Category Archives: Travel Guides
Touche
A brilliant and vigorous observer of both French and British societies, which she knows intimately, 32-year-old Agnes Catherine Poirier has spent the last ten years explaining the peculiarities of France to the British and of Britain to the French. Not an easy job. Having studied both in Paris and London, writing in both languages for
1939: The Last Season
The Season of 1939 brought all those `in Society` to London. The young debutante daughters of the upper classes were presented to the King and Queen to mark their acceptance into the new adult world of their parents. They sparkled their way through a succession of balls and parties and sporting events. The Season brought
AA Gill Is Away
A. A. Gill is probably the most read columnist in Britain. Every weekend he entertains readers of the SUNDAY TIMES with his biting observations on television and his unsparing, deeply knowledgeable restaurant reviews. Even those who want to hate him agree: A. A. Gill is hopelessly, painfully funny. He is one of a tiny band
Batavia`s Graveyard
When the Dutch East Indiaman Batavia struck an uncharted reef off the new continent of Australia on her maiden voyage in 1629, 332 men, women and children were on board. While some headed off in a lifeboat to seek help, 250 of the survivors ended up on a tiny coral island less than half a
Sahara
Winner of the 2017 Edward Stanford Travel Writing Award`s Outstanding Contribution to Travel WritingOf all Michael Palin’s epic voyages around the world, his Sahara trip was perhaps the most challenging. Shrugging aside the perils of camel stew and being run over by the Paris-Dakar rally, Palin discovers that, far from being an empty wasteland, the
In The Name Of Rome
The Roman army was one of the most effective fighting forces in history. The legions and their commanders carved out an empire which eventually included the greater part of the known world. This was thanks largely to the generals who led the Roman army to victory after victory, and whose strategic and tactical decisions shaped
Angry White Pyjamas: An Oxford Poet Trains with the Tokyo Riot Police
Adrift in Tokyo, teaching giggling Japanese highschool girls how to pronounce Tennyson correctly, Robert Twigger came to a revelation about himself: he`d never been fit. In a bid to escape the cockroach infestation and sweaty squalor of a cramped apartment in Fuji Heights, Twigger sets out to cleanse his body and his mind. Not knowing
The Multiple Identities of the Middle East
Most of the modern states of the Middle East are of recent origin, yet the region is the birthplace of three religions and many civilizations. Bernard Lewis, one of the world`s most respected historians of the Middle East, discusses the countries and frontiers; their religions and communities; language and loyalties to place, and Middle Eastern
Endurance: Shackleton`s Incredible Voyage to the Antarctic
“One of the most remarkable tales of human courage and determination. The story is gripping and the book is a classic of its kind” Sir Ranulph Fiennes `Endurance` is the story of one of the most astonishing feats of exploration and human courage ever recorded. In 1914 Sir Ernest Shackleton and a crew of 27
Finding My Virginity: The New Autobiography
After creating 12 different billion-dollar businesses and breaking dozens of world records, wouldn`t you think you`d done it all?Not Sir Richard Branson. Having brought the Virgin brand to all corners of the globe, he`s now reaching out to the stars as he prepares to launch commercial space travel with Virgin Galactic.In this non-stop memoir, Richard
The Templars: The Dramatic History of the Knights Templar, the Most Powerful Military Order of the Crusades
Sifting myth from history, Piers Paul Read reveals the Templars ` the multinational force of warrior monks, in their white tunics with red crosses over chainmail. They were not only unique among Christian institutions but constituted the first uniformed standing army in the western world and became pioneers of international banking. Expropriated by Philip IV
Scone with the Wind: Cakes and Bakes with a Literary Twist
Bake your way through the classics from Jane Eclair to Tart of Darkness, Banana Karenina and On the Rocky Road, Flapjack and the Beanstalk, Nineteen-eighty Petit Fours and many more! The most novel way to get to grips with the classics, Scone with the Wind features 75 delicious literary inspired recipes. Arranged by genre, enjoy
Viceroy`s Daughters
Irene (born 1896), Cynthia (b.1898) and Alexandria (b.1904) were the three daughters of Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India 1898-1905 and probably the grandest and most self-confident imperial servant Britain ever possessed. After the death of his fabulously rich American wife in 1906, Curzon`s determination to control every aspect of his daughters` lives, including the money
Guy Martin: When You Dead, You Dead: My Adventures as a Road Racing Truck Fitter
`The maddest 12 months of my life. The journey starts with an oddball race up an American mountain and ends with me checking myself out of hospital with a broken back. Again…` As Guy Martin`s grandfather Voldemars frequently reminded him,`When you dead, you dead.` So, before it`s all over, Guy Martin is making the most
The Hard Years
Joe Brown is one of the greatest names in British climbing. This book not only describes his many notable climbs, but reflects a most engaging personality with a highly interesting approach to his craft. He was born in a Manchester slum, the youngest of seven children; his father died before he was a year old.
Lost Ocean: An Inky Adventure and Colouring Book
This is a beautiful new colouring book that takes you on a magical journey beneath the waves, from the creator of the worldwide bestsellers, Secret Garden and Enchanted Forest. With Lost Ocean, Johanna Basford invites colour-inners of all ages to discover an enchanting underwater world hidden within the depths of the sea. With intricate pen
Consider the Lilies
Now considered a modern classic, CONSIDER THE LILIES focuses on the eviction of an old woman from her croft. The Highland Clearances, the eviction of crofters from their homes between 1792 and the 1850s, was one of the cruellest episodes in Scotland`s history. In CONSIDER THE LILIES Iain Crichton Smith captures its impact through the
Magical Jungle: An Inky Expedition & Colouring Book
From the international bestselling creator of Lost Ocean comes a beautiful new colouring book that takes you on a wondrous expedition through the jungle. Follow ink evangelist and queen of adult colouring, Johanna Basford down an inky trail through Magical Jungle and discover a forgotten world of flora and fauna just waiting to be coloured
Tolkien: A Dictionary
Arranged in a handy A-Z format, Tolkien: A Dictionary explores and explains the creatures, plants, events and places that make up these strange and wonderful lands. It is essential reading for anyone who loves Tolkien`s works and wants to learn more about them.
The Battles of Tolkien
Tolkien`s works are punctuated by dramatic and explosive battles. Men versus Orcs, Elves versus Sauron, Goblins versus Dwarves – the history of Middle-earth has seen some of the greatest characters pitted against each other time and time again. From the iconic battle of Helm`s Deep to the Destruction of Isengard, The Battles of Tolkien analyzes
