In the tradition of "A Year in Provence" and "Under the Tuscan Sun," acclaimed English travel writer Tahir Shah shares a highly entertaining account of making an exotic dream come true. By turns hilarious and harrowing, here is the story of his family's move from the gray skies of London to the sun-drenched city of Casablanca, where Islamic tradition and African folklore converge-and nothing is as easy as it seems....
Inspired by the Moroccan vacations of his childhood, Tahir Shah dreamed of making a home in that astonishing country. At age thirty-six he got his chance. Investing what money he and his wife, Rachana, had, Tahir packed up his growing family and bought Dar Khalifa, a crumbling ruin of a mansion by the sea in Casablanca that once belonged to the city's caliph, or spiritual leader.
With its lush grounds, cool, secluded courtyards, and relaxed pace, life at Dar Khalifa seems sure to fulfill Tahir's fantasy-until he discovers that in many ways he is farther from home than he imagined. For in Morocco an empty house is thought to attract jinns, invisible spirits unique to the Islamic world. The ardent belief in their presence greatly hampers sleep and renovation plans, but that is just the beginning. From elaborate exorcism rituals involving sacrificial goats to dealing with gangster neighbors intent on stealing their property, the Shahs must cope with a new culture and all that comes with it.
Endlessly enthralling, "The Caliph's House" charts a year in the life of one family who takes a tremendous gamble. As we follow Tahir on his travels throughout the kingdom, from Tangier to Marrakech to the Sahara, we discover a world of fierce contrasts that any true adventurer would be thrilled to call home.

"From the Hardcover edition."

"Don't women with children travel?" Marybeth Bond and Pamela Michael enquire, in their book A Mother's World: Journeys of the Heart (1998), when discovering the absence of portrayals of travelling mothers. Addressing this absence, our book Travellin' Mama: Mothers, Mothering and Travel explores the multiple dimensions of motherhood and travel. Through a variety of compelling creative pieces and critical essays with a global outlook and wide-ranging historical, cultural, and national perspectives, Travellin' Mama: Mothers, Mothering and Travel examines the vital contributions made to travel writing and representations of travel by mothers. Autoethnographical approaches inform many of the pieces in this book, illustrating the significance of the personal and writing the self in re-imagining our cultural narratives and representations of travel, and the mothers who undertake it. This book is about mothers who travel, for mothers who travel with their children, and all those readers who have travelled in any capacity, with or without family.

Are you ready to set out on a puzzle adventure around Britain from your own front room? Can you solve the fiendish clues and make your way from map to map on the trail of a mysterious treasure? Do you have what it takes to follow in the footsteps of history? The bestselling puzzle phenomenon is back with a whole new twist on the treasure hunt. Based on 40 brand new maps stretching across the whole of Britain, The Ordnance Survey Great British Treasure Hunt will offer hours of brain-teasing fun. From the highlands of Scotland, to the White Cliffs of Dover and taking in iconic locations like Loch Ness, Glastonbury Tor, Stratford-Upon-Avon and the cloisters of Cambridge, you'll have to piece together the clues, scour the maps and crack codes and anagrams on the trail of a mysterious treasure. As you travel across Britain you'll discover the riches of myth and history that are hidden throughout the land. With over 330 puzzles ranging from easy to mind-boggling and an ultimate master puzzle with the chance to win real treasure, there's only one question left. Do YOU have what it takes to accept the challenge?

Thomas Cook has always been drawn to dark places, for the powerful emotions they evoke and for what we can learn from them. These lessons are often unexpected and sometimes profoundly intimate, but they are never straightforward. With his wife and daughter, Cook travels across the globe in search of darkness-from Lourdes to Ghana, from San Francisco to Verdun, from the monumental, mechanized horror of Auschwitz to the intimate personal grief of a shrine to dead infants in Kamukura, Japan. Along the way he reflects on what these sites may teach us, not only about human history, but about our own personal histories. During the course of a lifetime of traveling to some of earth's most tragic locals, from the leper colony on Molokai to ground zero at Hiroshima, he finds not only darkness, but a light that can illuminate the darkness within each of us. Written in vivid prose, this is at once a personal memoir of exploration (both external and internal) and a strangely heartening look at the radiance and optimism that may be found at the very heart of darkness.

"Cycling in the Peak District - Off-Road Trails and Quiet Lanes" is a guidebook for the leisure cyclist, mountain biker and family rider. It is for the cyclist who values fun, good views and lunch stops over grimaces, a racing heartbeat and aching legs. It is a book of enjoyable cycle rides. Eighteen routes, between 9 and 23km in length, explore the traffic-free lanes and off-road trails of the Peak District. Taking in quiet roads, dedicated cycleways and some of the more amenable off-road riding in the area, the routes explore every corner of the Peak; limestone dales, open moors, gritstone crags and tiny villages - they're all there. Never too long, too difficult or too remote, they are great fun and are challenging for riders of all ages and abilities. The guide also includes suggestions on where to ride with children and a section on where to ride along dedicated cycleways away from the traffic. Written by local riders, the rides are clearly described using step-by-step instructions and feature original maps, route profiles and local information.

With stories that mothers everywhere can relate to, Letters on Motherhood is the perfect gift this Mother's Day 'Inspiring, beautiful and eye opening. Thank you Giovanna. You've made many mothers feel like they're not alone' 5***** Reader Review 'As heartwarming as it is moving' Hello! NOW WITH FOUR EXCLUSIVE NEW LETTERS _______ In this beautiful and poignant collection, Giovanna writes deeply heartfelt letters to everyone who has helped her to become the mother she is today. To her young sons: Buzz, Buddy and Max. To Tom, and her mum and dad. But also, to herself, her body, and more. And finally, to all of the mums, dads and mums-to-be out there doing the work too. These letters cover everything from her fears and hopes to the love and uncertainty of being a mother today. Honest, heartwarming and hilarious, Giovanna's relatable musings on motherhood are both a joy and a comfort, paying testament to the power of family. With stories parents everywhere can relate to, Letters on Motherhood is the perfect gift for any Mum. _______ 'Fantastically honest, witty and real . . . I laughed and cried!' 5***** Reader Review 'Giovanna is a real one' Candice Brathwaite, bestselling author of I Am Not Your Baby Mother 'Cried, laughed and could relate to nearly every word' 5***** Reader Review 'Giovanna is a one of a kind sort of person. She's genuine, talented, and well honestly? I just really like her' Rosie Ramsay, bestselling author of Sh**ged. Married. Annoyed.

This stylish guide to all things to do in the outdoors will bring day hikers and campers of all ages closer to nature in delightful and unexpected ways. Readers learn traditional bushcraft skills, like making a bow and arrow, weaving a fishing net, and building a Swedish fire log, along with fun and accessible projects including making natural candles, creating a mudslide, and taking a night walk in the woods. Maria Nilsson's playful and informative illustrations bring each skill to life, making this the perfect gift for outdoors enthusiasts of all skill levels, from first-time hikers to experienced trekkers. The perfect size to toss in your day pack, 50 Things to Do in the Wild will become an essential companion on all your outdoor adventures.