Travel writing Books

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

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Book SynopsisOVER HALF A MILLION COPIES OF APPLE TREE YARD SOLDPsychologically acute. Terrific.' Daily MailA page-turning read. Kept me reading well past bedtime!' VAL McDERMID Pacey and propulsive.' GuardianA rare combination of elegance and unbelievable tension . . . Utterly brilliant.' Joanna CannonGripping.' Marie ClaireThe latest from the Number One Sunday Times Bestselling author Louise DoughtyBird is a woman on the run. One minute, she's in a meeting in her office in Birmingham the next, she's walking out on her job, her home, her life. It's a day she thought might come, one she's prepared for. But nothing could prepare her for what will happen next. As Bird tries to work out who exactly is on her trail, she must also decide who if anyone she can trust. Is her greatest fear that she will be hunted down, or that she will never be found?Readers are gripped by A

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Book Synopsis''It would be hard to imagine a more thoughtful, intelligent and companionable person to go to sea with than Paul Heiney.'' Bill Bryson''High comedy on the high seas. Informative and warm and freezing. It''s quite a combination.'' Griff Rhys JonesThe writer and broadcaster Paul Heiney set sail from the east coast of England bound for Iceland, propelled by a desire to breathe the cool, clear air of the high latitudes, and to follow in the wake of generations of sailors who have made this often treacherous journey since the 13th century. In almost every harbour he tripped over maritime history and anecdote, and came face to face with his own past as he sailed north along his childhood coastline of east Yorkshire towards the Arctic Circle.But there was one major thing missing from this voyage - the sight of puffins. They are remarkable birds, uplifting as a ray of sunshine after a storm. To see them and share their waters was also part of Heiney's ambition. Imagine then his Trade ReviewIt would be hard to imagine a more thoughtful, intelligent and companionable person to go to sea with than Paul Heiney. -- Bill BrysonHigh comedy on the high seas. Informative and warm and freezing. It's quite a combination. -- Griff Rhys JonesFunny and perceptive * Country Life *An exciting read... Heiney’s chatty, ‘warts and all’ narrative style lends especial charm to the tale, giving you the feeling that he is retelling his story over a pint in front of a log fire. -- David Schuster * On: Yorkshire Magazine *A consummate storyteller... being at sea and overcoming the challenges of time, tide and stormy weather make this an entertaining and informative read. * Towpath Talk *A captivating and humorous travel narrative, Farewell Mr Puffin is rich with the natural, social and maritime history of many ports of call, and the lives of folks inhabiting these remote places. * Windcheck Magazine *This book, infused with humour, anecdotes and stacks of maritime history, is a travel writer’s love letter to one of the world’s most popular seabirds together with observations of the simplest pleasures to be found at sea. * Coast Magazine *A tonic for the sailing reader’s soul: part adventure, part travelogue, part character study and all heart. Heiney wraps it all up in the perfect package. * Sailing Magazine *A very enjoyable read...I would very highly recommend it. * Shipping Magazine *The maritime counterpart to Bill Bryson: by turns evocative, entertaining and though-provoking. * Practical Boat Owner *A good-humoured portrait of life on the ocean waves. * Bury and West Suffolk Magazine *This ode to life at sea by writer and broadcaster Paul Heiney will have you dreaming of Iceland's storied shores from which he set sail while searching for the iconic puffins. Though Heiney fails to see his beloved birds, he finds meaning as he reflects on his travels, peppered throughout with maritime history and humor. * Newsweek *Humorous and thoughtful, Paul skilfully tells stories of encounters with people and places, painting a vivid picture of his journey. In Farewell Mr Puffin he weaves together the history of the lands with a story of altered biodiversity, and paints a picture of an ever challenging and changing landscape and adaptable peoples. * Flying Fish *An entertaining, well-written and very readable book for all sailors. -- Christine Holroyd * Cruising Association *Paul’s joy of the sea, wildlife and sailing knowledge shine through in this delightful trip around northern waters. * Lifeboat Magazine *The book contains excellent advice and humorous observations for those sailing to Iceland: finding protected anchorages, weather forecasts, clearing in, staying warm, and the cost of basic supplies. * Cruising World *

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Book SynopsisIt's time we celebrated women in adventureWhat does "toughness" mean to you? Perhaps it's being physically fit and mentally resilient. Perhaps it's doing something no one else has done before. Perhaps it's breaking down boundaries and proving what you can do, in spite of the naysayers. Perhaps it's travelling alone, immersing yourself in new cultures and meeting new people. Perhaps it's running ultramarathons in the blistering heat and beating the competition. Perhaps it's conquering your fears.The badass adventurers in this collection are all fearless, intelligent, compassionate and curious about the world - and they all happen to be female. From endurance obstacle races to arctic expeditions, from mountain climbing to wingsuit flying, from horse trekking to swimming the English Channel, they have set the bar high for what women are capable of. Let yourself be inspired by their stories of grit, courage, determination, triumph and heartbreak - you never know, it might lead to something incredible!

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Book SynopsisWhenever I hear the word curry, I’m filled with a longing for spicy hot food with the fragrance of cumin, cloves and cinnamon. I see deep red colours from lots of Kashmiri chillis, tinged with a suggestion of yellow from turmeric. I think of the tandoor oven, and slightly scorched naan shining with ghee and garlic.When Indians talk of their food, they talk about their life. To understand this country, you need to understand curry.What makes a good curry? Sensual spicy aromas or thick, creamy sauces? Rich, dark dals or crispy fried street snacks? Rick journeys through India to find the answer, searching this colourful, chaotic nation in search of the truths behind our love affair with its food.Chefs, home cooks and street vendors hold the key to unlocking the secrets of these complex and diverse flavours – and Rick's travels take him to the heart of both their long-held traditions and most modern techniques. He uncovers recipes for fragrant kormas, delicate spiced fish and slow-cooked biryanis, all the while gathering ideas and inspiration for his own take on that elusive dish – the perfect curry.

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Book SynopsisJan Morris (then James) first visited Trieste as a soldier at the end of the Second World War. Since then, the city has come to represent her own life, with all its hopes, disillusionments, loves and memories. Here, her thoughts on a host of subjects - ships, cities, cats, sex, nationalism, Jewishness, civility and kindness - are inspired by the presence of Trieste, and recorded in or between the lines of this book.Evoking the whole of its modern history, from its explosive growth to wealth and fame under the Habsburgs, through the years of Fascist rule to the miserable years of the Cold War, when rivalries among the great powers prevented its creation as a free city under United Nations auspices, Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere is neither a history nor a travel book; like the place, it is one of a kind. Jan Morris''s collection of travel writing and reportage spans over five decades and includes such titles as Venice, Coronation Everest,

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Book Synopsis''Never less than entertaining ... the book really comes alive.'' Mail on Sunday203 countries. A decade of travel. Not a single plane in sight. This is the story of one man''s journey to be the first to visit every country in the world without flight.When Thor Pedersen set out on the adventure of a lifetime, he couldn''t have imagined the people he''d meet and the experiences he''d encounter along the way. But embarking on this epic voyage took him to the brink of his sanity, wiped his funds and tested the relationships he held dear.Over the years he faced grave danger, from encounters with drunken armed soldiers to life-threatening illness and even traversing the high seas, with wild waves destabilising the cargo ship he''d hitched a ride on. He''d sleep on the street one night and dine in the homes of billionaires the next. He visited countries stricken with war-zones, and once had to take an 11,919 km detour, revisiting seven countries, traversing Baluchistan in Pakistan escorted by armed guards because he was denied a visa while in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Life becomes complicated without the luxury of flying.Yet after years of challenges and milestones, Thor achieved something no other human ever has. The Impossible Journey is a triumphant memoir as he invites the world to share in this once in a lifetime adventure. He imparts the lessons, stories and unique perspectives on humanity he learned along the way.

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Book SynopsisDamian Le Bas is a writer, filmmaker and visual artist. His first book The Stopping Places won the Somerset Maugham Award, a Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Award, and was shortlisted for the Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year. Damian is widely published as a journalist and poet and has taught for the Arvon foundation. A recipient of a Society of Authors Travelling Scholarship, he is a member of the European Film Academy, holds a First Class degree in Theology from the University of Oxford, and was awarded an honorary Master of Education by the University of Chichester. Besides getting in the sea he loves music, walking and spending time in the woods and hills with his family and friends. The Drowned Places is his second book.

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Book SynopsisAngels in the Cellar is a year spent on Peter Hahn's small batch organic vineyard in the Loire Valley, reflecting on his life, the land and the lives of those who work with him.

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Book SynopsisThe outer world flew open like a door, and I wondered - what is it that we''re just not seeing?In this greatly anticipated sequel to Findings, prize-winning poet and renowned nature writer Kathleen Jamie takes a fresh look at her native Scottish landscapes, before sailing north into iceberg-strewn seas. Her gaze swoops vertiginously too; from a countryside of cells beneath a hospital microscope, to killer whales rounding a headland, to the constellations of satellites that belie our sense of the remote. Written with her hallmark precision and delicacy, and marked by moments in her own life, Sightlines offers a rare invitation to pause and to pay heed to our surroundings.Trade ReviewPraise for Findings: 'Kathleen Jamie writes with unparalleled beauty, sharpness of observation, wit, delicacy, strength of vision and rare exactness of language.' * Daily Telegraph *It finds without disturbing the found. And this takes courage and delicacy -- John Berger * Guardian Books of the Year *Her acheivement is to make us look again with completeluy fresh eyes at those creatures and places we had long presumed to know -- Mark Cocker

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Book SynopsisWINNER: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER READER AWARD FOR BEST TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR 2016WINNER: BOOKS ARE MY BAG READER AWARD FOR BEST AUTOBIOGRAPHY OR BIOGRAPHY 2016Twenty years ago, Bill Bryson went on a trip around Britain to celebrate the green and kindly island that had become his adopted country. The hilarious book that resulted, Notes from a Small Island, was taken to the nation's heart and became the bestselling travel book ever, and was also voted in a BBC poll the book that best represents Britain.Now, to mark the twentieth anniversary of that modern classic, Bryson makes a brand-new journey round Britain to see what has changed.Following (but not too closely) a route he dubs the Bryson Line, from Bognor Regis to Cape Wrath, by way of places that many people never get to at all, Bryson sets out to rediscover the wondrously beautiful, magnificently eccentric, endearingly unique country that he thought he knew but doesn't altogether Trade ReviewWarm, funny, thoughtful, sometimes grumpy. An absolute joy.+ in Country Life: I snorted with laughter…The Road to Little Dribbling is consistently and unendingly fabulous…I intend on buying a copy for everyone I know. * Clare Balding *Fans should expect to chuckle, snort, snigger, grunt, laugh out loud and shake with recognition…a clotted cream and homemade jam scone of a treat. * Sunday Times *Is it the funniest travel book I’ve read all year? Of course it is. * Daily Telegraph *There were moments when I snorted out loud with laughter while reading this book in public…He can be as gloriously silly as ever. * The Times *Bryson has no equal. He combines the charm and humour of Michael Palin with the cantankerousness of Victor Meldrew and the result is a benign intolerance that makes for a gloriously funny read. * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisOver two decades of turmoil and change in the Middle East, steered via the history-soaked landscape of Palestine. This new edition includes a previously unpublished epigraph in the form of a walk. When Raja Shehadeh first started hill walking in Palestine, in the late 1970s, he was not aware that he was travelling through a vanishing landscape. These hills would have seemed familiar to Christ, until the day concrete was poured over the flora and irreversible changes were brought about by those who claim a superior love of the land. Six walks span a period of twenty-six years, in the hills around Ramallah, in the Jerusalem wilderness and through the ravines by the Dead Sea. Each walk takes place at a different stage of Palestinian history since 1982, the first in the empty pristine hills and the last amongst the settlements and the wall. The reader senses the changing political atmosphere as well as the physical transformation of the landscape. By recording how the land felt and looked before these calamities, Raja Shehadeh attempts to preserve, at least in words, the Palestinian natural treasures that many Palestinians will never know.Trade ReviewShehadeh does a tremendous job ... one of the most compelling things you will read this summer. * Scotland on Sunday *He distills his pain and anger into eloquent prose, meticulously counting the ways he loves the land ... Palestinian Walks is no trite exercise in myth-making or propaganda. * Sunday Tribune *Shehadeh is always engaging ... delivering what many activists neglect to mention: the odd, slightly absurd details that really touch people; things that appear off camera, away from news reports. * Independent on Sunday *An important testament to political failure, never more relevant than today. -- Anthony Sattin * Time Out *A new geography has come into being. This beautiful book is not just a guide to the Palestinian present; it is an Israeli album of what is taking place in a faraway land: Palestine. * Ha'aretz *Few Palestinians have opened their minds and hearts with such frankness * New York Book Review *Shehadeh writes beautifully, his language infused with a lyrical, melancholic sense of loss. An important record of a land marked by conflict that is changing everyday * Sunday Telegraph *Towards any proper understanding of history there are many small paths. I strongly suggest you walk with him. -- John BergerPalestinian Walks is a stoic account of a particular place, but one which has universal resonance. The judges felt it made landscape into the essence of politics, and political writing into an art -- John seaton, chair of the Orwell Prize committee, 2008Shehadeh describes howthe destruction of a beloved landscape mirrors the damage to Palestinian identity...lyrical nature-writing with understated political passion * Guardian *Palestinian Walks provides a rare historical insight into the tragic changes taking place in Palestine. -- Jimmy CarterThis is a beautiful book and a sad one. -- Anthony LewisReaders... would do well to reckon with the painful particulars of Shehadeh's account, which is at once gentle and angry, resolute and realistic. * The Nation *

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Book Synopsis**THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLER** 'An inspirational study in leadership and a powerful testament to the human spirit at its very best.' - Mail on Sunday'The energy of the book gives it pace and you whip through, rather as Purja nips up verticals... Whether or not you are a lover of the mountains, you will marvel at his tenacity, his fearlessness. No one can fail to be inspired by what he achieved.' - The Times'Not only does Nims have exceptional physical stamina, he's also a leader with great skills in financial management and logistics.' - Reinhold Messner, the first person to climb all fourteen highest mountains in the world'The magnitude of his achievement is astonishing.' Soldier Magazine'A Living Legend.' Trail Magazine***Welcome to The Death Zone. Fourteen mountains on Earth tower over 8,000 metres above sea level, an altitude where the brain and body withers and dies. Until recently, the world record for climbing them all stood at nearly eight years. So I announced I was summiting them in under seven months. People laughed. They told me I was crazy, even though I'd sharpened my climbing skills on the brutal Himalayan peaks of Everest and Dhaulagiri. But I possessed more than enough belief, strength and resilience to nail the job, having taken down enemy gunmen and terrorist bomb makers while serving with the Gurkhas and the UK Special Forces. Throughout 2019, I came alive in the death zone. Soon after, I was showing the world a new truth: that with bravery and enough heart and drive, the impossible was possible...Trade ReviewThe man's sheer grit is astonishing. Time and again he forces himself through everescalating pain barriers, driving himself and his loyal team on through willpower alone. As he says, quitting is not in his blood, and his book is both an inspirational study in leadership and a powerful testament to the human spirit at its very best. * Mail on Sunday *

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Book Synopsis60 achievable adventures that celebrate the best of Britain and Britishness – must-do things that are on your doorstep rather than the other side of the world. If you want to ski off a cliff or swim with sharks, stop reading now. This book is about achievable adventures that celebrate the best of Britain and Britishness. The 60 mini adventures included are graded in difficulty from comically easy to mildly challenging, making them suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities. They include the most beautiful place to go for a stroll, the easiest place for a wild swim and, more importantly, the most spectacular place to have a cup of tea. Not to mention flying in a Spitfire and finding delicious food among the hedgerows. So what's on this Great British Bucket List? Well, a host of alternative UK adventures to get you out of the house. From fossil hunting on the Jurassic coast to forest bathing in Standish Woods, family-friendly music festivals to spectacular walks and lazy picnic hotspots, this essential guide is packed with must-do experiences. Discover the world of luxury eco-glamping in Devon and Suffolk. Book your tickets for the Minack, Cornwall's world famous open-air theatre. Follow in the footsteps of the Kinder Scout mass trespass in Dark Peak, or go canoeing down the Wye Valley in Wales. Besides old favourites, such as Stonehenge and Westminster Abbey, readers will find a bucket list bursting with suggestions for pleasant days out at some of the National Trust's historic houses. Whether you're luxuriating in Sissinghurst's famous gardens or moseying around Fountains Abbey, you're sure to have a uniquely British adventure.

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Book SynopsisThe acclaimed travel writer''s youthful journey - as an 18-year-old - across 1930s Europe by foot began in A Time of Gifts, which covered the author''s exacting journey from the Lowlands as far as Hungary. Picking up from the very spot on a bridge across the Danube where his readers last saw him, we travel on with him across the great Hungarian Plain on horseback, and over the Romanian border to Transylvania.The trip was an exploration of a continent which was already showing signs of the holocaust which was to come. Although frequently praised for his lyrical writing, Fermor''s account also provides a coherent understanding of the dramatic events then unfolding in Middle Europe. But the delight remains in travelling with him in his picaresque journey past remote castles, mountain villages, monasteries and towering ranges.The concluding part of the trilogy was published in September 2013 as The Broken Road.Trade ReviewBetween the Woods and the Water is a book so good your resent finishing it. * Sunday Times *'The finest travelling companion we could ever have... His head is stocked with cultural lore and poetic fancy to make every league an adventure.' Christopher Hudson * Evening Standard *As full of zest, joy and delight as its predecessor * Country Life *He is exploring the very furthest boundaries of the genre. * Jan Morris, The Times *The most enjoyable living writer to be published this year * Peter Levi, The Spectator *I have never enjoyed a travel book more and I would doubt if I will ever enjoy one so much again * Robin Lane Fox *Rightly considered to be among the most beautiful travel books in the language * Independent *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 *'For a spirited introduction [to the Balkans] try Patrick Leigh Fermor's account of a 1930s walk from Hungary to Romania and Bulgaria...rich in local history and a formative book in the rise of modern travel writing' - David Mattin * The Times *

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Book SynopsisHolloway - a hollow way, a sunken path. A route that centuries of foot-fall, hoof-hit, wheel-roll and rain-run have harrowed deep down into bedrock. In July 2005, Robert Macfarlane and Roger Deakin - author of Wildwood - travelled to explore the holloways of South Dorset''s sandstone. They found their way into a landscape of shadows, spectres & great strangeness. Six years later, after Roger Deakin''s early death, Robert Macfarlane returned to the holloway with the artist Stanley Donwood and writer Dan Richards. The book is about those journeys and that landscape. Moving in the spaces between social history, psychogeography and travel writing, Holloway is a beautiful and haunted work of art.

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Book SynopsisThis is Patrick Leigh Fermor''s spellbinding part-travelogue, part inspired evocation of a part of Greece''s past. Joining him in the Mani, one of Europe''s wildest and most isolated regions, cut off from the rest of Greece by the towering Taygettus mountain range and hemmed in by the Aegean and Ionian seas, we discover a rocky central prong of the Peleponnese at the southernmost point in Europe.Bad communications only heightening the remoteness, this Greece - south of ancient Sparta - is one that maintains perhaps a stronger relationship with the ancient past than with the present. Myth becomes history, and vice versa. Leigh Fermor''s hallmark descriptive writing and capture of unexpected detail have made this book, first published in 1958, a classic - together with its Northern Greece counterpart, Roumeli.Trade ReviewAn extraordinary book of adventure and encounter, fantasy and learning, observation and experience * Sunday Times *From the Mani he has brought back riches. How can one do justice to the fascination and poetry of this book, its generosity and its learning - its love? * Spectator *He supercharges his narrative with a combination of tenderness and high spirits appropriate to his past achievements as a guerrilla leader in Crete * Daily Telegraph *Mani and Roumeli: two of the best travel books of the century * Financial Times *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 *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 *'Extraordinarily engaging . . . thanks to Leigh Fermor's ability to turn an insight into a telling phrase . . . a compelling story' * London Review of Books *

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Book SynopsisSuleika Jaouad is an Emmy Award-winning writer, speaker, cancer survivor and activist. She served on Barack Obama's Cancer Panel and her advocacy work, reporting and speaking has been featured at the United Nations, on Capitol Hill and on the TED Talk main stage. When she's not on the road with her 2972 Volkswagen campervan and her rescue dog Oscar, she lives in Brooklyn.Trade ReviewWill resonate with anyone who is living a different life than the one they had planned. * TARA WESTOVER, author of EDUCATED *No more doomscrolling. Read this book instead... Full of wisdom and resilience. * ADAM GRANT, author of ORIGINALS *A deeply touching account of learning to live in the now, because nothing else is promised. I loved it. * KATHRYN MANNIX, author of WITH THE END IN MIND *Suleika Jaouad's memoir is a work of breathtaking creativity and heart-stopping humanity. A story of her cancer journey on the surface, it goes beyond the clichés of "inspiration", "resilience" and "courage" into the depth of her own pain and lost years, and also the spirits of countless strangers (sick and well) whom she meets along the highway of life and illuminates with rare generosity and grace. A deeply moving and passionate work of art, it's quite unlike anything I've ever read, and will forever be imprinted upon my heart. * ELIZABETH GILBERT, author of EAT PRAY LOVE *Jaouad is writing about a process, a back and forth. In the tension between health and sickness, past and present, a new balance must be forged. * LA Times *A beautiful, elegant and heart-breaking book that provides a glimpse into the kingdom of illness. * SIDDHARTHA MUKHERJEE *Yes, 'Between Two Kingdoms' is a cancer memoir. It's a coming of age story. A road trip adventure. A survival story. It's also a love story, but it is not romantic love that saves Jaouad. No, it's bigger than that.... The timing of this memoir is just right. After nearly a year of living through a pandemic, we all understand isolation and grief, endurance and healing more than we did before. * Washington Post *Her sensory snapshots remain in my mind long after reading. * Chanel Miller, New York Times *One of 2021's most highly anticipated new books. * Newsweek *Changing the conversation about what it mans to thrive in the wake of illness and life's unexpected interruptions. * TED *

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Book SynopsisA riveting coming-of-age journey and a tantalising glimpse into a time when Africa was an oyster for the young, the brave and the free.It all began at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station, in 1961. Two young Princetonians have returned to New York from South America, where their dream of buying a coffee plantation in the Peruvian jungle evaporated. With the fire for adventure still burning in their veins, they are tempted by a mysterious letter from Kenya and plan a trip across Africa. They buy a white BMW motorcycle and paint the words The White Nile' on the tank, to honour the route they will follow.In limpid, elegant prose John Hopkins describes deadly salt flats where tourists vanish without a trace, mysterious Saharan oases and the funerals of young Tunisians killed by the French Foreign Legion. In Leptus Magna, he conjures visions of ancient Rome and visits Homer's fabled island of the Lotus Eaters.The adventurers escape armed vigilantes in thTrade ReviewEasy Rider, Ivy League Style. * Le Figaro *Table of ContentsTunisia Libya Egypt The Sudan Uganda Kenya Epilogue

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Book SynopsisNestled in a spectacular botanical garden with stunning views on the Mediterranean, the idyllic Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc has attracted scintillating international guests for 150 years.Created in the nineteenth century as a retreat for artists and writers, Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc at Cap d''Antibes continues to captivate an international clientele as an exclusive retreat today. The tropical paradise attracted Lost Generation writers such as Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, whose Tender is the Night was set at Eden Roc. Artists--including Monet, Matisse, Chagall, Picasso, and Damien Hirst--have drawn inspiration from the enchanted setting and its lush botanical gardens. Master photographers Jacques Henri Lartigue and Slim Aarons famously captured guests splashing in the Mediterranean or lounging in the sun next to the iconic seawater swimming pool carved in the basalt cliff. The secluded resort, located between Nice and Cannes, has always been a favorite haven on the French Riviera for A-list celebrities--from Marlene Dietrich to Orson Welles, and from John Lennon and Yoko Ono to Sharon Stone--during the Cannes film festival, and for secluded family holidays, ideal for unwinding at the green and white seaside cabanas where time stands still, sampling the bar''s iconic Bellinis, or enjoying creative locally-sourced cuisine. The hotel''s storied history is full of romance, humor, mystery, and legend. Built on one of the most alluring sites on the Rivera, the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc is the epitome of beauty, timeless elegance, and discretion; it has been a home away from home for generations of artists, photographers, authors, politicians, and Hollywood stars.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewSuperb - a great book to fuel your wanderlust. * Mark Beaumont *Grit, perseverance and statesmanship, Nick Butter pulled off the impossible. * Dean Karnazes *The ultimate running book, showcasing the ultimate running adventure. * Sean Conway *Readers will find not only the bumps Butter encountered on the road, but the moments of serenity and insight he found along the way. * Daily Telegraph *[An] excellent biography. The Belgian's life is sufficiently extraordinary to warrant wider interestAlyson Rudd, The Times * . *

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Book SynopsisCan a tiny vehicle provide the space to rebuild a life? Thunderstone: a sculpted & fearless memoir from the award-winning author of Fifty Words for SnowTrade Review‘A memoir of great honesty and clarity, intimacy and subtlety . . . It asks profound questions about how to live through the storms of life with authenticity.’ Gavin Francis, author of Adventures in Human Being ‘A courageous, compassionate, uncanny chronicle of life and loss on the fringes. Striking in its candour, brilliant in its breadth, often very funny.’ Dan Richards, author of Outpost

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Book SynopsisBraving hunger, heat exhaustion, unbearable terrain and cultures largely untouched by civilization, Dervla Murphy chronicles her determined trip through nine countries, through snow and ice in the mountains and miles of barren land in the scorching desert. Full Tilt is a highly individual account by a celebrated travel writer based on the daily diary Murphy kept while riding through Yugoslavia, Persia, Afghanistan, over the Himalayas to Pakistan and into India. Murphy's charm and gracious sensitivity as a writer and a traveler reveals not only civilizations of exotic people and places but the wonder of a woman alone on an extraordinary adventure.

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Book SynopsisPublished to coincide with the Golden Globe Race's 50th Anniversary It lay like a gauntlet thrown down; to sail around the world alone and non-stop. No one had ever done it, no one knew if it could be done. In 1968, nine men - six Englishmen, two Frenchmen and an Italian - set out to try, a race born of coincidence of their timing. One didn't even know how to sail. They had more in common with Captain Cook or Ferdinand Magellan than with the high-tech, extreme sailors of today, a mere forty years later. It was not the sea or the weather that determined the nature of their voyages but the men they were, and they were as different from one another as Scott from Amundsen. Only one of the nine crossed the finishing line after ten months at sea. The rest encountered despair, sublimity, madness and even death.Trade ReviewTold with verve and riddled with drama, you can smell the salty air and feel the spray on every page * Sunday Times *An enthralling tale of human endeavour and courage in the face of adversity ... you don't need to know your spinnaker from your mainsail to enjoy this book * Tatler *As a carpenter purrs over perfect dovetailing, so I rejoiced in the craftsmanship of this book * Simon Barnes *

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Book SynopsisSay goodbye to roughing it. And hello to a new kind of freedom.With over 80 fabulously tasty recipes you can cook on just two rings and a few barbeque feasts and camp fire crackers, this is the dashboard bible for anyone who ever dreamed of hitting the road at the wheel of a classic VW camper.From finding and cooking your own food to passing muster with the surfing set, THE CAMPER VAN COOKBOOK will show you how to make the most of every single moment on the road.Trade ReviewTurn your road trip into a culinary experience. Quite simply, this book is destined to reach camper van bible status... Ideal for families, singlies, foodies, festival-goers and outdoor lovers - you'd have to have a screw loose not to love this book. * adventure-cornwall.co.uk *His charmingly eccentric account of life on the road, one delicious recipe at a time, is set to become a modern outdoor classic... it occurs to me that Martin, who pulses with energy and Boy's Own enthusiasm, was made for television. Perhaps he could be sponsored by the British Tourist Authority, as he leads viewers down highways and byways to soak up the scenic beauty - while feasting on breakfast frittata with bacon. Many of the recipes would work just as well for a 'tented' camping holiday but the vintage wheels lend the whole occasion a certain grooviness. * YOU Magazine Mail on Sunday *This is not just a recipe book but a hugely practical, funny, inspiring introduction to camper van living. A cult book in the making, if I'm not mistaken. * Fiona Beckett www.foodandwinefinds.blogspot.com *Cook up a storm with a delicious outdoor on-the-go lunches and suppers. All you need is one pan, a cooker ring and a selection of seasonal ingredients * Country Homes & Interiors *'This inspirational handbook tells you how to cope during a weekend spent on four wheels with nothing but a fire and a two ring stove to cook' * Telegraph Magazine *'This is not just a cookbook, it's a bible for camping' * allaboutyou.com *

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Book SynopsisMore than just a companion to the hugely popular Travel Channel show, No Reservations is Bourdain''s fully illustrated journal of his far-flung travels. The book traces his trips from New Zealand to New Jersey and everywhere in between, mixing beautiful, never-before-seen photos and mementos with Bourdain''s outrageous commentary on what really happens when you give a bad-boy chef an open ticket to the world. Want to know where to get good fatty crab in Rangoon? How to order your reindeer medium rare? How to tell a Frenchman that his baguette is invading your personal space? This is your book. For any Bourdain fan, this is an indispensable opportunity to hit the road with the man himself.

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Book SynopsisIn the spirit of T.E. Lawrence, Wilfred Thesiger spent five years wandering the deserts of Arabia, producing Arabian Sands, ''a memorial to a vanished past, a tribute to a once magnificent people''. The Penguin Classics edition includes an introduction by Rory Stewart.Wilfred Thesiger, repulsed by what he saw as the softness and rigidity of Western life - ''the machines, the calling cards, the meticulously aligned streets'' - spent years exploring in and around the vast, waterless desert that is the ''Empty Quarter'' of Arabia. Travelling amongst the Bedu people, he experienced their everyday challenges of hunger and thirst, the trials of long marches beneath the relentless sun, the bitterly cold nights and the constant danger of death if it was discovered he was a Christian ''infidel''. He was the first European to visit most of the region, and just before he left the area the process that would change it forever had begun - the discovery of oil.This edition contains an introduction by Rory Stewart discussing the dangers of Thesiger''s travels, his unconventional personality and his insights into the Bedouin way of life.Sir Wilfred Patrick Thesiger (1910-2003) was a British travel writer born in Addis Ababa in Abyssinia (now Ethiopia). Thesiger is best known for two travel books: Arabian Sands (1959), which recounts his travels in the Empty Quarter of Arabia between 1945 and 1950 and describes the vanishing way of life of the Bedouins, and The Marsh Arabs (1964), an account of the traditional peoples who lived in the marshlands of southern Iraq.If you enjoyed Arabian Sands, you might like T.E. Lawrence''s Seven Pillars of Wisdom, also available in Penguin Modern Classics''Thesiger is perhaps the last, and certainly one of the greatest, of the British travellers among the Arabs''Sunday Times''Following worthily in the tradition of Burton, Lawrence, Philby and Thomas, it is, very likely, the book about Arabia to end all books about Arabia''Daily TelegraphTrade Review"The narrative is vividly written, with a thousand little anecdotes and touches which bring back to any who have seen these countries every scene with the colour of real life." —The Sunday Times (London)

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Book SynopsisWhen Ben Pering sets out to walk the Two Moors Way in Devon, the challenge marks the beginning of an extraordinary fifteen-year relationship with the upland landscapes of Dartmoor and Exmoor which will lead him deep into the wild spaces of English moorland on the hunt for a new pace of life and a renewed sense of self

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Book SynopsisAs a practising mortician, Caitlin Doughty has long been fascinated by our pervasive terror of dead bodies. In From Here to Eternity she sets out in search of cultures unburdened by such fears. With curiosity and morbid humour, Doughty introduces us to inspiring death-care innovators, participates in powerful death practices almost entirely unknown in the West and explores new spaces for mourning - including a futuristic glowing-Buddha columbarium in Japan, a candlelit Mexican cemetery, and America''s only open-air pyre. In doing so she expands our sense of what it means to treat the dead with ''dignity'' and reveals unexpected possibilities for our own death rituals.Trade ReviewEach chapter covers a culture with a highly distinctive and apparently ghastly approach to their dearly departed . . . Think Bill Bryson doing an underworld special. This humane book gently provokes you to wonder: what exactly is your ideal funeral? * THE TIMES *Caitlin Doughty, joyful member of the death-positive movement, describes what happens to our mortal remains with relish . . . Jaunty, boisterous and unsentimental, Doughty believes that we in the West have made death and its aftermath into a corporate, perfunctory affair, in which the meaning of an ending is denied. Her mission is to 'reclaim public understanding of dying' and to bring individuality and joy back into our dealings with the dead -- Nicci Gerard * OBSERVER *Compelling . . . Doughty's writing will give you the giggles as well as send a chill down your spine * GUARDIAN *From Here To Eternity is fascinating, thought-provoking and - who would have guessed? - sometimes funny. Put it on your bucket list -- Neil Armstrong * MAIL ON SUNDAY *Doughty's lively (and charmingly illustrated) cascade of anecdotes about how various cultures handle death spells out how contemporary Western fastidiousness about dead bodies is by no means universally shared. We are introduced to a variety of startling practices . . . and pervading the book is Doughty's ferocious critique of the industrialisation of death and burial that is standard in the United States and spreading rapidly elsewhere. Doughty invites us to look at and contemplate alternatives . . . we have choices beyond the conventional; we can think about how we want our dead bodies to be treated as part of a natural physical cycle -- Rowan Williams * NEW STATESMAN *Doughty is fun, with an eye for the bizarre and the absurd. She hits the road in quest of cultures untroubled by the western taboos surrounding mortality -- Robert McCrum * SPECTATOR *Doughty is a relentlessly curious and chipper tour guide to the underworld . . . a likable, witty companion. It is a difficult high-wire act: to make death interesting and funny enough that we'll drop our fears and read, without losing sight of the gravity of the topic. I couldn't help thinking that her dispatches from the dark side were doing us all a kindness * NEW YORK TIMES *From Here to Eternity is Doughty's tour of the death ways of other peoples, from Bolivia to Barcelona . . . [she] chronicles each of these practices with tenderheartedness, a technician's fascination, and an unsentimental respect for grief * THE NEW YORKER *Doughty finds the humanity in other cultures' relationship with death that seems to be lacking in ours * VICE *From Indonesia to Mexico and all points in between, Doughty talks to a wide array of professionals, handling the topic with curiosity, frankness and no small amount of humour -- Doug Johnstone * THE BIG ISSUE *Both sensitive and light, and thoroughly researched, written by an author who genuinely wanted to learn from, not fetishise, other customs * GUARDIAN *Really fascinating -- Alice Waters * NEW YORK TIMES *In her jocular but reverential tone . . . Doughty doesn't offer a simple morbid travelogue; instead, she digs into diverse death experiences with deep veneration and examines ties to socioeconomic, status, female identity and religion * BOOKLIST *A study in cultures, places and profound moments - and with a necessary slice of morbid humour too * WANDERLUST *Moving and inspiring * BELFAST TELEGRAPH *Written with great humour and respect, this book will undoubtedly educate, entertain, and leave you dying to learn more * GEOGRAPHICAL *Far from morbid, but moving * WOMAN'S WAY *[Doughty's] fascinating tour of rituals contains liturgies that readers will surely observe as rare, macabre, unbelievable, ancient, and precious - sometimes simultaneously * KIRKUS *

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Book SynopsisWhen Philip Marsden moved to a remote, creekside farmhouse in Cornwall, the intensity of his response took him aback. It led him to wonder why we react so strongly to certain places and set him off on a journey on foot westwards to Land's End through one of the most myth-rich regions of Europe. From the Neolithic ritual landscape of Bodmin Moor to the Arthurian traditions at Tintagel, from the mysterious china-clay region to the granite tors and tombs of the far south-west, Marsden assembles a chronology of Britain's attitude to place. In archives, he uncovers the life and work of other enthusiasts before him - medieval chroniclers and Tudor topographers, eighteenth-century antiquarians, post-industrial poets and abstract painters. Drawing also on his travels from further afield, Marsden reveals that the shape of the land lies not just at the heart of our own history but of man's perennial struggle to belong on this earth.

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Book SynopsisDanny Wallace is a Sunday Times and Amazon #1-bestselling author, as well as a BAFTA, Arqiva and Sony-winning performer and presenter. His first book, Join Me, was described as a word-of-mouth phenomenon' by The Bookseller and one of the funniest stories you will ever read' by the Daily Mail. His second book, Yes Man in which he decided to say Yes' to everything became a hugely successful film with Jim Carrey in the lead role. He has written and presented shows on all the major UK television and radio networks, and GQ magazine has called him: One of Britain's great writing talents'. He currently presents the Important Broadcast on Radio X.

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Book Synopsis''Get away from here before you''re completely bewitched and enslaved...'' Dorothy Carrington was told, while sitting in a fisherman''s cafe at the magically quiet midday hour. But enslaved she was. GRANITE ISLAND, much more than a travel book, grew out of years spent in Corsica and is an incomparably vivid and delightful portrait. For the first time Corsica is brought to light as a vital element in Europe: a highly individualistic island culture whose people have nurtured their love of freedom and political justice, as well as their pride, hospitality and poetry.

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Book SynopsisIn A Venetian Bestiary the travel writer Jan Morris explores the animals, real, imaginary and artistic which haunt the city of floating dreams, her favourite city. This beautiful new edition is illustrated with photographs and art which perfectly complement Morris' words.

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Book Synopsis‘A magisterial diary for bird lovers.’ Observer WINNER – BOOK OF THE YEAR - East Anglian Book Awards 2023 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Telegraph As seen on BBC Winterwatch 2023 ‘Honest, human and heart-grabbing. I loved this book so much.’ Sophie Pavelle, author of Forget Me Not ‘Delightful’ Stephen Moss, author of Ten Birds that Changed the World ‘Fascinating and thought-provoking’ Jake Fiennes, author of Land Healer ‘Awe-filled and absorbing’ Nicola Chester, author of On Gallows Down The Meaning of Geese is a book of thrilling encounters with wildlife, of tired legs, punctured tyres and inhospitable weather. Above all, it is the story of Nick Acheson’s love for the land in which he was born and raised, and for the wild geese that fill it with sound and spectacle every winter. Renowned naturalist and conservationist Nick Acheson spent countless hours observing and researching wild geese, transported through all weathers by his mother’s 40-year-old trusty red bicycle. He meticulously details the geese’s arrival, observing what they mean to his beloved Norfolk and the role they play in local people’s lives – and what role the birds could play in our changing world. During a time when many people faced the prospect of little work or human contact, Nick followed the pinkfeet and brent geese that filled the Norfolk skies and landscape as they flew in from Iceland and Siberia. In their flocks, Nick encountered rarer geese, including Russian white-fronts, barnacle geese and an extremely unusual grey-bellied brant, a bird he had dreamt of seeing since thumbing his mother’s copy of Peter Scott’s field guide as a child. To honour the geese’s great athletic migrations, Nick kept a diary of his sightings as well as the stories he discovered through the community of people, past and present, who loved them, too. Over seven months Nick cycles over 1,200 miles – the exact length of the pinkfeet’s migration to Iceland.Trade Review‘[B]eautiful in its detail of the pink-foot, brent and snow geese… The Meaning of Geese is mournful and magisterial.’ Observer‘Goose-nerd Nick Acheson opens his wildlife diary to us, sharing the highs and lows of a unique winter spent in nature’s embrace on the windswept North Norfolk coast. The Meaning of Geese is an intimate study of the intriguing lives of these under-appreciated birds, as well as a window into the inner workings of a naturalist’s obsession.’ Lee Schofield, author of Wild Fell‘Combining old-school charm with 2020s urgency, Nick’s book, like its subject, is simultaneously earthing and elevating, evoking the bittersweet ache of belonging to a place that is changing but still and always home. The writing is measured, erudite, unfailingly generous but with an underlying emotional vibrancy that cuts through like an icy wind or the sudden dazzle of winter sun.’ Amy-Jane Beer, author of The Flow‘A fascinating and thought-provoking record of an individual and his passion for geese, among other birds. Beautifully descriptive but also detailed in the history of winged visitors to the North Norfolk coast, Nick communicates pure passion and unconditional love for a landscape that is his home. A book about geese, people, their observations and a landscape steeped in natural history.’ Jake Fiennes, author of Land Healer‘What Nick has achieved with The Meaning of Geese is not just a timely, poignant meditation on his relationship with these birds and his home, but through powerful, lyrical prose, he seems to happen upon unlocking the meaning of life itself: a passionate, purposeful existence which is entirely bound to and entwined with the natural world. Relaxing yet rousing. Honest, human and heart-grabbing. I loved this book so much.’ Sophie Pavelle, author of Forget Me Not‘This book is an absolute treasure. Nick’s attention to detail is astonishing, but he also writes with humour, humility and grace, seamlessly blending a lifetime of knowledge, insight and passion – not only for his beloved geese but for the entire natural world. I will never again look at geese without pondering their “meaning”.’ Brigit Strawbridge Howard, author of Dancing with Bees ‘The Meaning of Geese shows us it is possible and necessary to know ourselves and our wild world through a deep intimacy with just one place under the sky – and the simple reach of a mother’s happy red-darter-coloured bicycle. In an awe-filled and absorbing portrait, wild geese bring the world and its mysteries to us and our shared landscape. The warmth, humility, friendship and deep knowledge that exude from this book are infectious and necessary. It is a lyrical love letter to North Norfolk, its skies, people and the gleaming, binding, gossamer threads its geese trail across the globe and back. The Meaning of Geese shows us how we too can be explorers and pioneers of a deeper knowledge, from the seat of an old red bicycle.’ Nicola Chester, author of On Gallows Down‘A delightful account of a low-tech (and low-carbon) quest to follow, watch and understand one of Britain’s greatest bird spectacles: the huge flocks of pink-footed geese that visit our shores from the far north each autumn and winter.’ Stephen Moss, author of Ten Birds that Changed the World‘Nick Acheson lives his life as he writes his books – full of clarity and passion. Only a man hefted so deeply to a landscape could bring the detail of wildlife to the page in such brightness. So much so that you feel you are riding on his handlebars as he toils up Norfolk’s hills on his old bike in search of his beloved geese or shivering at his side as an easterly wind buffets the flocks that fuss and shout all around. Migrant geese bring with them the spectacle of the sunlit months of northern reaches, places like Iceland, Siberia, even Canada. As the days shorten, they are guided by the stars to whiffle and glide onto the mud of the North Norfolk coast, bringing in their wake a yearning evoked by meeting travellers who have seen what we never will. But for Nick, the geese are far more than natural wonders, they are the embodiment of a rich human history, the stuff of folktales, the creatures that bind nature-loving friends together, a consolation in the dark months, and they are feathered portents of a changing planet. The Meaning of Geese is exactly the right title. The details of Norfolk’s wildlife, large and small, fall out of the page. As I read this book while winter nudges away the last warm days of the year, I am fired by a love for a world that still has geese sailing through the night to land amongst us and am grateful to those who wait for them to arrive and watch them with wonder.’ Mary Colwell, author of Curlew Moon‘In The Meaning of Geese, Nick invites you into the realm of gaggles, honks and cackles. His gentle, warm love for all things goose shines from every page. In winter walks gone by, I might have overlooked a field full of these feathered beings, but Nick’s ability to shine a spotlight of adoration, wonder and curiosity onto something right under your nose is quite wonderful. Growing up in Lancashire, a sky brimming with honking pink-footed geese is a visceral childhood memory, and I feel like Nick’s goose winter has reconnected me with those feelings of awe and joy.’ Lucy Hodson, BBC Springwatch, naturalist and wildlife communicator'Poetic, wry, beautifully observed and possessing a wonderful sense of place, this is note-perfect nature writing.' Patrick Barkham, author of The Butterfly Isles ‘A poignant and intimate study of the lives of geese.’ BirdGuides

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Book SynopsisA rich blend of history and spirituality, adventure and politics, laced with the thread of black comedy familiar to readers of William Dalrymple's previous work.In AD 587, two monks, John Moschos and Sophronius the Sophist, embarked on an extraordinary journey across the Byzantine world, from the shores of the Bosphorus to the sand dunes of Egypt. Their aim: to collect the wisdom of the sages and mystics of the Byzantine East before their fragile world shattered under the eruption of Islam. Almost 1500 years later, using the writings of John Moschos as his guide, William Dalrymple set off to retrace their footsteps.Taking in a civil war in Turkey, the ruins of Beirut, the tensions of the West Bank and a fundamentalist uprising in Egypt, William Dalrymple's account is a stirring elegy to the dying civilisation of Eastern Christianity.Trade Review‘Compulsively readable.’ John Julius Norwich, Observer ‘Everything a really good travel book should be: witty, learned and also very funny.’ Eric Newby ‘Any travel writer who is so good at his job as to be brilliant, applauded, loved and needed has to have an unusual list of qualities, and William Dalrymple has them all in aces. Dalrymple’s ear for conversation is as good as Alan Bennett’s. The best and most unexpected book I have read since I forget when.’ Peter Levi ‘A rich stew of history and travel narrative spiced with anecdote, opinion and bon mots…The future of travel literature lies in the hands of gifted authors like Dalrymple who shine their torches into the shadowy hinterland of the human story – the most foreign territory of all.’ Independent ‘Dalrymple stands out as one of our most talented travel writers. Energetic, thoughtful, curious and courageous.’ Sunday Times ‘William Dalrymple has effortlessly assumed the mantle of Robert Byron and Patrick Leigh Fermor.’ Guardian ‘A splendid, effective and impressive book.’ Financial Times

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Book SynopsisThe long-awaited final volume of the trilogy by Patrick Leigh Fermor. A Time of Gifts and Between the Woods and the Water were the first two volumes in a projected trilogy that would describe the walk that Patrick Leigh Fermor undertook at the age of eighteen from the Hook of Holland to Constantinople. 'When are you going to finish Vol. III?' was the cry from his fans; but although he wished he could, the words refused to come. The curious thing was that he had not only written an early draft of the last part of the walk, but that it predated the other two. It remains unfinished but The Broken Road - edited and introduced by Colin Thubron and Artemis Cooper - completes an extraordinary journey.Trade ReviewNobody could do the job better than the book's editors. Colin Thubron is a travel writer of Leigh Fermor's calibre, Artemis Cooper is his masterly biographer . . . It contains wonderful passages of purest Leigh Fermor . . . Time and again he gives us vivid glimpses of encounters along the way - priests and peasants, the squalors of the back country, high life in Bucharest - and this virtuoso display is embedded as always in his astonishing range of learning . . . full of fun, kindness, easy learning, sophistication and innocence . . . a gently fitting conclusion to his tumultuous masterpiece -- Jan Morris * Mail on Sunday *This is a major work. It confirms that Leigh Fermor was, along with Robert Byron, the greatest travel writer of his generation, and this final volume assures the place of the trilogy as one of the masterpieces of the genre, indeed one of the masterworks of post-war English non-fiction -- William Dalrymple * Guardian *Colin Thubron and Artemis Cooper have put this book to bed with skill and sensitivity . . . Friends and fans, acolytes, devotees and disciples can all rest easy. It was worth the wait -- Justin Marozzi * Spectator *The editors have done a fine job * Literary Review *It is magnificent. Cooper and Thubron have done an immense service in bringing the book to publication, for it unmistakably stands comparison with its remarkable siblings. The prose has the glorious turbulence and boil of the first two books, and the youthful magic of his 'dream-odyssey' is still potent * Robert MacFarlane, The Times *A fitting conclusion to his masterpiece . . . This book is momentous * Mail on Sunday *The pages are filled with brilliant evocations of his life on the road, none richer than the time he spent in a Romanian broth . . . It is a fitting epilogue to 20th-century travel-writing and essential reading for devotees of Sir Patrick's other works * The Economist *I set off along The Broken Road laden with expectations that I would have to make allowances. Yet almost from the off, I realised that I would have no use for these. Here was a wealth of descriptions that only Leigh Fermor could have conjured up . . . In a stroke of brilliance, Thubron and Cooper have included the separate diary that Leigh Fermor kept of the month he spent exploring Mount Athos in Greece immediately after leaving Istanbul. So, the Athos diary, aglow with rich experience, finally brings the journey to its rightful end in the spiritual heart of the country that was to prove, though the young author did not yet know it, Leigh Fermor's "real love and destination" * New Statesman *This is a picaresque essay, a virtuoso tapestry of anecdote in the author's best tradition * Country Life *The first two volumes were a joy to read, not least for Leigh Fermor's ability to recapture in later life the intense excitement of being a young man lighting out. The latest book offers similar joys . . . Also evident are another of the joys of the earlier books - the pyrotechnics of his writing. Exuberance is expressed in heightened suggestions . . . it captures the joy of the open road, the fresh view he gives of Europe as it began to show the stresses that led to world war, and the glimpses of a long-lost life and innocence * Observer *The Mount Athos diary - untampered with by his older self - reminds us what an extraordinary young man he was . . . This early style is more immediate, more youthful; a pleasure to read in a wholly different way from the later magnificence * Financial Times *A road trip that is as illuminating as it is incomplete made by a traveller, warrior and jewelled stylist * Independent *There is plenty to enjoy, so much so that the reader often forgets to wonder how much is true, and how much the revisionist work of an inventive and poetic mind . . . the pleasure lies in its combination of erudition, exuberant speculation, lively anecdote and meticulous, picture-painting language . . . Gorgeous imagery, granted, yet it is in Leigh Fermor's disarming cameos that The Broken Road excels * Sunday Times *His literary executors have topped, tailed and polished with such sympathy and skill that their interventions cannot be detected. This is pure Paddy: these are his feelings, perceptions and responses, his the observations, his the descriptions, consummate in a phrase, acute and intense when extended to paragraph or page; this is his style yet it is in many ways a youthful text, its core the adventure of a very young man, its embellishments the experience, curiosity and wisdom of his older self * Evening Standard *What a poignant and somehow fitting finale for a legendary procrastinator. It was certainly worth the wait * National *This final leg, through Romania and Bulgaria rounds off a classic trilogy * i *For readers of the other two books, to see the odyssey at last (almost) concluded, will naturally be irresistible. For everyone else there is the discovery of a unique writer * Sunday Express *The final volume confirms the trilogy as one of the 'masterpieces' of English travel writing * Week *A scintillating continuation of the prodigious walk that took the young Leigh Fermor right into the heart of magically different pre-war Europe and beyond . . . his journey is complete, his world task accomplished, with the whole undertaking as thick in marvels as Aladdin's cave * Irish Times *The perfect present for anyone with wanderlust * Good Housekeeping *The third unfinished volume of Leigh Fermor's enchanted journey through Mitteleuropa is here at last * TLS Books of the Year *Glorious . . . Artemis Cooper and Colin Thubron created THE BROKEN ROAD from a rejected essay on walking (15 times the size requested of Paddy), some failed drafts and a pair of flimsy travel journals. But the author is arguably more present in their loving editorial hands . . . than in any of his other books. There is also that infectious enthusiasm for the road and the lived experience, for spoken language, oral knowledge and for everything Byzantine and Greek * Daily Telegraph, Best Books of the Year *His epic journey's erudite conclusion will not disappoint his many fans * Saga *Offers a fascinating glimpse of a lost time and talent * Financial Times, Books of the Year *My favourite book this year was the final, unfinished and posthumous volume of Patrick Leigh Fermor's walking trilogy . . . it is every bit as masterly as Between the Woods and the Water * Observer, Books of the Year *Glorious . . . Artemis Cooper and Colin Thubron created The Broken Road . . . but the author is arguably more present in their loving editorial hands . . . than in any of his other books. There is also that infectious enthusiasm for the road and the lived experience, for spoken language, oral knowledge and for everything Byzantine and Greek * Daily Telegraph, Books of the Year *Offers a fascinating glimpse of a lost time and talent * Financial Times, Books of the Year *Its rich depictions and liquid language make this a masterpiece to savour * Sunday Express *In magnificent prose [Patrick Leigh Fermor] describes liaisons with countesses in crumbling castles, changing landscapes, now lost forever, and the delight of a young man with nothing but himself and his quest for adventure. Travel writing at its most sublime * Daily Express *His award-winning biographer Artemis Cooper and travel writer Colin Thubron have painstakingly and sensitively worked on Paddy's draft of the final leg of his epic journey and ghosted a wonderful account of his swashbuckling journey . . . It conjures up a life that's unimaginable in more cautious modern times and is beautifully written * Daily Mail *Like many really good things, it's hard to say why The Broken Road, the final volume of Patrick Leigh Fermor's account of his walk from Holland to Constantinople, is so satisfying. But it is * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisThe Silk Road conjures images of the exotic and the unknown. Most travellers simply pass along it. Brit Chris Alexander chose to live there. Ostensibly writing a guidebook, Alexander found life at the heart of the glittering madrassahs, mosques and minarets of the walled city of Khiva - a remote desert oasis in Uzbekistan - immensely alluring, and stayed.Immersing himself in the language and rich cultural traditions Alexander discovers a world torn between Marx and Mohammed - a place where veils and vodka, pork and polygamy freely mingle - against a backdrop of forgotten carpet designs, crumbling but magnificent Islamic architecture and scenes drawn straight from "The Arabian Nights". Accompanied by a large green parrot, a ginger cat and his adoptive Uzbek family, Alexander recounts his efforts to rediscover the lost art of traditional weaving and dyeing, and the process establishing a self-sufficient carpet workshop, employing local women and disabled people to train as apprentices.A Carpet Ride to Khiva sees Alexander being stripped naked at a former Soviet youth camp, crawling through silkworm droppings in an attempt to record their life-cycle, holed up in the British Museum discovering carpet designs dormant for half a millennia, tackling a carpet-thieving mayor, distinguishing natural dyes from sacks of opium in Northern Afghanistan, bluffing his way through an impromptu version of "My Heart Will Go On" for national Uzbek TV and seeking sanctuary as an anti-Western riot consumed the Kabul carpet bazaar. It is an unforgettable true travel story of a journey to the heart of the unknown and the unexpected friendship one man found there.Trade ReviewEnjoyable account of the seven years the author spent in the remote desert oasis of Khiva, Uzbekistan. -- BooksellerThis travelogue enriches our understanding of a little-known world, and as Christopher is taken into an Uzbeki family there are some nice touches as West meets East - like when he is hailed a mystic for predicting Bobby Ewing's return from the grave as Uzbekis get their first taste of Dallas. -- News of the WorldUnsparing in his censure of Uzbekistan's repressive government, the author nevertheless paints a sympathetic and often humorous portrait of Khiva's residents.... More than just a tableau of Khiva, the book also paints a picture of a foreigner's integration into the community. -- Wanderlust...serves as a primer on the mysteries of sericulture, and on the endless ramifications of the natural-dyer's craft. His pursuit of powdered madder root takes him deep into Afghanistan, whence he emerges after close shaves. -- IndependentAlexander is an excellent guide through the chaos of local life, and his writing is thick with his adventures in this walled city, drawing a vivid portrait of the domestic lives of his Uzbek hosts with great affection and humour, while also casting his eye over the history of trade on the Silk Road. -- TelegraphThe fact the author lived and worked among Khiva's inhabitants for so long distinguishes "A Carpet Ride to Khiva" from many travel books, as we glimpse life in a Central Asian "desert oasis" of silk, carpets and extraordinarily colourful natural dyes. -- FTAn extraordinary tale of adventure and enterprise set in the heart of Central Asia, beautifully told, by a most unusual young man. Hopefully it will inspire others to embark on similar ventures. -- Peter Hopkirk (author of The Great Game)Too many travel writers visit Central Asia in a hurry, bulking out their own misadventures with a slice of the region's colourful history. But the strength of this readable book derives from the author's patience: after seven years in Uzbekistan, Alexander has provided a frank and penetrating portrait of the country, with all its contradictions and absurdities. He writes with clear-eye observation and courage, and never fails to emphasize the ingrained hospitality and random acts of kindness that remind you that, in spite of everything, Central Asia is still an exceptionally alluring place. -- Times Literary Supplement

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Book SynopsisAn idiosyncratic, richly illustrated guide to Britain's rivers, seas and shores, for everyone who loves the water and the natural world - a Norwegian Wood for Britain's watersThis is a book for those who want to understand better how the waters surrounding us affect our daily lives, how it imperceptibly but crucially shapes our actions, and has shaped our landscape for millenia. It's for anyone who knows and loves our coast, and who wants to understand, discover, surf, or sail it better.Inspired by his own witnessing of the power of the sea through travelling around Britain's coastline in a panel van with his young family, William Thomson tells the story of the cycles of the sea. He combines a lyrical, passionate narrative with graphically beautiful renderings of the main forms of water which affect Britain: Rip, Rapids, Swell, Stream, Tide, Wave, Whirlpool, Tsunami.The Book of Tides is a book for all of us who feel the pull of the sea and the tug of the tide.

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Book SynopsisOne summer, Simon Armitage decided to walk the Pennine Way - a challenging 256-mile route usually approached from south to north, with the sun, wind and rain at your back. However, he resolved to tackle it back to front, walking home towards the Yorkshire village where he was born, travelling as a ''modern troubadour'', without a penny in his pockets and singing for his supper with poetry readings in village halls, churches, pubs and living rooms. Walking Home describes his extraordinary, yet ordinary, journey of human endeavour, unexpected kindnesses and terrible blisters.The companion volume, Walking Away, is published in June 2015.

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Book SynopsisA gripping account of an under-reported island' Spectator, Book of the Year '[A] brilliant new book about an island that has a geography from heaven and a history from hell' Daily Telegraph'A brilliant work of travel, history and psychological insight . . . astute and sympathetic . . . very funny' Wall Street Journal Everyone has wanted a piece of paradiseJohn Gimlette - winner of the Dolman Prize and the Shiva Naipaul Prize for Travel Writing - is the kind of traveller you'd want by your side. Whether hacking a centuries-old path through the jungle, interrogating the surviving members of the Tamil Tigers or observing the stranger social mores of Colombo's city life, he brings his own unique insight to the page: a treasure-chest of research and a gift for wry amusement. Through him, Sri Lanka - all at once dazzling, strange, conflicted and beautiful - comes to life as never before.Trade ReviewThe reader in search of a thoughtful adventure is in good hands. Gimlette brings a brisk barrister-like inquisition to proceedings, allied with amiable good humour and a searching interest in the history of peoples and places . . . Intrepid to the last, Gimlette wanders among mountains and jungles, drawing his journey to a close among the wreckage of the civil war . . . Rich in humour, full of insight and humanity, Elephant Complex is a very fine tribute to this enigmatic island nation * Spectator *Brilliant . . . It displays his gift for graphic imagery and his eye for the absurd. But it is, perhaps, his darkest book yet . . . Along with the swimming trunks and the sunblock, I'd pack a copy of Elephant Complex * Telegraph *A gripping account of an under-reported island -- Sara Wheeler * Spectator, Book of the Year *Insightful and interesting . . . holistic observation of humanity as entalged in acryptic webbing of mortality, immortality and matter that Gimlette offers us . . . The great appeal of this book is that we travel alongside him * Ceylon Today *A quest to understand the country, and not a mere description of it. This is what sets the book apart from the legion of Ceylon and Sri Lanka travelogues. . . Sri Lankans themselves will find Gimlette's renditions of places from Colombo to the desolate Wanni inspiring and evocative . . . While many travel writers on Ceylon often tended to trim and twist the country to fit it into their own neat narrative, Gimlette does not hide the incongruities and bafflements he encountered * Sri Lanka Sunday Times *Book of the Year: The 'elephant complex' of the title refers to ancient paths that the creatures have always followed on the island. Gimlette believes he must trace similar historical paths to get under the skin of Sri Lanka. He does so with wit and the occasional scrape with the authorities * The Times *An intrepid journey to the famously reclusive island unearths a paradise amid trauma and obfuscation . . . An effortless, elegant writer, Gimlette chronicles the stories of these truculent, traumatized people . . . An exuberant, eye-opening travel quest * Kirkus *As for Mr. Gimlette, it is hard to think of a more astute and sympathetic companion for a journey around the island and into Sri Lanka's episodic bouts of madness. He is beguiled by the place and its people, for a start. He writes beautifully, all freshness and verve. And he is also very funny * Wall Street Journal *To read Elephant Complex is to get the most accurate and thorough modern history of Sri Lanka - and to read it is to understand what it is that makes it so magical, in spite of its recent ugliness. -- Kristin Fritz * Everyday ebook *He brings the open mind, the erudition and the eye for telling detail . . . no rogue is denied a fair hearing; no hint of the absurd escapes his attention and no metaphor misfires . . . Admirable in its candour . . . Elephant Complex has a sting in its tail -- John Keay * Times Literary Supplement *Travel books by writer, barrister and Londoner John Gimlette win praise for their witty, detailed adventures, drawing on local characters he meets * The Guardian *Witty, detailed adventures, drawing on local characters he meets . . . Gimlette hears from ex-presidents, tea-planters, terrorists and pilgrims, exploring the country from the capital, Colombo, to the ancient reservoirs that attract the island's thousands of wild elephants * Guardian, Best New Travel Books *

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Book SynopsisChristopher Winn's first book was the bestselling I Never Knew That About England.Volumes on Ireland, Scotland, Wales and London followed and he has recently published books on the English, Scottish and Irish, 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 SynopsisIt has been described as the greatest epic voyage in modern Irish history.Tim Severin and his companions built a boat using only techniques and materials available in the sixth-century A.D., when St Brendan was supposed to have sailed to America. The vessel comprised forty-nine ox hides stitched together in a patchwork and stretched over a wooden frame. This leather skin was only a quarter of an inch thick. Yet Severin and his crew sailed Brendan from Brandon Creek in Dingle to Newfoundland, surviving storms and a puncture from pack ice. The Brendan Voyage is Tim Severin's dramatic account of their journey. This new edition of a book already translated into twenty-seven languages introduces a new generation of readers to an enduring classic.Tim Severin didn't prove St Brendan reached America, only that he could have, that it was possible. Brilliantly written, The Brendan Voyage conveys unforgettably the sensation of being in a small, open boat in the vastness of the North Atlantic, visited by inquisitive whales, reaching mist-shrouded landfalls, and receiving a welcome from seafaring folk wherever the crew touched land.

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Book Synopsis***Shortlisted for the 2023 STANFORD TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR******A Financial Times Travel Book of the Year 2022***"Enchanting" Independent"Fatland distinguishes herself from the stereotypes" Guardian "Fatland is a sensitive and insightful chronicler of quotidian lives and a compelling narrator" Observer"Erika Fatland ascends to new heights with her fascinating journey" Wanderlust"An engaging snapshot of the current residents of this high-altitude battleground . . . Fatland is a lovely writer with a sympathetic eye for the absurd" Financial TimesAn ambitious and magnificent new travelogue by internationally bestselling, prizewinning writer Erika Fatland.The Himalayas meander for more than two thousand kilometres through many different countries, from Pakistan to Myanmar via Nepal, India, Tibet and Bhutan, where the world religions of Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism are interspersed with ancient shamanic beliefs. Countless languages and vastly different cultures exist in these isolated mountain valleys. Modernity and tradition collide, while the great powers fight for influence.We have read about climbers and adventurers on their way up Mount Everest, and about travellers on a spiritual quest to remote Buddhist monasteries. Here, however, the focus is on the communities of these Himalayan valleys, those who live and work in this extraordinary region. As Erika Fatland introduces us to the people she meets along her journey, and in particular the women, she takes us on a vivid and dizzying expedition at altitude through incredible landscapes and dramatic, unknown histories. Skilfully weaving together the politics, geography, astrology, theology and ecology of this vast region, she also explores some of the most volatile human conflicts of our times.With her unique gift for listening, and for storytelling, she has become one of the most exciting travel writers of her generation.Translated from the Norwegian by Kari DicksonTrade ReviewEnchanting -- Martin Chilton * Independent (Books of the Month) *Erika Fatland is shaping up to be one of the Nordics' most exciting new travel writers * National Geographic *Fatland is a sensitive and insightful chronicler of quotidian lives and a compelling narrator. -- Hannah Beckerman * Observer *An engaging snapshot of the current residents of this high-altitude battleground . . . Fatland is a lovely writer with a sympathetic eye for the absurd, who draws affectionate pen portraits of the people she meets -- Amy Kazmin * Financial Times *[Fatland] is an acute and sympathetic observer, and her book fills a gap in the literature of the Himalayas . . . In High, women's stories and voices prevail. -- Jonathan Buckley * Times Literary Supplement *Excellent. Fatland's a superb reporter, with an engaging personality and boundless curiosity. The English versions of her books convey her immense vitality and charm. Ideal for armchair travelers, packed with information and entertaining anecdotes. -- Michael Dirda * Washington Post *Norwegian anthropologist Erika Fatland, whose previous books include Sovietistan, distinguishes herself from the stereotypes . . . Writing with aplomb and sensitivity, Fatland observes the sights and sounds of cities, towns and villages; she visits temples and forests and explores the high plateau. Places are carefully contextualised with geopolitical and historical detail and she weaves in geology too, grounding the work in the land itself . . . [a]s traveller and anthropologist, [she] establishes a unique rapport with girls and women leading to precious insights into lives rarely recorded. -- Anna Fleming * Guardian *The true allure of Ms. Fatland's book lies in her ability to reach inside people's homes and talk to women who lead sequestered lives, to penetrate the outer sanctum that separates Muslim women from a world that imperils female honor. As an outgoing 39-year-old woman, Ms. Fatland can have conversations that a man like Colin Thubron, celebrated for his writings on these parts, could scarcely have had. -- Tunku Varadarajan * Wall Street Journal *Erika Fatland has written a masterpiece . . . Along the way Fatland has developed her own distinct approach to travel writing. She now writes better than Robert D Kaplan * Aftenposten *Even the reader gasps for breath * Adressavisen *Fatland's extensive knowledge subtly forms an elegant backdrop for her encounters with the local people * Morgenbladet *Erika Fatland is about to, singlehandedly, completely renew Norwegian travel literature. * VG *Respect. Erika Fatland can travel, she can write. HØYT is a brilliant book. * Politiken *Genre-bursting world-class travel literature. Brilliantly executed deep-dive into the human conditions in some of the world's most important countries. -- Jens A. RiisnæsFatland has risen to new literary and literal heights * Dagbladet *One of travel writings rising stars . . . Erika Fatland ascends to new heights with her fascinating journey among the isolated villages spanning the fractious borders that divide up the Himalaya region * Wanderlust *

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Book Synopsis‘I come from Des Moines. Somebody had to’And, as soon as Bill Bryson was old enough, he left. Des Moines couldn’t hold him, but it did lure him back. After ten years in England, he returned to the land of his youth, and drove almost 14,000 miles in search of a mythical small town called Amalgam, the kind of trim and sunny place where the films of his youth were set. Instead, his search led him to Anywhere, USA; a lookalike strip of gas stations, motels and hamburger outlets populated by lookalike people with a penchant for synthetic fibres. He discovered a continent that was doubly lost; lost to itself because blighted by greed, pollution, mobile homes and television; lost to him because he had become a stranger in his own land.Bryson’s acclaimed first success, The Lost Continent is a classic of travel literature – hilariously, stomach-achingly, funny, yet tinged with heartache – and the book that first staked Bill Bryson’s claim as the most beloved writer of his generation.Trade ReviewHigh-spirited... hilarious * Observer *Hilarious... he can be suave, sarcastic and very funny... not your typical travel writer * Sunday Telegraph *Funny as this wonderful book is, it is also a serious indictment of the American way of life and the direction in which it is going... he is genuinely shocked, as we are, by the statistics of affluence, poverty, crime and culture that he drops in hither and thither * Irish Times *A very funny performance, littered with wonderful lines and memorable images * Literary Review *

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