read -- Nick CraneI really enjoyed Paddle - a genuine adventure story with nothing gimmicky and dangers understated. I especially enjoyed the affectionately shrewd vignettes of life ashore, the swift changes of mood, the neat little parcels of unexpected information and, best of all, his laconic descriptions of the power and the glory of the sea. -- Dervla Murphy

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisOften described as the greatest city in the world, New York is one of the iconic cities of the world. Yet much of its architecture and culture which so defines the city we know today only came into being in the 1930s, in what was perhaps the most significant decade in the city's 400 year history.Jules Stewart shows how, after the roaring twenties, the catastrophic Wall Street Crash and ensuing Depression, New York rose from the ashes and underwent an architectural, economic, social and creative renaissance under the leadership of Mayor Fiorello La Guardia. After seizing power, he declared war on the mafia mobs running vast swathes of the city, attacked political corruption and kick-started the economy through a variety of construction and infrastructure projects. At the same time, a cultural revolution was underway as the jazz age and the Harlem Renaissance took hold. From the Empire State Building to the Pastrami Sandwich and the Cotton Club, Gotham Rising tells the Trade Review[This] book may not be revelatory for many New York aficionados, but its historical digressions, nuggets of forgotten footnotes and the stark contradictions in a city ascendant — but also disproportionately poor, homeless and unemployed — make for riveting reading. * The New York Times *'Gotham Rising is an insightful look at what New York was like in the 1930s. Jules Stewart takes you from the Great Depression right up to the beginning of World War II' * Manhattan Book Review *Filled with enticing details and vivid portraits of the titans who drove New York in the 1930s, Gotham Rising is a delightful romp through one of the city's most dynamic eras. Jules Stewart deftly weaves history with heroes and villains, with fascinating tales of LaGuardia, F.D.R., and Robert Moses, as well as the men who built the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center. * Eric Schmitt, Pulitzer-prize winning New York Times correspondent *"From its opening irreverent quotations from John Steinbeck and E. B. White, Jules Stewart's Gotham Rising: New York in the Thirties offers a roguish romp through a remarkable decade that in many ways still defines much about the great American metropolis...The Harlem Renaissance, Greenwich Village bohemia, Tammany Hall politics, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, and all the larger-than-life figures directing so much of the action it's an amazing story, well worth telling.' * Anthony W. Robins, author of New York Art Deco: A Guide to Gothams Jazz Age Architecture *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Foreword by Amor Towles Acknowledgements Preface Introduction 1. Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? 2. The Little Flower and Goliath 3. Trouble in the streets 4. ‘I Can’t Figger What Dis City is Comin’ To’ 5. All That Jazz 6. Gotham Gets a Facelift 7. The Thing about Skyscrapers 8. Seventy-Seventh Floor, Please 9. Anything You Can Do 10. You’re the Top 11. They All Laughed at Rockefeller Center 12. Village Life 13. Huddled Masses Yearning to Breathe Free Notes Bibliography Index

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