This very failure, compounded by the plague of caterpillars of the book s title allows Nigel Barley to concentrate on everyday life in Dowayoland and the tattered remnants of an overripe French colonial legacy. Witchcraft fills the Cameroonian air; add an earnest German traveller showing explicit birth?control propaganda to the respectable Dowayos, an interest in the nipple?mutilating practices of highlanders, unanswered questions of the link between infertility and circumcision and you have the ingredients of a comic masterpiece. But beneath all the joy and shared laughter there is a skilful and wise reflection on the problems of different cultures ever understanding one another. The Dowayos are a mountain people that perform their elaborate, fascinating and fearsome ceremony at six or seven year intervals. It was an opportunity that was too good to miss, a key moment to test the balance of tradition and modernity. Yet, like much else in this hilarious book the circumcision ceremony was to prove frustratingly elusive.

England used to enjoy one of the most comprehensive railway networks in Europe. By the last decade of the 19th century there was hardly a hamlet in the land which could not be reached by train itself or after a brief ride in a pony and trap from the nearest station. However, the improved reliability and sheer convenience of internal combustion engined road vehicles brought competition to the railways which caused a steady and persistent decline in freight and passengers throughout the second half of the 20th century. By then the railways, initially funded by private enterprise, had been nationalized as a state asset. This left the state paying for trains which ran at a loss for lack of goods and people to fill them. During the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s, successive governments sought to staunch this outflow of funds by closing thousands of miles of railway lines and hundreds of stations.Many of these were branch lines, that is a track leaving the main line to serve a specific place but going no further. At a stroke, large parts of the huge 19th-century civil engineering effort which went into building the network were redundant and, once any salvage of value was removed, duly abandoned. By and large, it was not economic to reinstate the cuttings, embankments and bridges built to give the most straight and level route possible for each line.What is left of these abandoned lines can offer rewarding walks through the heart of the countryside, away from roads and traffic, rich in flora and fauna and littered with dramatic examples of Victorian civil engineering. In short, there is something to the taste of the routine walker and the railway enthusiast. For either type they are best done twice, once in summer and once in winter. The summer will show what grows where the plow and the sprayer to not go, while the winter will show the detail of what was built, well over a century ago. This book features 12 of these walks throughout Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

GOLFLAND describes each one of Scotland's golf courses. It is the detailed, definitive guide to the country's courses. It's the first book of its kind in more than a decade, an ambitious celebration of Scotland's embarrassment of golfing riches. Useful and informative, it is a practical reference work. Beautifully designed, with stunning photography by David Cannon, it is also a highly desirable gift. GOLFLAND is an appropriate name for a book about the courses of Scotland, the country recognised as the birthplace of the game. Scotland is a mecca for golf tourists worldwide, who come to play its most celebrated courses, such as Carnoustie, Muirfield and the historic links of St Andrews. Yet for all of Scotland's most distinguished courses, like those which host The Open, there are hundreds of others, some known to aficionados, some so far-flung as to be familiar to only a few. GOLFLAND records and celebrates them all. If you are planning a trip to Scotland or simply want to explore the richness of the country's golfing landscape, GOLFLAND is essential. For dreaming about some future game, or else remembering one played long ago, it is equally invaluable. GOLFLAND will answer almost all the questions you might have about Scottish golf courses. GOLFLAND is also the answer to a commonly asked question: what is the perfect gift for the golfer in my life?

Lonely Planet's Italyis our most comprehensive guide that extensively covers all the country has to offer, with recommendations for both popular and lesser-known experiences. Relive the past at Pompeii, take a world-class Tuscan wine tour and explore the unspoilt wilderness of Sardinia; all with your trusted travel companion. Inside Lonely Planet's Italy Travel Guide: Lonely Planet's Top Picks - a visually inspiring collection of the destination's best experiences and where to have them Itineraries help you build the ultimate trip based on your personal needs and interests Local insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - whether it's history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, politics Eating and drinking - get the most out of your gastronomic experience as we reveal the regional dishes and drinks you have to try Toolkit - all of the planning tools for solo travellers, LGBTQIA+ travellers, family travellers and accessible travel Colour maps and images throughout Language - essential phrases and language tips Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Covers Rome, Turin, the Cinque Terre, Genoa, Milan, Venice, Verona, Bologna, Parma, Florence, Pisa, Naples, Bari, Sicily, Sardinia and more! About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet, a Red Ventures Company, is the world's number one travel guidebook brand. Providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973, Lonely Planet reaches hundreds of millions of travellers each year online and in print and helps them unlock amazing experiences. Visit us at lonelyplanet.com and join our community of followers on Facebook (facebook.com/lonelyplanet), Twitter (@lonelyplanet), Instagram (instagram.com/lonelyplanet), and TikTok (@lonelyplanet). 'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveller's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.'  Fairfax Media (Australia)

As a flight to St Lucia leaves the runway, four passengers meet for the first time. After escaping her controlling husband, Bernadette Manson is taking the first extravagant holiday of her new life. But when her best friend cancels, will she be strong enough to fly solo? Tadgh Donovan is about to jet off to his destination wedding when he sees a shocking text. Has his bride-to-be written her wedding vows... or already broken them? Hayley Ford is the wife of a top fertility specialist yet her battle to get pregnant has almost broken her marriage. Can a trip to the sun heal their relationship or should she brace for a crash landing? Dev Robbins is crossing oceans to track down the woman he fell in love with at first sight. Will it be a one way trip to happy ever after or a return journey to singledom? #1 bestseller Shari Low is back with her brilliant new release about love, life and how a chance meeting can change your life forever. Praise for Shari Low: 'I'd forgotten how enjoyable it is to read a Shari Low book but My One Month Marriage reminded me of the fun to be had in her words...funny, warm and insightful.' Dorothy Koomson 'Great fun from start to finish.' Jenny Colgan 'There are only two words for Shari Low: utterly hilarious. I laughed like a drain.' Carmen Reid 'One of the funniest books I've ever read!' Marisa Mackle 'More fun than a girl's night out!' OK! magazine 'A brilliant, light comical read with some fabulous twists and turns' Bookbag 'A thrilling page turner that grabs your attention from the off. Highly recommended' The Sun 'Totally captivating and it felt like I'd lost a new best friend when it came to the end' Closer Magazine 'Touching stuff' Heat

The Riviera has inspired countless novelists and artists, attracted as much by its visitors as by its location (Somerset Maugham called it 'a sunny place for shady people'). But for the majority of the English, the Riviera was made famous by rumour and report: it was the scene of the romance of Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson; and, post-war, became the vacation spot of Hollywood starlets.

But the Cote d'Azur has a long history of attracting foreign celebrities and royalty, since the seventeenth century, when it was a stopping point on the route south for aristocratic Grand Tourists. Later, English and Scottish invalids, among them Robert Louis Stevenson, followed doctors' orders and holidayed on the Riviera for their health. Jim Ring explores these origins and the developments that took place on the coast - the impact of rail travel, of war, of celebrity and of the English.

'An entertaining survey . . . It is the ideal book to hide your smirk behind on the Promenade des Anglais as yet another roller-blading granny glides past in a leopard-sking thong.' "Sunday Telegraph"

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""Jim Ring's "Riviera "corrals an array of vignettes of the Cote d'Azur's most famous habitues from the Romans to the Rolling Stones . . . a stylish and pleasingly gossipy overview of the region's fluctuating fortunes.' "Time Out"

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""'A highly readable history.' "Guardian"

Best Easy Day Hikes Tucson includes concise descriptions and detailed maps for twenty easy-to-follow hikes in and around Tucson, Arizona. Discover a region of diverse scenery and natural splendors—including a beautiful cactus forest; the Sendero Esperanza Trail, a classic example of the Sonoran Desert's lush vegetation; and the famous Seven Falls, a series of seasonal cascades in Bear Canyon.

Farming – whether domestic crops, forestry, fish or livestock – is one of the pillars of human civilization, dating back to the early settlements of Neolithic times. Today, approximately one billion people work the land, providing food and other products for our ever-increasing human population. Arranged geographically, Farming explores the many types of farm and farming that exist today. See how farmers in Malaysia extract milky latex from the bark of rubber trees, used to make everything from protective gloves to vehicle tires; be amazed at the gorgeous stepped rice fields of Bali, where the traditional subak irrigation system is created around ‘water temples’ and managed by Hindu priests; marvel at the vast corn and soya bean fields of Ontario, much of it used for animal feed to support Canada’s beef industry; learn about nomadic pastoralism in low rainfall areas such as Somalia, where herders move camels, cattle, sheep and goats in search of grazing; explore the wineries and vineyards in Bordeaux, where more than 700 million bottles of wine are produced each year by more than 8,500 châteaux; and see how freshwater prawns are harvested for export in the watery deltas of Bangladesh. Presented in a landscape format and with more than 180 outstanding photographs of farming from every part of the planet, Farming offers a pictorial celebration of mankind’s deep connection with the land that sustains us.

'I love her beautiful settings and brooding heroes!' Sarah Bennett Who can resist the romance of Venice... When Norah arrives in Venice for a ten-week internship she is surprised to discover that her guide for her work trips around the lagoon is the undeniably gorgeous and kind Gianluca. She can't help thinking he might be too good to be true, with his endless fascinating local stories, and his infectious laugh. Norah is still bitter after an accident left her with a serious injury and also meant the end of her long-term relationship. And besides, she's serious about her career and that means leaving Venice at the end of the summer. Gianluca has had a summer fling before that led to heartache for him and he won't do it again. He enjoys the long hours out on the lagoon with Norah, but after a storm strands them on a picture-perfect island for a night, they agree they should just be good friends for the summer. But life doesn't always go to plan, and when it's time for Norah to go, they have to decide whether what they have between them is really just a friendship, and not something more... Leonie Mack is back with another fabulously romantic escape, perfect for all fans of Mandy Baggot, Jo Thomas and Carole Matthews. What readers are saying about Leonie Mack: 'I read a lot of romance books and I have to say this book is one of the best in terms of chemistry. Readers - we're talking red hot!' 'A hot and sizzling read!' 'An uplifting, intelligent novel with a lot of substance and of course, plenty of romance' 'I can't stop thinking about this book!' 'Beautifully written, this is a great take on the opposites attract theme.' 'A delight to read with lots of fun, romance and funny bits along the way.'

America's southernmost state is a place of great diversity and energy. The United States' fourth largest economy and home to more than 20 million people, Florida also hosts more than 100 million visitors every year, most of whom arrive to enjoy the beaches, warm weather and entertainment of 'The Sunshine State'. Images of tanning tourists, retired seniors and Mickey Mouse give an incomplete picture of Florida. The state is also home to the Everglades, a vast area of sub-tropical wetlands and swamps filled with alligators and flamingos; Miami's Cuban culture and cuisine; the international race course at Daytona Beach; the Kennedy Space Center, which has been launching NASA space shuttles since 1964; and the famous Florida Keys, a coral archipelago stretching out into the Gulf of Mexico. Presented in a handy, pocket-sized landscape format and with captions explaining the story behind each photo, Florida is a stunning collection of images bringing to life the vitality of this sunny American state.

A handy, flexibound glovebox sized road atlas in an A5 format. Each page has been titled with its geographical location so that you can turn to the page you need more easily. There is also a full-colour, admin map showing all the latest unitary authority areas, easy-to-use mileage chart and clear easy-to-read index with more than 23,000 place names including airports, top tourist sites and motorway services listed. Wide minor roads (more than and less than 4m wide), National Trust, English and World Heritage sites, crematorium locations and other hard-to-find places are also shown.

National Geographic's Adventure Road Atlas is a rugged, 168-page road atlas that provides detailed maps of all 50 states, as well as Canada and Mexico. It features a tough, clear plastic cover and spiral binding to prevent wear and tear. The atlas features scenic routes, historic sites, recreation information and other points of interest. Top outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, bird-watching, skiing and paddle sports are also highlighted.