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Books > Travel > Travel writing > General
If you want to know about writing, about how to make others share
the horror and intensity of an experience, try the first piece in
this collection, Justice at Night. Martha Gellhorn wrote it as a
28-year-old, having just returned home to the States after four
years in Europe, in 1936. What follows is a selection of fifty
years of peacetime journalism, history caught at the moment of its
unfolding, as it looked and felt to those who experienced it. It's
about revolutions in the making, guilty acts of state terrorism,
poverty, injustice and recovery. It vividly captures the range and
intensity of Gellhorn's courageous work and is also a passionate
call to arms, not only to remember the wronged and to bear witness
to evil, but to stand your ground in the face of it.
The Netflix Documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, explores
Nepal's deep connection to high-altitude mountaineering through the
eyes of Nirmal "Nimsdai" Purja, a fearless, fun-loving Nepali
climber on a quest he dubs "Project Possible"-to summit all 14 of
the world's 8,000-meter mountains in just seven months. Nimsdai's
book BEYOND POSSIBLE has received great acclaim: 'An inspirational
study in leadership and a powerful testament to the human spirit at
its very best.' - Mail on Sunday 'If you're going to get one book
this year get Beyond Possible.' - Ant Middleton 'The energy of the
book gives it pace and you whip through, rather as Purja nips up
verticals... Whether or not you are a lover of the mountains, you
will marvel at his tenacity, his fearlessness. No one can fail to
be inspired by what he achieved.' - The Times 'Not only does Nims
have exceptional physical stamina, he's also a leader with great
skills in financial management and logistics.' - Reinhold Messner,
the first person to climb all fourteen highest mountains in the
world 'The magnitude of his achievement is astonishing.' Soldier
Magazine 'A Living Legend.' Trail Magazine *** In Beyond Possible
Nimdai Purja tells the story of his life before his recent epic
achievement of leading the team that scaled K2 in winter. He
reveals how leadership, a willingness to learn, integrity and
collaboration are essential qualities behind the world's greatest
mountaineering feats. Nimsdai is the first man ever to summit all
8000m 'Death Zone' peaks in less than 7 months, and this book
reveals the man behind the climbs - how his early life in Nepal and
Special Forces training made him the person to go beyond
possible...
A noted journalist of his day takes notes on and retells the
history, in detail, of many places in New York, Virginia, and
Pennsylvania. In PA, much detail is offered on Utopian societies
and new religions and the like. vol. 2 of 2
"Amerikafahrt" by Wolfgang Koeppen is a masterpiece of observation,
analysis, and writing, based on his 1958 trip to the United States.
A major twentieth-century German writer, Koeppen presents a vivid
and fascinating portrait of the US in the late 1950s: its major
cities, its literary culture, its troubled race relations, its
multi-culturalism and its vast loneliness, a motif drawn, in part,
from Kafka's "Amerika." A modernist travelogue, the text employs
symbol, myth, and image, as if Koeppen sought to answer de
Tocqueville's questions in the manner of Joyce and Kafka. "Journey
through America" is also a meditation on America, intended for a
German audience and mindful of the destiny of postwar Europe under
many Americanizing influences.
"Life-affirming and laugh-out-loud funny" - HELEN FIELDING, AUTHOR
OF BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY Shape of a Boy is a hilarious and
eye-opening travel memoir by the mother of three boys as she
documents her travels with her family around the world. 'Have kids,
will travel' is veteran travel journalist Kate's mantra. Her
intrepid spirit is infectious in this warm, engaging account of her
family's adventures and misadventures. She shares the life lessons
learnt on their travels, from overcoming disappointment in Thailand
to saying sorry in Japan, discovering perseverance in Borneo and
learning about conservation in Malaysia. From the jungles of
southeast Asia to the waterfront in Havana and the blazing heat of
Egypt, Shape of a Boy captures the essence of being a parent in the
thick of it and learning on the hoof. Inspirational for anyone who
has dreaded travelling with a baby, toddler, or teen, it is a
life-affirming read for every wannabe-traveller. Kate's vivid
evocation of the highs and lows of family time make you belly-laugh
and bring a lump to your throat. "Hilarious and wonderfully fluent,
Shape of A Boy makes you see each corner of the world afresh. I
read it in one long, lounging read, which took me away from Covid
to a vibrant world of orangutans and elephants and a family growing
together." ANDREW CLOVER, best-selling author of Dad Rules This is
a must-read for every wannabe-traveller grounded by lockdown and
for every parent who has dreaded travelling with a baby.
Writings about the nature of North America and its inhabitants,
speaking in terms of both literal landscape and metaphorical
landscape. Focusing on the Mid-Atlantic region. vol. 1 of 2
THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER - AS RECOMMENDED BY DEBBIE MACOMBER!
'Sea, sunshine, romance and fabulous characters; Maddie's light
touch and sense of fun will lift your spirits!' Bestselling author
Judy Leigh Sophia Gregory has lost her sparkle... Recently single
and about to turn sixty, Sophia doesn't recognise the old woman
staring back at her in the mirror. How has life passed her by? A
quiet holiday in beautiful Rhodes is the perfect chance for her to
find herself. Until she meets the Old Ducks! Juliette, Kim and
Anita are three friends who are determined not to grow old
gracefully! Bold and brash, they are Sophia's worst nightmare,
until they make her an honorary member of The Old Ducks' Club! Now
dancing and drinking till dawn Sophia starts to shake off her
stuffy old life and start living again! And when she meets her
gorgeous Greek neighbour, Theo, she thinks that maybe, if she's
just a little braver, she can learn to love again too... It's never
too late to teach an Old Duck new tricks! A laugh out loud and
uplifting story about the importance of friendship and always,
always having fun! Perfect for fans of Judy Leigh and Dee Macdonald
What readers are saying about The Old Ducks' Club... 'Sea,
sunshine, romance and fabulous characters; Maddie's light touch and
sense of fun will lift your spirits!' Bestselling author Judy Leigh
'A new lease of life under the Greek sun. As fresh and delicious as
chilled retsina!' Sunday Times Bestselling author Phillipa Ashley.
'For a book that's as cheering and restorative as a long lunch with
your very best friend, Maddie Please is the author you need to
know!' Bestselling author Chris Manby 'Genuine and
life-affirming...a wonderful, lighthearted novel about how it is
never too late to find happiness.' Bestselling author Kitty Wilson
'A heart-warming story filled with friendship and fun. It's
official - I want to be an Old Duck!' Bestselling author Maisie
Thomas
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the
1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly
expensive. Obscure Press are republishing these classic works in
affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text
and artwork.
Mr. Watson's son edited these journals, memoirs of a man traveling
through America during the revolution and in much later years. When
the journal ends, the son pieces the travels together through
letters, random notes, etc.
An entrancing, sun-drenched bicycle journey, from the beaches of
southern Spain to solar temples in the Outer Hebrides. In this
great feast of armchair travel, John Hanson Mitchell tells of his
fifteen-hundred-mile ride on a trusty old Peugeot bicycle from the
port of Cadiz to just below the Arctic Circle. He follows the
European spring up through southern Spain, the wine and oyster
country near Bordeaux, to Versailles (the palace of the "Sun
King"), Wordsworth's Lake District, precipitous Scottish highlands,
and finally to a Druid temple on the island of Lewis in the
Hebrides, a place where Midsummer is celebrated in pagan majesty as
the near-midnight sun dips and then quickly rises over the horizon.
In true John Mitchell fashion this journey is interspersed with
myth, natural history, and ritual, all revolving around the lure
and lore of the sun, culturally and historically. The journey is as
delicious as it is fascinating, with an appeal for all those who
look south in February and are drawn to dunes, picnics under castle
walls, spring flowers, terraced vineyards, Moorish outposts, magic
and celebrations. In short, to everything under the sun. A Merloyd
Lawrence Book
Obie encompasses a decades-long sweep of his life’s work and covers
the globe. It is part coffee-table book, part travelogue, part
autobiography and part storybook, with a bit of philosophy thrown
in for good measure. It’s a great photographer, documenter and
character looking back through his ever-increasing archive (built
up over 60 years) and choosing the images that resonate the most,
and which have a story to tell. Obie captures the rare, the human,
the wonderful, the cosmic even. And he doesn’t just take pictures;
he also meticulously records it all in words. His descriptions are
often as intriguing, as beautiful or as crazy as his photographs.
Originally published in 1900, this early works on The South Indian
Railway is extensively illustrated throughout and will appeal
greatly to any historian interested in the subject. Chapters
include; General History, Races & People, Religions &
Castes, Architecture, Description of the railway, Information for
travellers, Tourist Routes, Itinerary and Sport. Many of the
earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900's and
before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are
republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality,
modern editions, using the original text and artwork.
The Seven Seas is a celebration of the sea, and of the seven oceans
on earth, in poetry and painting. The land, the seven continents of
our planet, usually takes centre stage with its diverse populations
of flora and fauna, and humanity - ourselves. But this book gives
first place to the water, the element that covers some seventy per
cent of the earth's surface, and the life above and within it. The
volume is organised to reveal the nature and character of the seven
oceans ('the seven seas', as poets have traditionally called them)
and the principal ports that link them as one vast waterway. It
contains a series of seven voyages which together comprise one
extensive and imaginary tour of the world, encircling the globe
three times at different latitudes and visiting both the Arctic and
Antarctic Oceans at the northern and southern extremes. After a
lively Foreword and a learned Introduction, describing the ocean
today and its history, the sea-routes and landfalls of the voyage -
and also providing a short account of the arts of poetry and
painting - the book is arranged in seven chapters representing each
of 'the seven seas' in turn, beginning and ending at Greenwich. The
imaginary voyage explores the North Atlantic first, followed by the
Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean, then the Antarctic, before
turning northwards again to tour the South Atlantic, passing
through the Panama Canal to reach the South and North Pacific, and
finally the Arctic Ocean, the Baltic and North Sea, before
returning home. Each port of call is characterised in Sandra
Lello's delightful illustrations and thoughtful verses from the pen
of John Elinger, who are each experienced travellers and
cruise-lecturers.
Writings about the nature of North America and its inhabitants,
speaking in terms of both literal landscape and metaphorical
landscape. Focusing on the Mid-Atlantic region. vol. 2 of 2
Originally published in 1856, William Ferguson's America by River
and Rail, or Notes by the Way on the New World and its People is a
diary of his impressions of his travels along the East Coast, out
to the states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan, and through
Montreal and Quebec. While his stated attempt is to provide a
record of facts and opinions, to add to the "mosaic" of knowledge
about America without entering himself into the discussion,
Ferguson, nonetheless, shows us two sides of America. The first is
the "noisiest" class, that of the politicians and "money-getters"
from whom many previous writers take their impressions of
America--much to the negative of her image. Ferguson, however,
wants to display more richly that second class he encountered, the
quieter, moral backbone of America, those upon whom, he hopes,
America will build her future. He finds a society burgeoning with
vast natural and human resources, and remarks upon the rapidity of
growth in America, especially in the mid-western states. Full of
rich detail, Ferguson's work provides insight into the culture and
concerns of antebellum American life.
In 1807 Robert Southey published a pseudonymous account of a
journey made through England by a fictitious Spanish tourist, 'Don
Manuel Alvarez Espriella'. Letters from England (1807) relates
Espriella's travels. On his journey Espriella comments on every
aspect of British society, from fashions and manners, to political
and religious beliefs.
An Englishman offers statistical information and advice to the
Englishman planning to emigrate to America.
The Good Life goes on at El Valero. Find yourself laughing out loud
as Chris is instructed by his daughter on local teenage mores;
bluffs his way in art history to millionaire Bostonians; is rescued
off a snowy peak by the Guardia Civil; and joins an Almond Blossom
Appreciation Society. You'll cringe with Chris as he tries his hand
at office work in an immigrants' advice centre in Granada, spurred
into action by the arrival of four destitute young Moroccans at El
Valero. And you'll never see olive oil in quite the same way
again... In this sequel to 'Lemons' and 'Parrot', Chris Stewart's
optimism and zest for life is as infectious as ever.
How do the experiences of today's tourist compare with those of
more than a century ago? Views of Old Europe demonstrates that
there are interesting differences, and some surprising
similarities, between the present day traveler and his early modern
counterpart. It is a highly engaging and well-composed account of a
two-year long journey in the 1840s, mostly on foot, through
Britain, Ireland, Germany, Italy, France, Austria and Switzerland.
The work was so popular, that the original edition was followed by
many further printings in less than two years. This new edition,
with a new preface and index, is based on a revised 1850 version.
Although the book's talented young author, Bayard Taylor, went on
to become a diplomat, essayist, and poet, his first employment afer
leaving the family farm was as a printer's apprentice. The
idealistic youth's cherished goal was to visit various European
countries, to see first-hand the circumstances in which great
culture and art arose. When Taylor's cousin asked him to be his
companion on an extended journey through the Old World, Taylor,
although without much money, found the opportunity too tempting to
pass up. This memoir is multi-faceted. A multitude of perceptive
observations about European society are set against the background
of the journey narrative, which keeps moving at a deliberate but
very pleasant pace. In these observations, Taylor strikes just the
right balance between panorama and detail. The communities of that
time, in all their charm, ebullience, traditional customs, and
protectiveness, are brought into clear focus, facilitated by the
copious notes kept by the author. Over the long course, a variety
of beauties both natural and man-made were encountered: mountains,
rivers, lakes and woods, as well as galleries, museums, churches,
mansions, and cathedrals. But the tour had its share of challenges,
including fatiguing hikes on back-roads, inadequate funds, and
avoiding robbers. There was also a dearth of facilities conducive
to material comfort and convenience, such as hotels, restaurants
and shelters. Still, for Taylor, the advantages greatly outweighed
the hardships, and fond reminiscences are evinced in his lovely
prose.
An outcast gay Mormon travels from his Washington, DC, home to
Antarctica-by bus. A devout young boy in rural Ohio, Andrew Evans
had his life mapped for him: baptism, mission, Brigham Young
University, temple marriage, and children of his own. But as an
awkward gay kid, bullied and bored, he escaped into the glossy
pages of National Geographic and the wide promise of the world
atlas. The Black Penguin is Evans's memoir, travel tale, and love
story of his eventual journey to the farthest reaches of the map, a
wild yet touching adventure across some of the most astonishing
landscapes on Earth. Ejected from church and shunned by his family
as a young man, Evans embarks on an ambitious overland journey
halfway across the world. Riding public transportation, he crosses
swamps, deserts, mountains, and jungles, slowly approaching his
lifelong dream and ultimate goal: Antarctica. With each new mile
comes laughter, pain, unexpected friendship, true weirdness,
unsettling realities, and some hair-raising moments that eventually
lead to a singular discovery on a remote beach at the bottom of the
world. Evans's 12,000-mile voyage becomes a soulful quest to
balance faith, family, and self, reminding us that, in the end, our
lives are defined by the roads we take, the places we touch, and
those we hold nearest.
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