Texas is unique, not only because it is the only state to enter the Union by way of a treaty, but because a clause in that treaty gives Texas the right, in perpetuity, to divide into as many as five separate states. These "Five States of Texas" reflect the remarkable geographic variety of this vast landscape. From the plains and mountains, beaches and deserts, forests and rugged canyons, Laurence Parent captures the beauty of the Texas landscapes, places, and people that are as diverse as its many-faceted culture.

"This textbook will be welcomed by professors and students who have been long looking for an appropriate textbook for teaching and studying the changing geography of post-reform China." -Hongmian Gong, Hunter College, CUNY "A wonderful collection of current source data. The range of bibliographic material in these pages is great." -Kit Salter, University of Missouri, Columbia Changing China: A Geographic Appraisal provides an up-to-date and detailed account of the giant country that is undergoing an unparalleled and historic transition from a centralized command economy to a market-based economy, and from a rural, agricultural society to an urban, industrial power. Contributions from a distinguished team of geographers both inside and outside of China are divided into three parts that assess, respectively, economic changes since the reform of 1978, recent social transformations, and changes along China's peripheries including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Xinjiang, and inner Mongolia. An introductory chapter provides an overview of major themes. Includes a chronology of major events in Chinese history and a glossary of Chinese terms.

Shortlisted in the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards 2022: Photography Travel Book of the Year Nori Jemil's ground-breaking practical photography book considers not just how to get better images, but also why and when to take them. It guides you to becoming a more confident and reflective travel photographer, as well as covering all the technical knowhow needed. Taking a journey around the seven continents, each chapter focuses on the main areas of travel imagery, from people and landscape to architecture and adventure. Bite-size advice on how to get the best from your camera is contextualised throughout the book, so you learn as you go. Travel photography has exploded across the world thanks to the huge leap in quality of both mobile phone cameras and bridge cameras, as well as the ease of public posting on social media. Award-winning travel photographer Nori Jemil has been riding the wave of these advances and has created a 'how to' guide with a difference. Her book is not an attempt to replicate other reference works on the subject, top-loading technical information and addressing an expert reader. Nor does it focus on gadgetry - the proliferation of new hardware means camera-based information can become obsolete quite quickly. Instead it is a travel companion, a book that can be read for the prose and stories, as well as the information it contains. It covers the main elements of travel photography in eleven sections, including advice from some of the best travel photographers working around the world. Technical information is embedded, given in the context of each shot, but personal travel stories are at the heart of every chapter, linked to key travel images as well as the full camera settings and detail of how and why each photo was taken.

AdventureMaps provide global travellers with the perfect combination of detail and perspective, highlighting hundreds of points of interest and the diverse and unique destinations within the country. Each map is printed on durable synthetic paper, making them waterproof and tear-resistant. They also include the locations of cities and towns with a user-friendly index, plus a clearly marked road network complete with distances and designations for major highways, main roads and tracks and trails for those seeking to explore more remote regions. Scale : 1:825,000 Flat Size : 965 x 660 mm.

A guide to the glories of Rome, conveyed by means of an artist's sketchbook Matthew Rice is a long-time observer and illustrator of cities, buildings and all those who inhabit them, with an uncanny ability to express the energy of a place through a few lines of ink and splashes of paint. In the first book in this new sketchbook series, he explored the glittering canals of Venice: now he turns his attention to Rome, the Eternal City. Rome is a place where the ancient, the baroque and the modern clash, and this tension runs through Matthew's paintings. In this guide, he makes sly juxtapositions of people and animals against the backdrop of the city's architectural and artistic wonders, its ruins and its ristoranti. Matthew's ability to notice detail, his sense of light and dark, his expert's knowledge of architecture and how it creates an atmosphere allows him to present Rome, in these pages, in its all its living, breathing splendour. Following the same landscape format as Matthew's real-life sketchbooks, Rome: A Sketchbook will combine enchanting watercolour illustrations with an informed, personal and witty text, and promises to delight all visitors to Rome, armchair or actual.

AdventureMaps provide global travellers with the perfect combination of detail and perspective, highlighting hundreds of points of interest and the diverse and unique destinations within the country. Each map is printed on durable synthetic paper, making them waterproof and tear-resistant. They also include the locations of cities and towns with a user-friendly index, plus a clearly marked road network complete with distances and designations for major highways, main roads and tracks and trails for those seeking to explore more remote regions. Scale : 1:975,000 Flat Size : 965 x 660 mm.

Oldest Ghosts tells of unexplained exploits by the spirits dwelling in St. Augustine, the oldest city of European origin in the United States.
- Judge John Stickney watches from a tree limb above his cemetery monument
- A Colonial-period ghost hangs laundry in a Spanish courtyard
- The ghost of Wll Green, who died in 1802, routinely enters the bodies of men drinking in a bar Some residents and visitors tolerate the playful spirits. Others prefer not to acknowledge them. Either way, the ghosts abide.

THE EMOTIONAL, JAW-DROPPING SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER FROM THE NO.1 BESTSELLER 'Hypnotically good' LEE CHILD 'Jaw-dropping twists' LUCY FOLEY 'The book of the summer' SUN It's twenty hours to landing. A lot can happen in twenty hours . . . You're on board the first non-stop flight from London to Sydney. It's a landmark journey, and the world is watching. Shortly after take-off, you receive a chilling anonymous note. There are people on this plane intent on bringing it down - and you're the key to their plan. You'd never help them, even if your life depended on it. But they have your daughter . . . So now you have to choose. DO YOU SAVE HUNDREDS OF LIVES? OR THE ONE THAT MATTERS MOST? 'Feels like a blockbuster movie' LISA JEWELL 'The queen of nail-biting suspense' IRISH INDEPENDENT 'A nail-biter of a thriller' SHARI LAPENA 'A rip-roaring finale' GUARDIAN 'Propulsive - will have you questioning "what would you do?" at every turn' KARIN SLAUGHTER 'Mackintosh is a pro' NEW YORK TIMES 'Taking the locked room mystery to a new, white-knuckle extreme, this is electrifying' HEAT 'When Clare Mackintosh goes high concept, she doesn't mess around' LINWOOD BARCLAY 'An incredibly tense read that has a satisfyingly clever ending' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 'A thrilling rollercoaster of a story. It'll leave you breathless' JANE FALLON 'A smart pay-off' THE TIMES, THE BEST THRILLERS FOR JUNE 'A tense, convincing, nail-biter of a thriller' ADELE PARKS, PLATINUM MAGAZINE 'A banger of a book with a truly agonising "what would you do?"' RUTH WARE 'A thrilling, chilling gut-punch of a book' RED 'Why did no one warn me how bloody addictive it is?' TAMMY COHEN 'I dare anyone to read this high-octane, tense thriller on a flight' PRIMA 'I got wrong-footed, then I got whiplash! Mind-blowing' SANDIE JONES 'The year's most intriguing high-concept plot' DAILY EXPRESS 'Full of mystery, tension and emotion. An incredible thriller' ALLIE REYNOLDS 'Buckle up for some edge-of-your-plane-seat action' FABULOUS

"During the course of my journey, many of the people I met in Pakistan and India expressed a curious combination of affection, indifference, and animosity toward their neighbors across the border. . . . The border divides them but it is also a seam that joins the fabric of their cultures." On 15 August 1947, in what some have argued was the final, cynical act of a collapsing empire, the British left India divided. Arbitrary borders that have profoundly affected the recent history of the subcontinent were drawn upon the map of India. In the violence that accompanied Partition, it has been estimated that close to a million people were killed and more than ten million uprooted and displaced. The hatreds created by what was one of the largest mass migrations in history only exacerbated the religious tensions that originally led to Partition. Since then, India and Pakistan have fought three devastating wars, and the danger of armed conflict is constant. A sensitive and thoughtful look at the lasting effects of Partition on everyday people, Amritsar to Lahore describes a journey across the contested border between India and Pakistan in 1997, the fiftieth anniversary of Partition. Setting out from and then returning to New Delhi, Stephen Alter crossed the border into Pakistan, retraced the legendary route of the Frontier Mail toward the Khyber Pass, and made his return by bus along the Grand Trunk Road, stopping in major cities along the way. During this journey and another in 1998, Alter interviewed people from all classes and castes: Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs, men and women. In candid conversation, the older generation who lived through the events of 1947 shared their memories and opinions of that pivotal moment of Partition, while youths who have inherited the fragments of that past reflected upon the meaning of national identity. In an engaging account of peoples and places, Alter documents in evocative detail his meetings with varied individuals. He recalls the Muslim taxi driver who recognizes an air of confidence with which men in Pakistan walk the streets dressed in salwar kameez; the brigadier who saved the brass insignia of the British crown from Lord Mountbatten's Rolls Royce; gold merchants, customs officers, fellow travelers, musicians, and many others. Alongside these diverse and vivid interviews, chance conversations, and oral histories, Alter provides informed commentary to raise questions about national and individual identity, the territorial imperatives of history, and the insidious mythology of borders. A third-generation American in India, where he has spent much of his life, Alter reflects intimately upon India's past and present as a special observer, both insider and outsider. His meaningful encounters with people on his journey illustrate the shared culture and heritage of South Asia, as well as the hateful suspicions and intolerance that permeate throughout the India-Pakistan frontier. Also woven into the narrative are discussions of the works of South Asian novelists, poets, and filmmakers who have struggled with the issue of identity across the borderlands. Ongoing battles in Kashmir and nuclear testing by both India and Pakistan may prove that peace in this region can be achieved only when border disputes are resolved. Offering both the perspective of hindsight and a troubling vision of the future, Amritsar to Lahore presents a compelling argument against the impenetrability of boundaries and the tragic legacy of lands divided.

It might surprise you who's a fan of poetry -- when it meets them where they are. Before he became an award-winning writer and poet, Brian Sonia-Wallace set up a typewriter on the street with a sign that said "Poetry Store" and discovered something surprising: all over America, people want poems. An amateur busker at first, Brian asked countless strangers, "What do you need a poem about?" To his surprise, passersby opened up to share their deepest yearnings, loves, and heartbreaks. Hundreds of them. Then thousands. Around the nation, Brian's poetry crusade drew countless converts from all walks of life. In The Poetry of Strangers, Brian tells the story of his cross-country journey in a series of heartfelt and insightful essays. From Minnesota to Tennessee, California to North Dakota, Brian discovered that people aren't so afraid of poetry when it's telling their stories. In "dying" towns flourish vibrant artistic spirits and fascinating American characters who often pass under the radar, from the Mall of America's mall walkers to retirees on Amtrak to self-proclaimed witches in Salem. In a time of unprecedented loneliness and isolation, Brian's journey shows how art can be a vital bridge to community in surprising places. Conventional wisdom says Americans don't want to talk to each other, but according to this poet-for-hire, everyone is just dying to be heard. Thought-provoking, moving, and eye-opening, The Poetry of Strangers is an unforgettable portrait of America told through the hidden longings of one person at a time, by one of our most important voices today. The fault lines and conflicts which divide us fall away when we remember to look, in every stranger, for poetry.

Experience the stunning natural beauty and indulgent luxury of "glamorous camping" in this book featuring the best and most-beautiful glamping locations throughout Europe. Have the best of both worlds: an outdoorsy, authentic blend of camping in the wild and the glamorous comforts of a swanky, serene hotel. That is "glamping" -- glamorous camping -- a growing and highly sought-after form of travel. It's perfect for those who want to be close to nature, who love to wake up to birdsong and seek solace in the scents of the forest, but who dont want the cramped tents, pesky bugs, aching backs, and communal showers of the camping sites of yore. Glamping gives readers the most-amazing glamping destinations in Europe for planning their next nature-inspired (yet comfortable!) getaway. When you "glamp", you don't have to pitch a tent, there are no air mattresses to inflate, and you won't get annoyed at those rocks or rain ruining your good night's rest. Instead, you'll enjoy high-quality accommodations in the great outdoors -- from quaint treehouses in vineyards to a cosy igloo under a starry sky, and from traditional yurts set within a Zen-like forest to mysterious caves overlooking a gorgeous mountain range. It's all here to dream about and plan, including locations in: Great Britain; Albania; Belgium; Czech Republic; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Italy; Latvia.; Lithuania; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; The Netherlands. Detailed descriptions and gorgeous full-colour photos immerse readers in the beauty of nature and the lap of luxury in the finest destinations. So indulge in the perfect vacation that satisfies all your needs, being in the great outdoors while enjoying all the modern comforts of the best hotels in the world. It's time to get your glamp on, and Glamping will show you how!

The Great Boston trivia and Fact Book"", by Merrill Kaitz, is a celebration of the unique role Boston has played in the nation's history and the people and institutions that have determined the character of the city. In 1871 E. L. Godkin wrote, ""Boston is the one place in America where wealth and knowledge of how to use it are apt to coincide"".""

Find the Best Hikes and Backpacking Trips in California's Sierra Nevada The rush of trekking through nature, the thrill of experiencing new places, the reward of discovering beautiful sights-all of this awaits in the Sierra Nevada. For more than 40 years, this definitive guidebook has led readers along the top trails between the mountain range's northern boundary and the southern edge of Yosemite National Park. Now, with this revised and updated edition, let hiking experts Elizabeth Wenk and Mike White show you the way. Sierra North features 86 meticulously selected trips, from new routes to old favorites. Traverse Hoover Wilderness, Ansel Adams Wilderness, Carson-Iceberg Wilderness, Emigrant Wilderness, Desolation Wilderness, and more. The trips are organized around major highways and roads, so it's easy to choose your next adventure. Just pick an area, drive there, and go hiking. Inside you'll find 86 trips that range from quick overnighters to 11-day excursions Complete trip details, including day-by-day trail descriptions, GPS waypoints, and elevation data 36 trailhead maps that show the routes for every trip Beginner tips and trusted advice on camping, fishing, and bear safety Information on side trips, geology, natural history, and more Planning your trip into the northern Sierra backcountry is easier than ever before. For additional hiking and backpacking opportunities, see the companion guide Sierra South.

The Triangle is consistently rated one of the best places in the nation to live and work. Its rapidly growing population has generated a need for housing, shopping centers, and infrastructure—and for recreational facilities. Trails of the Triangle describes over 400 trails within a 50-mile radius of the Triangle, whether on federal, state, city/county, or private property. Trails range in distance from a few yards, such as the 92-yard Honeysuckle Lane Trail in Fuquay-Varina to the 50-mile Falls Lake Trail. There are residential trails such as Shelley Lake Trail, which is so popular that it has a speed limit of 10 miles per hour and a centerline to separate traffic. There are trails in remote forests, such as the Summit Loop Trail, where you may not see another person. You can find trails for equestrians, in-line skaters, cyclists, and even the differently abled. Before his death, Allen de Hart hiked more than 53,000 miles in 46 states and 18 foreign countries. He is the author of nine books and trail guides for the Carolinas and other Southeastern states. He built his first trail with his two brothers to create a shortcut from their family’s farm to the local school. After earning a master’s degree from the University of Virginia and serving nine years in the United States Army, de Hart moved with his wife to Louisburg, NC, where he taught history and served as director of public affairs for Louisburg College.

In travel narratives, in correspondence, in diaries, and even in fiction, travelers to Philadelphia have bequeathed to us a bounty of "as many Philadelphias as there are observers." Philip Stevick's collection of outsiders' observations captures what the visitors thought they saw and how it felt to have engaged the life of the city. Some travelers visited the classic destinations of earlier times, such as the great waterworks complex; others reacted generally to the tone and temper of the city. Together, these accounts fall into patterns that often convey a mythic reading of the city, as a place of uncommon order and symmetry, for example, or a place of great torpor and dullness, or a city extraordinary for the way in which elements of wilderness interpenetrate the metropolitan core. Stevick finds that the city has inscribed itself on the imaginations of two centuries of visitors in ways that are often compelling but unpredictable, a parallel city to the place on the map and the street under foot, a city of the mind, an imagined Philadelphia.

There’s more to Michigan than beautiful forests, shuttered factories, and miles and miles of stunning shoreline. Armed with this offbeat travel guide, you’ll soon discover the strange underbelly of the Great Lakes State. Michigan has monuments to fluoridation, snurfing, the designer of the Jefferson nickel, and the once-famous Mr. Chicken, as well as festivals honoring tulips, Christmas pickles, and a 38-acre fungus. It’s where you’ll find the World’s Largest Lugnut, the Nun Doll Museum, Joe’s Gizzard City, the Teenie-Weenie Pickle Barrel Cottage, Howdy Doody, and Thomas Edison’s last breath. The state also has its share of weird history—it’s where Harry Houdini perished on Halloween night in 1926, where skater Tanya Harding’s posse whacked Nancy Kerrigan, and where the Kellogg brothers invented popular breakfast cereals and less-popular yogurt enemas. Along with humorous histories and witty observations, Oddball Michigan provides addresses, websites, hours, fees, and driving directions for each of its 450 entries.

"An elegiac prose celebration ...a classic in its genre."-Publishers Weekly In this acclaimed travel memoir, Donald Richie paints a memorable portrait of the island-studded Inland Sea. His existential ruminations on food, culture, and love and his brilliant descriptions of life and landscape are a window into an Old Japan that has now nearly vanished. Included are the twenty black and white photographs by Yoichi Midorikawa that accompanied the original 1971 edition. Donald Richie (1924-2013) was an internationally recognized expert on Japanese culture and film. Yoichi Midorikawa (1915-2001) was one of Japan's foremost nature photographers.

AdventureMaps provide global travellers with the perfect combination of detail and perspective, highlighting hundreds of points of interest and the diverse and unique destinations within the country. Each map is printed on durable synthetic paper, making them waterproof and tear-resistant. This Everest Base Camp map features a Trails Illustrated folded topographic map with trekking routes from Lukla to Everest Base Camp, Sagarmatha National Park. A full map of Nepal and detail map of Kathmandu is on the reverse side. Scale : 1:50,000 Flat Size : 965 x 660 mm.