Category Archives: Travel Guides
Eiffel: The Genius Who Reinvented Himself
David Harvie tells the story of Gustave Eiffel and of the conception, and controversial construction of the tower that bears his name, perhaps the most famous tall building in the world.
The Arctic – A History
The Arctic – A History, by Richard Vaughan, focuses on the human inhabitants of the Arctic – a place that’s neither a continent nor a nation but one of the last contested lands on earth. Describing the history and culture of peoples who have struggled for generations for an existence in some of the most
Companion to Churches
This is a comprehensive, fully illustrated A-Z guide to churches dating from the post Roman period to the present day. Subjects covered include architecture, fittings and furnishings, decorative and allegorical features, stained glass, heraldry, traditions and customs, ecclesiastical history, and the role of the church in its community. Alphabetical entries consist of main entries from
The Street Philosopher and The Holy Fool – A Syrian Journey
Based on his own visits to Syria, in The Street Philosopher and the Holy Fool, Marius Kociejowski presents a completely fresh and unexpected face to this mysterious country. The ancient land of Syria remains for many a sinister and forbidding destination, only recently opening up to foreign travellers, and Kociejowski describes a journey that brings
Underground to Everywhere
London`s Underground is one of the best-known and distinctive aspects of the city. Since Victorian Times, this remarkable feat of engineering has made an extraordinary contribrution to the economy of the capital and played a vital role in the daily life of generations of Londonders. Stephen Halliday`s informative, entertaining, wide-ranging history of the Underground celebrates
Newgate – London`s Prototype of Hell
There have been more prisons in London than in any other European city. Of these, Newgate was the largest, most notorious and worst. Built during the twelfth century, it became a legendary place – the inspiration of more poems, plays and novels than any other building in London. It was a place of cruelty and
Khyber Rifles – British Raj To Al Qaeda
Still recruited from the Pathan tribes that live in the no-man`s land between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Khyber Rifles continue to stand guard over this area, one of the world`s most volatile borders. For more than a century, these gallant poachers turned gamekeepers fought for the British Raj against their own kith and kin, but
Companion to Castles
Over one thousand castles were built in the century following the Norman Conquest. Most were constructed in the wake of the Conquest itself by the Norman lords and their allies as they took possession of their lands. These conquerors in a nosteile land numbered only a few thousand and their castle became symbols of subjugation
London – The Executioner`s City
“London – The Executioner`s City” reveals the capital as a place where the bodies of criminals defined the boundaries of the city and heads on poles greeted patrons on London Bridge. Tyburn Fields is the best known site of execution in London, but London may be aptly named the executioner`s city, so many were the
Spectacular Vernacular
Lifting the lid on London, Spectacular Vernacular reveals the stories behind its 100 strangest and most enigmatic buildings. Some are open to the public, if you know who to ask. Others remain strictly off-limits, thus heightening the sense of mystery surrounding them. But many are so familiar that few of us ever stop to consider
Spying For The Raj: the Pundits and the Mapping of the Himalaya
A pundit (or pandit) is a Hindu Brahmin who has memorised a substantial portion of the Hindu scriptures. In the second half of the nineteenth century, however, the term was used to denote native surveyors, who explored regions to the north of India for the British Raj. The British initially sent army officers to map
A Survey of London: Written in the Year 1598
John Stow first published his “Survey of London” in 1598 during the reign of Elizabeth I. His detailed description of the city and its suburbs was an immediate success when it first appeared and has remained a popular classic of English history ever since.
An Infographic Guide to London
London is a modern, stylish and ever-changing city and this pocket-sized book takes you on a tour with a vibrant, bold and new approach to information that matches the capitol perfectly. Using infographics to bring the nuggets of information to life through images and graphics, you can read and enjoy hundreds of fascinating facts in
