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The Travels of Ibn Battuta: in the Near East, Asia and Africa, 1325-1354

by Ibn Battuta

The Arab equivalent of Marco Polo, Sheikh Ibn Battuta (1304-77) set out as a young man on a pilgrimage to Mecca that ended 27 years and 75,000 miles later.The only medieval traveler known to have visited the lands of every Muslim ruler of his time, Ibn Battuta was born into a family of highly respected religious judges and educated as a theologian. Leaving his native city of Tangier in 1326, he traveled — over the next several years — to East Africa, Byzantium, Iraq, southern Russia, India, Ceylon, and China. His account of the journey, dictated on his return, not only provides vivid accounts of an odyssey that took him to exotic lands, but also describes in great detail Muslim maritime activities in the Middle and Far East, fascinating elements of foreign architecture, and agricultural activities of diverse cultures.A rare and important work covering the geography and history of the medieval Arab world, this primary sourcebook will be welcomed by students and scholars for its inherent historical value.

The Travels of Juan Ponce de Leon

by Debbie Crisfield

Long-ago adventures are still a thrill in these vividly illustrated titles. These exciting tales of the quest for wealth and land describe the routes taken by famous explorers, the hardships they endured, and the rewards they reaped. Titles also address the impact these explorations made on the native inhabitants of conquered lands.

The Travels of Marco Polo

by Jason Goodwin Marco Polo William Marsden Manuel Komroff

Marco Polo's account of his journey throughout the East in the thirteenth century was one of the earliest European travel narratives, and it remains the most important. The merchant-traveler from Venice, the first to cross the entire continent of Asia, provided us with accurate descriptions of life in China, Tibet, India, and a hundred other lands, and recorded customs, natural history, strange sights, historical legends, and much more. From the dazzling courts of Kublai Khan to the perilous deserts of Persia, no book contains a richer magazine of marvels than the Travels.This edition, selected and edited by the great scholar Manuel Komroff, also features the classic and stylistically brilliant Marsden translation, revised and corrected, as well as Komroff's Introduction to the 1926 edition.

The Travels of Marco Polo

by Marco Polo

Marco Polo was the most famous traveller of his time. His voyages began in 1271 with a visit to China, after which he served the Kubilai Khan on numerous diplomatic missions. On his return to the West he was made a prisoner of war and met Rustichello of Pisa, with whom he collaborated on this book. The accounts of his travels provide a fascinating glimpse of the different societies he encountered: their religions, customs, ceremonies and way of life; on the spices and silks of the East; on precious gems, exotic vegetation and wild beasts. He tells the story of the holy shoemaker, the wicked caliph and the three kings, among a great many others, evoking a remote and long-vanished world with colour and immediacy.

The Travels of Mendes Pinto

by Fernão Mendes Pinto

This text, ostensibly the autobiography of Portugese explorer Fernão Mendes Pinto, came second only to Marco Polo's work in exciting Europe's imagination of the Orient. Chronicling adventures from Ethiopia to Japan, Travels covers twenty years of Mendes Pinto's odyssey as a soldier, a merchant, a diplomat, a slave, a pirate, and a missionary, and continues to overwhelm questions about its source with the sheer enjoyment of its narrative. "[T]here is plenty here for the modern reader. . . . The vivid descriptions of swashbuckling military campaigns and exotic locations make this a great adventure story. . . . Mendes Pinto may have been a sensitive eyewitness, or a great liar, or a brilliant satirist, but he was certainly more than a simple storyteller."—Stuart Schwartz, The New York Times

The Travels of Reverend Ólafur Egilsson: The Story of the Barbary Corsair Raid on Iceland in 1627

by Ólafur Egilsson

A seventeenth-century minister tells his story of abduction by pirates, and a solo journey from Algiers to Copenhagen, in this remarkable historical text. In summer 1627, Barbary corsairs raided Iceland, killing dozens and abducting almost four hundred people to sell into slavery in Algiers. Among those taken was Lutheran minister Olafur Egilsson. Reverend Olafur—born in the same year as William Shakespeare and Galileo Galilei—wrote The Travels to chronicle his experiences both as a captive and as a traveler across Europe as he journeyed alone from Algiers to Copenhagen in an attempt to raise funds to ransom the Icelandic captives that remained behind. He was a keen observer, and the narrative is filled with a wealth of detail―social, political, economic, religious―about both the Maghreb and Europe. It is also a moving story on the human level: We witness a man enduring great personal tragedy and struggling to reconcile such calamity with his understanding of God. The Travels is the first-ever English translation of the Icelandic text. Until now, the corsair raid on Iceland has remained largely unknown in the English-speaking world. To give a clearer sense of the extraordinary events connected with that raid, this edition of The Travels includes not only Reverend Olafur&’s first-person narrative but also a collection of contemporary letters describing both the events of the raid itself and the conditions under which the enslaved Icelanders lived. Also included are appendices containing background information on the cities of Algiers and Salé in the seventeenth century, on Iceland in the seventeenth century, on the manuscripts accessed for the translation, and on the book&’s early modern European context.

The Travels of Sir John Mandeville

by John Mandeville

Ostensibly written by an English knight, the Travels purport to relate his experiences in the Holy Land, Egypt, India and China. Mandeville claims to have served in the Great Khan's army, and to have travelled in 'the lands beyond' - countries populated by dog-headed men, cannibals, Amazons and Pygmies. Although Marco Polo's slightly earlier narrative ultimately proved more factually accurate, Mandeville's was widely known, used by Columbus, Leonardo da Vinci and Martin Frobisher, and inspiring writers as diverse as Swift, Defoe and Coleridge. This intriguing blend of fact, exaggeration and absurdity offers both fascinating insight into and subtle criticism of fourteenth-century conceptions of the world.

The Travels of Sir John Mandeville: The Fantastic 14th-Century Account of a Journey to the East

by John Mandeville

One of the most influential books of the medieval period, John Mandeville's fourteenth-century work was written, ostensibly, to encourage and instruct pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. A thorough compendium of medieval lore, the travel book proved to be a great success throughout Europe. (Among his alleged readers were Leonardo da Vinci and Christopher Columbus.) The Travels professes to relate Mandeville's experiences in the Holy Land, Egypt, India, and China--where he served in the Great Khan's army--followed by his journey to "the lands beyond," countries populated by "dog-headed men, cannibals, Amazons, and pygmies." Five centuries after Mandeville recorded his observations in those distant lands, the volume's remarkably exacting accounts of events and geography were found to be probable fabrications.Nevertheless, the book's widespread popularity and influence make it essential to the study of medieval English literature. An engaging mix of fact and fantasy, enhanced with more than 100 rare woodcut illustrations, it has retained its place as one of the greatest and most entertaining works of early English vernacular prose.

The Treasure Hunt: True stories of treasures lost, stolen and found

by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe

Discover real-life stories of treasures lost, stolen and found where YOU become the treasure hunter!Discover a message in a bottle that appears to be from the ghost of Captain William Kidd - the infamous pirate and now, it would seem, thief! Follow a breadcrumb trail of intriguing clues left by the treasure-hungry thief as he travels the world attempting to steal great historic artefacts, paintings, gold and more. The Treasure Hunt takes you on an epic adventure, where you will find out how to decipher tricky codes and uncover heart-stopping accounts of how famous treasures were lost, found or stolen!Crack the codes to turn the page and travel from country to country. But be warned - some treasures may never be found ...

The Treasure of Al-Raqtan

by Don Howard

The story begins in 1968 in Saudi Arabia. Khalid Al-Raqtan dies just before making a pilgrimage to Mecca. He leaves a map and several clues regarding a hidden treasure. The hunt for Al-Raqtan's treasure is a loose link between a series of adventures. Mark Holmes and Dominic O'Flaherty, two men of quite different characters, who are lecturing at the same university, learn of the treasure. They become involved in a race to find it. Mark is the protagonist of the tale, and he soon finds himself caught up in events that present danger and excitement. There is always friction between Mark and the less-scrupulous Dominic. Most of the action in this novel is based upon factual incidents and adventures that take place in: Egypt: Where Mark and fellow members of a holiday group come close to disaster when an antiquate paddle steamer runs aground crossing the Nile. The Lebanon: When the travellers are in Beirut, Israeli commandos attack the airport and destroy a number of planes. A wave of anti-American feeling sweeps the city. Arabian Gulf: Mark goes on a pearl-diving trip. His shipmate is Naiem Al-Raqtan. Naiem agrees to be Mark's partner in the treasure-hunt. He gives Marksome written clues and a map left by his brother, Khalid. Saudi Arabia: Mark leads a convoy of cars on a drive from Dhahran to Jordan. They are suspected of being saboteurs and are abandoned in the wilderness by members of a Saudi borderpatrol. The inevitable showdown between Mark Holmes and Dominic O'Flaherty occurs when they are still in the wilderness. The story contains no gratuitous sex or foul language. The violent incident that does take place is essential to the telling of the tale.

The Treasure of the Bermuda Triangle #6

by Stefano Turconi Sir Steve Stevenson

The fabulous, jet-setting adventures continue in this ongoing mystery series about a hip and headstrong girl detective who travels the globe and always saves the day in style. A priceless Mayan calendar made of solid gold has gone missing in one of the most mysterious places on Earth. Now Agatha and her cousin Dash have to contend with something bigger than a greedy and dangerous criminal--a daring new mystery that sends them to the heart of the Bermuda Triangle.

The Tree Where Man Was Born (Picador Bks. #Vol. 1)

by Peter Matthiessen Jane Goodall

A timeless and majestic portrait of Africa by renowned writer Peter Matthiessen (1927-2014), author of the National Book Award-winning The Snow Leopard and the new novel In Paradise A finalist for the National Book Award when it was released in 1972, this vivid portrait of East Africa remains as fresh and revelatory now as on the day it was first published. Peter Matthiessen exquisitely combines nature and travel writing to portray the sights, scenes, and people he observed firsthand in several trips over the course of a dozen years. From the daily lives of wild herdsmen and the drama of predator kills to the field biologists investigating wild creatures and the anthropologists seeking humanity's origins in the rift valley, The Tree Where Man Was Born is a classic of journalistic observation. This Penguin Classics edition features an introduction by groundbreaking British primatologist Jane Goodall.

The Tree of the Doves: Ceremony, Expedition, War

by Christopher Merrill

“A unique travelogue” that “explores the nature of terror, its place in the post-9/11 world and how it unites and galvanizes those in the throes of it” (Kirkus Reviews).Using several ageless questions—“Where do we come from? Where are we going? What shall we do?”—as his point of departure, journalist and award-winning poet Christopher Merrill explores the related issues of terror, modernity, tradition, and epochal transformation. In three extended essays, Merrill observes the performance of a banned ritual in the Malaysian province of Kelatan; traces Saint-John Perse’s epic voyage from Beijing to Ulan Bator in 1921 and relates it to the China of today; and embarks on a trip across the Levant in 2007 in the wake of the American wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.Merrill asserts that it is in this trinity of human actions—ceremony, expedition, war: all devised to keep terror at bay—that history is formed, and that the technological, political, environmental, and social changes we are witnessing now presage the end of one order and the creation of another.“Merrill is a ‘writer’s writer’: he spins sentences made of gold.” —Publishers Weekly

The Trees of San Francisco

by Michael Sullivan

Trees of San Francisco introduces readers to the rich variety of trees that thrive in San Francisco's unique conditions. San Francisco's cool Mediterranean climate has made it home to interesting and unusual trees from all over the world - trees as colorful and exotic as the city itself.This new guide combines engaging descriptions of sixty-five different trees with color photos that reflect the visual appeal of San Francisco. Each page covers a different tree, with several paragraphs of interesting text accompanied by one or two photos. Each entry for a tree also lists locations where "landmark" specimens of the tree can be found. Interspersed throughout the book are sidebar stories of general interest related to San Francisco's trees. Trees of San Francisco also includes a dozen tree tours that will link landmark trees and local attractions in interesting San Francisco neighborhoods such as the Castro, Pacific Heights and the Mission - walks that will appeal to tourists as well as Bay Area natives.

The Trial of Maximo Bonga: The Story of the Strangest Guesthouse in South East Asia

by John Harris

A body is found on a remote Philippines beach and Maximo Bonga – cantankerous World War Two veteran and owner of the weirdest guesthouse in town – is the perfect fall guy. But one of Maximo’s boarders sets out to defend the old soldier in a kangaroo court set up at the local cockpit.

The Trip to the Moon: Book 4 - A time-travelling adventure (The Butterfly Club #4)

by M.A. Bennett

The adventures of the time-travelling Butterfly Club continue . . .Film is set to become the new craze. Butterfly Club member and filmmaker Georges Méliès pleads to be allowed to go forward in time to harvest a movie camera from the future to make his ambitious film, A Trip to the Moon.The Butterfly Club call up Professor Lorenz's hologram from 1969. The professor reports that all of America is abuzz too, with the most ambitious scientific project in history – an actual trip to the moon. But the mission has stalled in the most terrible way – an accident on the launchpad resulted in the astronauts being trapped in a fatal fire.For the first time ever it is the professor who asks the time thieves for help – he invites them to come to 1969 and stop the dreadful accident, and make sure the trip to the moon can go ahead.

The Trophy Girl

by Kate Lace

When Lucy Carter lands a job in a stately home she feels that all her dreams have come true. Not only is she in fabulous surroundings deep in the country but she is also working for the Earl of Arden. He was once married to the beautiful Becca Hetherington, a gold-medal-winning three-day eventer, and together they were Britain's golden couple – until Becca was killed in a tragic accident. Now a widower, the Earl is a brooding, romantic figure and there are many women, one in particular, who have their sights set on becoming the next Countess. As Lucy settles into her new job, she finds herself increasingly drawn to the Earl, and she isn't alone; all the staff adore him and are fiercely loyal. But as Lucy glimpses behind the money and glamour, she realises that the Earl's past isn't the fairytale everyone believed...

The Tropical House

by Elizabeth Reyes Luca Invernizzi Tettoni

"The Tropical House celebrates a growing trend toward stylish globalization in interior design. More than 25 stunning houses and condos comprise a synthesis of East-West trends and contemporary furnishings--as Filipino designers merge sleek modernist furniture with local designers' "soulful creations" in natural hardwoods and other tropical materials.Over 250 full-color photographs of outstanding Filipino residences will inspire readers with their diverse and contemporary looks. From vintage glamour to classic modern with bold artful accents, to the clean, glam look known as "contemporary chic," this book showcases the myriad tastes of the Philippines.

The Tropical Spa

by Luca Invernizzi Tettoni Sophie Benge

The Tropical Spa catalogs Asia's most luxurious spas with full-color photography and a wide range of stress-busting therapies. The emphasis is on spiritual well-being and natural curatives rather than on modern chemicals and synthetic preparations. Traditional beauty treatments for revitalizing facials; relaxing baths and scrubs; refreshing, healthy tonics and meals; massage oils; blends and techniques; and much more are offered here in an easy-to-follow manner.

The True Adventures of Charley Darwin

by Carolyn Meyer

The fascinating journey of a famous naturalist Young Charley Darwin hated school--he much preferred to be outside studying birds' eggs, feathers, and insects. And so, at the age of twenty-one, he boarded a ship called HMS Beagle and spent five thrilling but dangerous years sailing around the world, studying plant and animal life that was beyond anything he could have imagined. Here, just in time for Darwin's 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his groundbreaking On the Origin of Species, historical novelist Carolyn Meyer tells the story of his unconventional adventures. It's the story of a restless childhood, unrequited teenage love, and a passion for studying nature that was so great, Darwin would sacrifice everything to pursue it.

The True History of The Conquest of New Spain

by Ted Humphrey Bernal Diaz del Castillo Janet Burke

This rugged new translation--the first entirely new English translation in half a century and the only one based on the most recent critical edition of the Guatemalan MS--allows Diaz to recount, in his own battle-weary and often cynical voice, the achievements, stratagems, and frequent cruelty of Hernando Cortes and his men as they set out to overthrow Moctezuma's Aztec kingdom and establish a Spanish empire in the New World.The concise contextual introduction to this volume traces the origins, history, and methods of the Spanish enterprise in the Americas; it also discusses the nature of the conflict between the Spanish and the Aztecs in Mexico, and compares Diaz's version of events to those of other contemporary chroniclers. Editorial glosses summarize omitted portions, and substantial footnotes explain those terms, names, and cultural references in Diaz's text that may be unfamiliar to modern readers. A chronology of the Conquest is included, as are a guide to major figures, a select bibliography, and three maps.

The True Meaning of Smekday

by Adam Rex

Gratuity Tucci gets a fairly early start behind the wheel. She's 11--and she's good if you want to know. Plus, laws don't matter too much these days, and Tip is desperate to find her mom who was abducted by aliens on Christmas Eve.

The Tucci Table: The unmissable cookbook from the bestselling author of Taste

by Stanley Tucci

As seen on BBC2's Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy Food can bind and govern a family and no one knows this more than Hollywood actor and respected foodie, Stanley Tucci. Throughout his childhood, cooking was a familial venture evoking a wealth of memories and traditions.Featuring family-friendly dishes and stunning photography THE TUCCI TABLE will captivate food lovers' imaginations with recipes from Stanley's traditional Italian roots as well as those of his British wife, Felicity Blunt. Each dish is introduced by Stanley and he offers an insight into why each recipe is so special to his family. Recipes include Pasta Al Forno, Roasted Sea bass, Pan Seared Venison and British classics such as Shepherd's Pie and Sausage Rolls.THE TUCCI TABLE captures the true joys of family cooking.

The Tuner of Silences

by Mia Couto David Brookshaw

Mwanito was eleven when he saw a woman for the first time, and the sight so surprised him he burst into tears. Mwanito has been living in a former big-game park for eight years. The only people he knows are his father, his brother, an uncle, and a servant. He's been told that the rest of the world is dead, that all roads are sad, that they wait for an apology from God. In the place his father calls Jezoosalem, Mwanito has been told that crying and praying are the same thing. Both, it seems, are forbidden.The eighth novel by the internationally bestselling Mia Couto, The Tuner of Silences is the story of Mwanito's struggle to reconstruct a family history that his father is unable to discuss. With the young woman's arrival in Jezoosalem, however, the silence of the past quickly breaks down, and both his father's story and the world are heard once more.The Tuner of Silences has been published to acclaim in more than half a dozen countries. Now in its first English translation, this story of an African boy's quest for the truth endures as a magical, humanizing confrontation between one child and the legacy of war.

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