Category Archives: Travel Guides
The Golden Horde
The quest for a mysterious amulet that had taken Sheila Paine from the Hindu Kush to Bulgaria in “The Afghan Amulet” continues. Starting in the forbidden valley of Palas in Pakistan, she travels through the former territories of the Soviet Union – from Arctic Northern Russia, through the lands of Genghis Khan`s Golden Horde and
Traces in the desert
For five millennia, the peoples and cultures of East and West have met and mingled in Central Asia. For explorers and travellers it is a promised land, a region of white spaces on the map, forgotten cities and archaeological treasures. Christoph Baumer has spent a lifetime travelling through the countries of Central Asia, making extraordinary
Queen Victoria and the Discovery of the French Riviera
Queen Victoria fell in love with the Riviera when she discovered it on her first visit to Menton in 1882 and her enchantment with this `paradise of nature` endured for almost twenty years. Victoria`s visits helped to transform the French Riviera by paving the way for other European royalty, the aristocracy and the very rich,
Connemara
Rarely does a book so accuartely capture and reflect the qualities of a place; in its landscape, history and folklore, Connemara is a singular region: ill-defined geographically, and yet unmistakably a place apart from the rest of Ireland. Tim Robinson, who established himself as Ireland`s most brilliant living non-fiction writer with the two-volume Stones of
The Fatal Voyage
Cook was the greatest explorer of his age and his voyages of discovery are the stuff of legend. During two long journeys, he circumnavigated the globe twice, charted the east coast of Australia, the whole of New Zealand and many islands in the Pacific. “The Fatal Voyage” is the story of Cook`s final journey when
Chrysalis and the Secrets of Metamorphosis
Before Darwin, before Audubon, before Gilbert White, there was Merian. An artist turned naturalist, known for her botanical illustrations, Maria Sybilla Merian was born in Germany just sixteen years after Galileo proclaimed that the earth orbited the sun. But at the age of fifty she sailed from Europe to the New World on a solo
Cochrane in the Pacific
In 1818, the revolutionary government of Chile was poised to attack Peru, the last bastion of Spanish power on the continent. The new ruler, the half-Irish Bernardo O`Higgins, threw his energies into creating a navy. Short of local naval manpower, the Chileans looked to Britain and the United States for the sailors needed to man
Letters Of Transit
A beautifully-crafted and exciting blend of travel, history, political observation and personal experience, “Letters of Transit” is the distillation of the colourful and eventful journeys Matthew Stevenson has made throughout the world for over 20 years. The perfect travelling companion, Stevenson takes the reader with him on a diverse range of fascinating journeys to places
Mysteries of the Gobi
John Hare is a star author and one of the most well-known explorers of his generation. The Gobi is a perennially fascinating part of the world – a desert that people love to read about. China, the environment/natural world, exploration and discovery: broad and topical appeal.The Gobi is the largest, coldest and driest desert in
My Brother`s Road
What do `Abu Sindi`, `Timothy Sean McCormack`, `Saro`, and `Commander Avo` all have in common? They were all aliases for Monte Melkonian. But who was Monte Melkonian? In his native California he was once a kid in cut-off jeans, playing baseball and eating snow cones. Europe denounced him as an international terrorist. His adopted homeland
Three Kings in Baghdad
This is the tragic story of the short-lived Iraqi monarchy. The first king of Iraq, Faisal I, was installed by the British in 1921. Faisal, who had led the Arab Revolt and fought alongside T.E. Lawrence, was a major player in the politics of the Middle East. He was also, most importantly, pro-British and thus
The British Home Front Pocket-Book
In June 1940, following the BEF`s scrambled evacuation from Dunkirk, the Second World War was brought home to Britain. As the Luftwaffe initiated their bombing campaigns and the threat of invasion grew daily, civilians were urged to play their part in the war effort, and take responsibility for their own survival. Many pamphlets and leaflets
Take Slow Road Ireland
Forget hurrying. Forget putting your foot down and racing through sweeping bends. Forget the understeer (whatever that is). Forget the blur of a life lived too fast. This is a look at taking life slowly. It`s about taking the time to enjoy journeys and places for their own sake. It`s about stopping and putting the
Telescope – A Short History
As an instrument of science and navigation the telescope was at the forefront of discovery. Even today it is vital to modern understanding of space and the origins of matter. The story of its development is a fascinating narrative of scientific endeavour, exploration and ingenuity, encompassing the lives of scientists and astronomers such as Galileo,
Mapping the First World War: Battlefields of the Great Conflict from Above
This title features over 120 large-format illustrations present detailed and fascinating wartime cartography. Key battles such as the Somme, Mons, Gallipoli, Jutland and Ypres are given extensive coverage alongside fascinating detail pieces such as airship raids and stations, communication systems, Orders of Battle, railroad routes and battlefield medical stations. The approach also provides a detailed
Harry`s War: A British Tommy`s Experiences in the Trenches in World War One
This touching, brutally honest diary of a First World War soldier contributes to our understanding of what life was like for the British Tommy. Combining frank, unadorned prose with the author`s own evocative paintings, it`s a unique historical document, admirable for its unromantic, matter-of-fact perspective on coping dutifully with horrific conditions. Harry was a member
The Pirates Pocket-Book
It is with great concern that I must still acquaint your Lordships of the daily complaints I receive of piracies and robberies committed in these parts, insomuch that there is hardly one ship or vessel, coming in or going out of this island that is not plundered.` (Sir Nicholas Lawes, Governor of Jamaica, June 1718)
Britain`s Historic Ships: A Complete Guide to the Ships That Shaped the Nation
The British Isles have a long, rich and celebrated seafaring history stretching from the earliest times through the victories of Drake and Nelson, the voyages of discovery of Cabot and Cook and the defence of the realm by vessels of all types in the present century. Much of this history is recorded in literature and
South: The Race to the Pole
Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale Extract from Scotts message to the public, March 1912. The late 1890s saw the start
The Adventurer`s Guide to Britain: 150 incredible experiences on land and water
This exciting, inspiring and informative guide is perfect for anyone who loves a challenge and an adventure. There are soaring ridgelines to run, exciting river descents to swim, secret coves to explore by boat, and achievable interesting scrambles, all in stunning locations. Each of the 150 featured adventures, which are arranged by geographical region, has
