Category Archives: Maps
Seiobo There Below
Winner of the 2015 Man Booker International Prize Beauty, in Laszlo Krasznahorkai`s new novel, reflects, however fleeting, the sacred – even if we are mostly unable to bear it. In Seiobo There Below we see the Japanese goddess Seiobo returning to mortal realms in search of perfection. An ancient Buddha being restored; the Italian renaissance
History`s People: Personalities and the Past
What difference do individuals make to history? Are we all swept up in the great forces like industrialisation or globalisation, or is the world we inhabit shaped just as much by real people – leaders for example – and the decisions that they make? For better or for worse, the personalities of the powerful can
Shifting Sands: The Unravelling of the Old Order in the Middle East
At a time when the Middle East dominates media headlines more than ever – and for reasons that become ever more heartbreaking – Shifting Sands brings together fifteen impassioned and informed voices to talk about a region with unlimited potential, and yet which can feel, as one writer puts it, `as though the world around
The Silent Cry
In Oe`s masterpiece of the human condition and family psychology, estranged brothers Mitsusaburo and Takashi have long since left their family home in a remote forested valley on Shikoku, in the south of Japan: Mitsusaburo for work in Tokyo; his younger brother Takashi for the United States, to atone for his part in anti-American student
India: Superfast, Primetime, Ultimate Nation
India dreams of a glorious future: to be a great power with global influence. And that may soon be within its reach – it has a young, dynamic and increasingly skilled population, a large and fast-growing economy and, as a democracy, its rise is welcomed by the West. But, as Adam Roberts shows here, India
Where the Line is Drawn: Crossing Boundaries in Occupied Palestine
As a young boy, Raja Shehadeh was entranced by a forbidden Israeli postage stamp in his uncle`s album, intrigued by tales of a green land beyond the border.He couldn`t have known then what Israel would come to mean to him, or to foresee the future occupation of his home in Palestine. Later, as a young
Giro d`Italia: The Story of the World`s Most Beautiful Bike Race
The story of the Giro d`Italia – Italy`s equivalent of the Tour de France, and its superior in the eyes of many – is as dramatic and full of extraordinary characters as the story of Italy itself. Heroism, suffering, feuds and betrayals, tradition under threat from modernity all play out against a timeless landscape. The
The Medal Factory
43 Olympic medals. 6 Tour de France victories. Countless world records and world championship victories. Since the year 2000, British Cycling, Team Sky and INEOS have dominated the sport of cycling to an unprecedented degree. But at what cost? Did Sir David Brailsford, Peter Keen and the other brains behind British Cycling`s massive and sudden
The New Emperors: Power and the Princelings in China
China has become the powerhouse of the world economy and home to 1 in 5 of the world`s population, yet we know almost nothing of the people who lead it. How does one become the leader of the world`s newest superpower? And who holds the real power in the Chinese system? In The New Emperors,
The Complete Book of the Tour De France
The Tour de France is the gretest public sporting spectacle on earth. For 100 editions – every year since 1903, except during the Great Wars – competitors have battled over thousands of miles of French countryside in pursuit of the coveted yellow jersey. The Complete Book of the Tour de France brings together every statistical
The Axe Factor
On the gulf of Thailand, the Juree family are managing their run-down beach resort for the second year – still stalked by disaster. Daughter Jimm has a new love in her life, but finds herself pursued by another man with a markedly different agenda in mind. Meanwhile, Jimm`s new case is that of Dr. Somluk,
Alpe D`huez: The Story of Pro Cycling`s Greatest Climb
It has been called the Tour de France`s `Hollywood climb`, and there is no doubt that Alpe d`Huez has played a starring role in cycling`s history since its first encounter with the sport back in 1952 when the legendary Fausto Coppi triumphed on the summit. Re-introduced to the Tour in 1976, Alpe d`Huez has risen
Wolf by Wolf
Over ten years since the Nazis won the war, 17-year-old Yael has one mission: to kill Hitler. But first she`s got to get close enough to him to do it. Wolf by Wolf is a captivating YA alternative history thriller, selected as the BBC Radio 2 Book Club title for 4th January 2016 and perfect
The Architectural Heritage of Sri Lanka
Architect C. Anjalendran, aided by an army of assistants and students, has been recording Sri Lanka`s architectural heritage for almost 30 years. The result is a collection of exquisite measured drawings, all made with ink and pencil on tracing paper documenting many interesting and often neglected buildings in Sri Lanka. This book features these, along
Dreaming in Chinese
WHY DON`T THE CHINESE SAY “I LOVE YOU”? HOW DO THEY GET BY WITHOUT MAPS? CAN IT EVER BE RUDE TO BE POLITE? In this intelligent, sympathetic book, Deborah Fallows opens up a window onto Chinese life through its notoriously difficult language. She shows how even small advancements, such as mastering a single word or
Kakebo – The Japanese Art of Saving Money
Are you really aware of what you spend? Do you know how to value things beyond their price? For the answer to these questions and more, look no further than Kakebo – the budgeting journal used by millions every day in Japan to manage their household spending. The Japanese believe that tidiness in one`s finances
Japan: A Short History
What is a shogun? Who were the samurai and what is the warrior code? What lies behind the Japanese work ethic? From the ancient tea ceremony to the boom and subsequent downturn of its economic prosperity, this uniquely concise introduction to Japan and its history surveys nearly 10,000 years of society, culture, economics and politics.
The Ghosts of K2: The Race for the Summit of the World`s Most Deadly Mountain
K2 is almost 800ft shorter than Everest, yet it`s a far harder climb. Many great mountaineers became obsessed with reaching its summit, not all of them lived to tell of their adventures. Capturing the depth of their obsession, the heart-stopping tension of the climb and delving into the controversy that still surrounds the first ascent,
Iraq: A History
In this insightful analysis, highly-respected expert John Robertson canvases the entirety of Iraq`s rich history, from the seminal advances of its Neolithic inhabitants to the aftermath of the American-led invasion and Iraq today. Grounded in extensive research, this balanced account of a country and its people explores the greatness and grandeur of Iraq`s achievements, the
The History of Central Asia: Volume 1: The Age of the Steppe Warriors
The epic plains and arid deserts of Central Asia have witnessed some of the greatest migrations, as well as many of the most transformative developments, in the history of civilization. Christoph Baumer`s ambitious four-volume treatment of the region charts the 3000-year drama of Scythians and Sarmatians; Soviets and transcontinental Silk Roads; trade routes and the
