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Walking the Bones of Britain: A 3 Billion Year Journey from the Outer Hebrides to the Thames Estuary
by Christopher Somerville'[Somerville's] infectious enthusiasm and wry humour infuse his journey from the Isle of Lewis to southern England, revealing our rich geological history with vibrant local and natural history.' - Observer'An illuminating take on the British landscape ... a remarkable achievement. ' - Tom Chesshyre'A meticulous exploration of the ground beneath our feet. Glorious.' Katherine Norbury'Somerville is a walker's writer.' Nicholas Crane'His writing is utterly enticing.' Country Walking...........................................................................................................................................................................................................Travelling a thousand miles and across three billion years, Christopher Somerville (walking correspondent of The Times and author of Coast, The January Man and Ships of Heaven) sets out to interrogate the land beneath our feet, and how it has affected every aspect of human history from farming to house construction, the Industrial Revolution to the current climate crisis.In his thousand-mile journey, Somerville follows the story of Britain's unique geology, travelling from the three billion year old rocks of the Isle of Lewis, formed when the world was still molten, down the map south eastwards across bogs, over peaks and past quarry pits to the furthest corner of Essex where new land is being formed by nature and man.Demystifying the sometimes daunting technicalities of geology with humour and a characteristic lightness of touch, Somerville's book tells a story of humanity's reckless exploitation and a lemming-like surge towards self-annihilation but also shows seeds of hope as we learn how we might work with geology to avert a climate catastrophe.It cannot fail to change the way you see the world beyond your door.
Seven Years in Tibet: My Life Before, During And After (Paladin Bks.)
by Heinrich HarrerA landmark in travel writing, this is the incredible true story of Heinrich Harrer’s escape across the Himalayas to Tibet, set against the backdrop of the Second World War.
Just Add Water: Over 100 ways to recharge and relax on the UK's rivers, lakes and canals
by Sarah HenshawAn inspiring guide to activities and adventures to re-energise and boost your mood, by our rivers, lakes and canals. While Britain's rivers, lakes and canals have long been co-opted by fitness enthusiasts for the physical benefits they can bring, it's only relatively recently that we've given much thought to their impact on our mental state too. 'Blue health' – the idea that having access to an area of water can benefit a person's whole wellbeing – is gaining traction. These waterside places are fundamental to the kind of stuff people now realise they need in their lives – exercise, solace, natural beauty and new places to socialise – with so many of them on our doorstep. Just Add Water is your guide to the many mood-boosting and wellbeing activities, adventures and escapes that our inland waterways have to offer. Nearly 200 destinations are featured, organised into 15 core activities, covering the length and breadth of the UK, making this the ideal companion for anyone planning a day trip or boating holiday. Expert journalist Sarah Henshaw explains how the activities can re-energise, inspire and relax, weaving their wellbeing benefits with practical information to help you get the most out of each experience. Accompanied by stunning images, the handbook includes everything from mudlarking to wild swimming, fishing to foraging towpath hedgerows, paddleboarding to learning how to paint canal folk art. There are also inspirational first-hand accounts of the many ways our waterways have made a difference to people's day-to-day lives – including a high-flying exec who finds commuting by water a great way to manage stress.This guide showcases the multiple ways to be on, in, under or next to water, and how it can enhance the whole spectrum of lived experience.
Moon Prague, Vienna & Budapest (Travel Guide)
by Jennifer D. Walker Auburn ScallonWhether you're sipping Czech beer with locals or exploring hilltop castles, get to know these fairytale cities with Moon Prague, Vienna & Budapest. Inside you'll find:Flexible itineraries for 1 to 5 days in Prague, Vienna, and Budapest that can be combined into a longer tripStrategic advice for foodies, art lovers, history buffs, and moreMust-see highlights and unique experiences: Enjoy classical music in Vienna, wander through labyrinthine Habsburg palaces, or soak in Budapest's thermal Széchenyi baths. Hike through the Vienna Woods or bike through the Wachau Valley, where ruined castles, vineyards, and rolling hills line the banks of the Danube. Admire the works of Klimt and Schiele in Vienna's glamorous galleries, take in the festive atmosphere at Prague's Christmas markets, and walk across the romantic Charles Bridge as the sun sets over the Vltava The best local flavors: Sip a Melange in a cozy booth of a classic Viennese coffeehouse, sample local wine at a Hungarian vineyard, and kick back with a pint of pilsner at one of Prague's beer gardens Ideas for side trips from each city, including Liberec, Danube Bend, Lake Balaton, and the Kutná Hore Bone ChurchHonest insight from Budapest local Jennifer Walker and Prague local Auburn ScallonFull-color photos and detailed maps throughoutBackground information on the landscape, history, and cultural customs of each cityHandy tools such as visa information, Hungarian, German, and Czech phrasebooks, and tips for traveling with children or as a seniorExperience the best of these three cities at your own pace with Moon Prague, Vienna & Budapest.Exploring more of Europe's top spots? Check out Moon Rome, Florence & Venice or Moon Barcelona & Madrid.
The 50 States of America: The people, the places, the history
by Tim Glynne-JonesThe 50 States plus Washington DC that make up the USA all play their own unique part in the history and character of the nation. This book is an educational guide that teaches young readers about America's rich and varied history, geography and culture, and the people and places that stand out.
Explorers: Journeys to the Ends of the Earth
by Jon BalchinFascinated by what lies beyond the boundaries of human experience, men and women have throughout history been irresisibly drawn to venture into the unknown. Explorers charts the astonishing feats of history's most intrepid pathfinders. From the early voyages of the Ancient Greek mariner Colaeus, who first discovered that beyond the Mediterranean lay a far greater ocean, to the compelling tale of the race for the poles. this book encompasses the discovery and exploration of the great continents and oceans of the world. Whether motivated by the prospect of conquest, the spirit of scientific inquiry, nationalism, fanaticism, or just plain curiosity, the explorers in this book dared to seek out the most remote and inhospitable places on Earth and in so doing changed forever our perception of the planet.
A Selection of European Folk Dances: Volume 1
by Sam StuartA Selection of European Folk Dances, Volume 1 is a selection of folk dances from various European countries outside the British Isles, complete with dance sequence and music. These folk dances include Die Woaf from Austria; Jooksu Polka from Estonia; Kleiner Schottisch from Germany; Hakke Toone from Holland; Tarantella from Italy; Fyrtur from Norway; Wrona Gapa from Poland; Karapyet from Russia; Fyrmannadans from Sweden; and Meitschi Putz-di from Switzerland. This volume is comprised of 12 chapters and begins with a discussion on holds, which are of three types: peasant hold, open peasant hold, and ballroom hold. The next chapter explains the basic dance steps, from balance and chassé to hambo, Mazurka step, polka step, and waltz step. Subsequent chapters focus on European folk dances such as Die Woaf from Austria; Jooksu Polka from Estonia; Kleiner Schottisch from Germany; Hakke Toone from Holland; Tarantella from Italy; Fyrtur from Norway; Wrona Gapa from Poland; Karapyet from Russia; Fyrmannadans from Sweden; and Meitschi Putz-di from Switzerland. This book will be of particular value to dancers and folklorists.
I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew
by Dr. SeussAs our hero struggles to reach the city of Solla Sollew, where they never have troubles, at least very few, we realise that it’s better to face up to life’s problems than to try to run away from them!
A Time to Keep Silence
by Patrick Leigh FermorFrom the French Abbey of St Wandrille to the abandoned and awesome Rock Monasteries of Cappadocia in Turkey, the celebrated travel writer Patrick Leigh Fermor studies the rigorous contemplative lives of the monks and the timeless beauty of their monastic surroundings. In his occasional retreats, the peaceful solitude and the calm enchantment of the monasteries was passed on as a kind of 'supernatural windfall' which A Time to Keep Silence so effortlessly records.
Emily Dickinson's Gardening Life: The Plants and Places That Inspired the Iconic Poet
by Marta McDowellFrom New York Times bestselling author Marta McDowell, an illustrated exploration of how gardening and plants inspired Emily Dickinson, one of the most beloved poets of all time.
Imagine a City: A Pilot Sees the World
by Mark Vanhoenacker'A journey around both the author's mind and the planet's great cities that leaves us energised, open to new experiences and ready to return more hopefully to our lives' ALAIN DE BOTTON'Enriching... Luminous... A touching survey of human dreams and endeavours' PATRICK GALE___________________A love letter to the cities of the world, from the bestselling pilot-author of Skyfaring.Growing up in his small hometown, Mark Vanhoenacker spun the illuminated globe in his bedroom and dreamt of elsewhere - of distant, real cities, and a perfect metropolis that existed only in his imagination. These places were sources of endless fascination and escape: streets unspooled, towers shone, and anonymous crowds bustled in cities where Mark could be anyone - perhaps even himself.Now, as a commercial airline pilot, Mark has spent nearly two decades crossing the skies of our planet, touching down in the cities he imagined as a child. He experiences these metropolises in short layover visits that repeat month after month and year after year, giving him a unique perspective on the places that form our urban world.Interweaving travelogue with memoir, Mark celebrates the cities he has come to know and love through the lens of the hometown his heart has never left. Exploring the emblematic facets of each city's identity - the sweeping roads of Los Angeles, the old gates of Jeddah, the intricate, dream-inspired plan of Brasília - he shows us with warmth and fresh eyes the extraordinary places that billions of us call home.'I absolutely love the way Mark Vanhoenacker writes about the world; he gives you a whole new way of seeing' JENNY COLGAN'Will transport you around the globe and back again without leaving your seat' MARK OVENDEN, author of Airline Maps and London Underground by Design
Mani: Travels In Southern Peloponnese (John Murray Travel Classics Ser.)
by Patrick Leigh FermorThis 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.
Mountolive: The Alexandria Quartet (volume Three) (Perennial Bestsellers Ser. #3)
by Lawrence DurrellLose yourself in the thrilling political intrigue and tangled love affairs of wartime Egypt in Durrell's epic modern classic'A master at creating and handling tension ... I was fascinated from the start.' Wilbur SmithDavid Mountolive, a young English diplomat, has been obsessed with Egypt ever since a youthful love affair. Returning to Alexandria as British Ambassador just before World War Two, he unravels an intricate political and religious conspiracy - one that connects a web of wildly different characters, including an exiled schoolteacher and glamorous Egyptian couple. Mountolive gradually exposes the sinister underbelly of these tangled relationships, their deceptions and betrayals mirroring the explosive turmoil of the modern Middle East - and the result is Durrell's most cinematic masterpiece. 'Astonishing ... A work of splendid craft and troubling veracity.' New York Times Book Review'A masterpiece ... Don't be fooled by the richness of the prose, the depth of the passions ... Wicked and funny.' Guardian'Dazzlingly exuberant in style and vision, reckless in ambition, wonderfully prolific in invention ... Superb.' ObserverVOLUME THREE OF LAWRENCE DURRELL'S ALEXANDRIA QUARTET
The Yemen: A Secret Journey
by Hans HelfritzWhen this book was first published in 1958, Arabia was even then one of the least known corners of the globe. The foreigner was strictly forbidden from entering, except those with the Imam’s personal consent, and then under close supervision. Foreigners were only allowed as far as the capital, and what lay beyond was practically unexplored. To Hans Helfritz the only hope of seeing the forbidden area was to make a secret journey, approaching it in disguise by the back door. He decided to reach the borders of the Yemen by a wide detour through the interior, crossing a desert previously considered impassable and still recorded on the maps as a blank. Beginning on the coast at the eastern extremity of the Gulf of Aden, he made his way through the Hadhramaut, the Rub’ al Khali and the Yemen to the Red Sea, the first crossing ever of the south-western part of the peninsula. From this journey he brought back a fascinating record of adventure and exploration, together with many wonderful pictures of cities never before photographed.
The Yemen: A Secret Journey
by Hans HelfritzWhen this book was first published in 1958, Arabia was even then one of the least known corners of the globe. The foreigner was strictly forbidden from entering, except those with the Imam’s personal consent, and then under close supervision. Foreigners were only allowed as far as the capital, and what lay beyond was practically unexplored. To Hans Helfritz the only hope of seeing the forbidden area was to make a secret journey, approaching it in disguise by the back door. He decided to reach the borders of the Yemen by a wide detour through the interior, crossing a desert previously considered impassable and still recorded on the maps as a blank. Beginning on the coast at the eastern extremity of the Gulf of Aden, he made his way through the Hadhramaut, the Rub’ al Khali and the Yemen to the Red Sea, the first crossing ever of the south-western part of the peninsula. From this journey he brought back a fascinating record of adventure and exploration, together with many wonderful pictures of cities never before photographed.
Impossible Country: A Journey Through The Last Days Of Yugoslavia
by Brian Hall'Here is art which conceals art, and intellect which conceals intellect, so that by the end of the book one feels that one understands something one had not understood before. Mr Hall is witty and amusing, but not snide; he has a lightness of touch which allows him to write of extremely serious matters without solemnity; he knows how to convey a great deal in a few words' Sunday Telegraph'He is an observant and witty writer...you believe implicitly that he has met the people he writes about, and that they said what he quotes them as saying' Sunday Times
A Selection of European Folk Dances: Volume 2
by Sam StuartA Selection of European Folk Dances, Volume 2 is a selection of folk dances from various European countries outside the British Isles, complete with dance sequence and music. These folk dances include Boarischer and Kreuzpolka from Austria; Kolomeyka from Carpathia; Schottische from Denmark; Viru Vals from Estonia; Bourrée Poursuite from France; Der Gamboliner Holzschuhtanz from Germany; Kokotek and Laura from Poland; Tarantella from Sicily; Fyrmanna Schottische from Sweden; and Hopak from Ukraine. This volume is comprised of 12 chapters and begins with a discussion on holds, which are of four types: peasant hold, open peasant hold, ballroom hold, and promenade hold. The next chapter explains the basic dance steps, from balance and chassé to step hop and waltz step. Subsequent chapters focus on European folk dances such as Boarischer and Kreuzpolka from Austria; Kolomeyka from Carpathia; Schottische from Denmark; Viru Vals from Estonia; Bourrée Poursuite from France; Der Gamboliner Holzschuhtanz from Germany; Kokotek and Laura from Poland; Tarantella from Sicily; Fyrmanna Schottische from Sweden; and Hopak from Ukraine. This book will be of particular value to dancers and folklorists.
Smelling the Breezes: A Journey through the High Lebanon in 1957
by Molly Izzard Ralph IzzardSmelling the Breezes is an inspiring family adventure, a three-hundred-mile walk down the spine of the Lebanon with four children, two donkeys and Elias, the family’s gardener, nursemaid and friend. The journey took them over towering passes, through immense gorges and into the lives of mountain villages and highland herdsmen. The presence of four small but redoubtable blonde children proved a passport at every door, whatever the politics, religion or ethnicity of the household. Smelling the Breezes is a magnificent portrait of Lebanon in all its rich complexity and easy charm: broken castles, hashish smugglers, clan feuds, festivals, forgotten temples, secretive headquarters and hospitable sheikhs.
Tartans & Highland Dress (Collins Scottish Archive)
by CollinsA small format gift book which is a reproduction of the popular Collins book ‘Tartans & Highland Dress’ published in 1961. This is a detailed guide to how to correctly wear the Scottish national dress along with profiles of the main tartans.
Antarctica: A History in 100 Objects
by Jean Pomereu Daniella McCaheyThis stunning and powerfully relevant book tells the history of Antarctica through 100 varied and fascinating objects drawn from collections around the world.Retracing the history of Antarctica through 100 varied and fascinating objects drawn from collections across the world, this beautiful and absorbing book is published to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the first crossing into the Antarctic Circle by James Cook aboard Resolution, on 17th January 1773. It presents a gloriously visual history of Antarctica, from Terra Incognita to the legendary expeditions of Shackleton and Scott, to the frontline of climate change. One of the wildest and most beautiful places on the planet, Antarctica has no indigenous population or proprietor. Its awe-inspiring landscapes – unknown until just two centuries ago – have been the backdrop to feats of human endurance and tragedy, scientific discovery, and environmental research. Sourced from polar institutions and collections around the world, the objects that tell the story of this remarkable continent range from the iconic to the exotic, from the refreshingly mundane to the indispensable: - snow goggles adopted from Inuit technology by Amundsen - the lifeboat used by Shackleton and his crew- a bust of Lenin installed by the 3rd Soviet Antarctic Expedition- the Polar Star aircraft used in the first trans-Antarctic flight- a sealing club made from the penis bone of an elephant seal- the frozen beard as a symbol of Antarctic heroism and masculinity- ice cores containing up to 800,000 years of climate history This stunning book is both endlessly fascinating and a powerful demonstration of the extent to which Antarctic history is human history, and human future too.
Memoirs of a Bengal Civilian: Lively Narrative Of A Victorian District Officer (Eland Travel Classics Ser.)
by John BeamesNo one could have invented John Beames, whose vibrant and original memoirs were discovered by chance in an attic almost a century after they were penned. He arrived in Indian in 1858, and worked there as a civil servant for the next forty-five years, defending powerless peasants against rapacious planters, improvising fifteen-gun salutes for visiting dignitaries and presiding over the blissful coast of Orissa. His acquaintances spanned from lofty Rajas to dissolute Englishmen. Vivid, candid and without fear of authority, Beames was a defiant individual in a huge bureaucracy. He writes with the richness of Dickens.
Africa Dances: A Journey through West Africa in 1934
by Geoffrey GorerIn Africa Dances Gorer takes the reader on an odyssey across West Africa. He has unique access, travelling as the friend of Féral Benga, one of the great black dance stars of 1930’s Paris. It is a devastating critique of colonial rule, which is shown to be destroying African society while Christian missionaries undermine indigenous morality. Africa Dances captures the rich physical and psychological detail of African village life – from food and architecture to dance and magic. Gorer witnesses witch doctors conjuring thunderstorms out of clear blue skies and chameleon fetishists whose skin changes from a dirty white to almost black. This is a place where if you believe, you can.
A Cat in the Window: Tales from a Cornish Flower Farm (Minack Chronicles #7)
by Derek TangyeThe second title in the Minack Chronicles, this tells in more detail the story of Derek and Jeannie's beloved ginger cat Monty. From the first moment Derek, who was not until then a cat-lover, met a tiny bundle of fur with Jeannie, through to the pet's old age when he would still walk down to the stream to make 'Monty's Leap', this is a touching story of friendship between two people and their cat.
The Middle Passage: Impressions of Five Colonial Societies
by V. NaipaulV. S. Naipaul’s first travel book, The Middle Passage, takes us on a rich and emotional journey to a place of the greatest interest – his birthplace.In 1960, Dr Eric Williams, the first Prime Minister of independent Trinidad, invited V. S. Naipaul to revisit his native country and record his impressions. In this classic of modern travel writing he created a deft and remarkably prescient portrait of Trinidad and the Caribbean societies of four adjacent countries, Guyana, Surinam, Martinique and Jamaica. Haunted by the legacies of slavery and colonialism, and so thoroughly defined by the norms of Empire that it can scarcely comprehend its end, Naipaul catches this poor, topsy-turvy world at a critical moment, a time when racial and political assertion had yet to catch up – a perfect subject for the acute understanding and dazzling prose of this great writer. ‘Naipaul travels with the artist’s eye and ear and his observations are sharply discerning.’ Evelyn Waugh ‘Belongs in the same category of travel writing as Lawrence’s books on Italy, Greene’s on West Africa and Pritchett’s on Spain’ New Statesman
Moon Greek Islands & Athens: Island Escapes with Timeless Villages, Scenic Hikes, and Local Flavors (Travel Guide)
by Moon Travel Guides Sarah SouliSoak up the sun, dance till dawn, hike through wild forests, or explore Greek history: Escape to the Mediterranean with Moon Greek Islands & Athens. Choose the right islands for you, with strategic itineraries for different timelines, budgets, and activities, whether you want to lounge on the best beaches, linger in ancient villages, explore the outdoors, or island-hop for a little taste of everythingFocused coverage of Athens and 18 Greek islands, including Santorini, Mykonos, Karpathos, Corfu, Lefkada, and moreUnique experiences and must-see highlights: Marvel at Oia's picturesque blue and white architecture or take a boat to the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. Soak in therapeutic hot springs, hike through lush forests to waterfalls in Samothrace, or hop aboard a boat and discover hidden coves and wild beaches. Learn about local folklore in Olympos, explore Athens' contemporary galleries and ancient ruins, and savor authentic Greek cuisine, from roasted lamb and olives to dakos and fiery shots of ouzo Insight from Athens local Sarah Souli on how to experience Greece like an insider, support local businesses, and avoid over-tourismFull-color photos and detailed maps throughoutBackground information on the landscape, history, and cultural customs of Greece and each individual islandHandy tools and practical necessities like advice on getting there and getting around, and tips for solo women travelers, seniors, visitors with disabilities, LGBTQ+ travelers, and families with kidsIn-depth coverage of: Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Folegandros, Milos, Naxos, Anafi, Karpathos, Rhodes, Kalymnos, Samothrace, Ikaria, Lesvos, Alonnisos, Skyros, Corfu, Zakynthos, Lefkada, and CreteWith Moon's practical tips and local know-how, you can experience the best of Athens and the Greek islands.Exploring more of Europe? Check out Moon Rome, Florence & Venice, Moon Prague, Vienna, & Budapest, or Moon French Riviera.