Category Archives: Travel Guides
The Spanish Armada
After the accession of Elizabeth I in 1558, Protestant England was beset by the hostile Catholic powers of Europe – not least Spain. In October 1585 King Philip II of Spain declared his intention to destroy Protestant England and began preparing invasion plans, leading to an intense intelligence war between the two countries, culminating in
Red Nile: The Biography of the World`s Greatest River
So much begins on the banks of the Nile: all religion, all life, all stories, the script we write in, the language we speak, the gods, the legends and the names of stars. This mighty river that flows through a quarter of all Africa has been history`s most sustained creator. In this dazzling, idiosyncratic journey
Merchant Adventurers: The Voyage of Discovery That Transformed Tudor England
In the spring of 1553 three ships sailed north-east from London into uncharted waters. The scale of their ambition was breathtaking. Drawing on the latest navigational science and the new spirit of enterprise and discovery sweeping the Tudor capital, they sought a northern passage to Asia and its riches. The success of the expedition depended
I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
In 2009 Malala Yousafzai began writing a blog on BBC Urdu about life in the Swat Valley as the Taliban gained control, at times banning girls from attending school. When her identity was discovered, Malala began to appear in both Pakistani and international media, advocating the freedom to pursue education for all. In October 2011,
Where`d You Go, Bernadette?
Bernadette Fox is notorious. To Elgie Branch, a Microsoft wunderkind, she`s his hilarious, volatile, talented, troubled wife. To fellow mothers at the school gate, she`s a menace. To design experts, she`s a revolutionary architect. And to 15-year-old Bee, she is a best friend and, quite simply, mum. Then Bernadette disappears. And Bee must take a
I Chose To Climb
`I Chose to Climb`, first published in 1966, was Chris Bonington`s first book. He was recognised then, as now, as one of the outstanding members of a brilliant generation of mountaineers, which included such personalities as Hamish MacInnes, Don Whillans and Ian Clough. Here he describes his climbing beginnings as a teenager as well as
Soho: A Street Guide to Soho`s History, Architecture and People
Soho – illicit, glamorous, sordid, louche, poverty-stricken, squalid, exhilarating. One of Britain`s best-loved historians, Dan Cruickshank, grants us an intimacy with centuries of rich and varied history as he guides us around the Soho of the last five hundred years. We learn of its original aspirations towards respectability, how it became London`s bohemian quarter and
The Prisoner of Heaven
The third book in Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s Shadow of the Wind trilogy, The Prisoner of Heaven returns to the world of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books and the Sempere & Sons bookshop. The novel opens just before Christmas in Barcelona in 1957, one year after Daniel and Bea from the first novel in the cycle,
Your 12-Week Guide To Cycling
Your 12-week Guide to Cycling offers an achievable step-by-step guide to help get an unfit person to a definable goal – a 25 km race in 12 weeks. The book outlines how to get started, what`s needed and how to take that first step. Then using the week-by-week guide the reader works towards the target
United States of America
This informative map, with stunning shaded relief, has been specifically designed as a guide to the United States of America, both physical and political. Includes a handy flag panel, an index of states and their capitals, and interesting facts.
London: Dawn To Dusk
From St Paul`s Cathedral at twilight to Canary Wharf in the morning sun, from London Bridge at rush hour to Regent`s Park at first light, this book`s lively text and specially-commissioned photography captures London`s sights and people throughout the day. David Paterson`s magnificent photography presents a fresh perspective on well-known London landmarks and distinctive neighbourhoods.
Uncovering Jack the Ripper`s London
The crimes of Jack the Ripper have gone down in history as some of the most brutal and violent ever committed. These horrendous acts of serial murder confounded the police at the time, and the mystery of the Ripper`s identity remains unsolved to this day. In addition to the sense of fear and panic the
Top steam journeys of the world
Less than 50 years ago, trains were routinely hauled by majestic steam-powered locomotives. These magnificent machines still exercise a powerful hold on our imagination, conjuring up the romance of old-fashioned rail travel and the excitement of human ingenuity pitted against the challenges of narrow passes, tight bends and fearsome gradients. Although the heyday of steam
Top Railway Journeys of the World
26 great railway journeys described and illustrated by lovely colour photos of the views, the trains and whatever else makes them so special. Top Railway Journeys of the World presents and imaginative selection of routes, from a 20-mile line in southern France in a train which takes two-and-a-half hours to cover it to those ultimate
Elizabeth: Renaissance Prince
A definitive portrait of one of the most compelling monarchs England has ever had: Elizabeth I. `We are a prince from a line of princes.` Lisa Hilton`s majestic biography of Elizabeth I, `The Virgin Queen`, uses new research to present a fresh interpretation of Elizabeth as a queen who saw herself primarily as a Renaissance
Insight Guides Phrasebook Dutch
Insight Guides Dutch Phrasebook and Dictionary: all the words and phrases you need to feel at home, when away. Includes free app.Compact, clear, and packed with key words and phrases, this pocket-sized Dutch phrasebook and dictionary (with free app) is a trusty travel companion. It`s all you need to make yourself understood – and to
Jubilee
It`s 1977, the day of the Queen`s Silver Jubilee, when a photographer captures a moment forever: a festive street party with bunting and Union Jacks fluttering in the breeze and, right in the centre of the frame, a small Asian boy staring intensely at the camera. The photo becomes infamous when it is adopted as
Insight Guides Phrasebook Greek
Insight Guides Greek Phrasebook and Dictionary: all the words and phrases you need to feel at home, when away. Includes free app.Compact, clear, and packed with key words and phrases, this pocket-sized Greek phrasebook and dictionary (with free app) is a trusty travel companion. It`s all you need to make yourself understood – and to
The Translation Of The Bones
In a church in Battersea, Mary-Margaret O`Reilly sees blood on her hands and believes she has witnessed a miracle. The consequences are both profound and devastating – not just for her but for others, too: Father Diamond, the parish priest, struggling with his own faith. Stella, adrift in her marriage and aching for her ten-year
Insight Guide Turkish Phrasebook and Dictionary
Insight Guides Turkish Phrasebook and Dictionary: all the words and phrases you need to feel at home, when away. Includes free app.Compact, clear, and packed with key words and phrases, this pocket-sized Turkish phrasebook and dictionary (with free app) is a trusty travel companion. It`s all you need to make yourself understood – and to
