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In Europe's Shadow: Two Cold Wars and a Thirty-Year Journey Through Romania and Beyond
by Robert D. KaplanFrom the New York Times bestselling author Robert D. Kaplan, named one of the world's Top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy magazine, comes a riveting journey through one of Europe's frontier countries--and a potent examination of the forces that will determine Europe's fate in the postmodern age. Robert Kaplan first visited Romania in the 1970s, when he was a young journalist and the country was a bleak Communist backwater. It was one of the darkest corners of Europe, but few Westerners were paying attention. What ensued was a lifelong obsession with a critical, often overlooked country--a country that, today, is key to understanding the current threat that Russia poses to Europe. In Europe's Shadow is a vivid blend of memoir, travelogue, journalism, and history, a masterly work thirty years in the making--the story of a journalist coming of age, and a country struggling to do the same. Through the lens of one country, Kaplan examines larger questions of geography, imperialism, the role of fate in international relations, the Cold War, the Holocaust, and more. Here Kaplan illuminates the fusion of the Latin West and the Greek East that created Romania, the country that gave rise to Ion Antonescu, Hitler's chief foreign accomplice during World War II, and the country that was home to the most brutal strain of Communism under Nicolae Ceaușescu. Romania past and present are rendered in cinematic prose: the ashen faces of citizens waiting in bread lines in Cold War-era Bucharest; the Bărăgan Steppe, laid bare by centuries of foreign invasion; the grim labor camps of the Black Sea Canal; the majestic Gothic church spires of Transylvania and Maramureş. Kaplan finds himself in dialogue with the great thinkers of the past, and with the Romanians of today, the philosophers, priests, and politicians--those who struggle to keep the flame of humanism alive in the era of a resurgent Russia. Upon his return to Romania in 2013 and 2014, Kaplan found the country transformed yet again--now a traveler's destination shaped by Western tastes, yet still emerging from the long shadows of Hitler and Stalin. In Europe's Shadow is the story of an ideological and geographic frontier--and the book you must read in order to truly understand the crisis with Russia, and within Europe itself. Advance praise for In Europe's Shadow "A masterly work of important history, analysis, and prophecy about the ancient and modern rise of Romania as a roundabout between Russia and Europe . . . I learned something new on every page. Robert D. Kaplan is a master."--Tom Brokaw "A tour de force of cultural and political travel writing in which Romania's complex past and uncertain present become vivid and newly urgent."--Colin Thubron, author of Shadow of the Silk Road and co-editor of Patrick Leigh Fermor's The Broken Road"In a triple journey through books, landscapes, and histories, Kaplan tackles the meaning of geography, the influence of intellectuals, and the daffiness--and power--of nationalism. . . . Timely, insightful, and deeply honest."--Charles King, professor of international affairs, Georgetown University, and author of Midnight at the Pera Palace: The Birth of Modern Istanbul "A favorite of mine for years, Robert D. Kaplan is a thoughtful and insight-driven historian who writes clear and compelling prose, but what I like most about him is his political sophistication. In Europe's Shadow makes you look up and think about what's on the page--a true pleasure for the reader."--Alan FurstFrom the Hardcover edition.
In Europe: Travels Through the Twentieth Century
by Geert MakGeert Mak spent the year 1999 criss-crossing the continent, tracing the history of Europe from Verdun to Berlin, St Petersburg to Auschwitz, Kiev to Srebrenica. He set off in search of evidence and witnesses, looking to define the condition of Europe at the verge of a new millennium. The result is mesmerising: Mak's rare double talent as a sharp-eyed journalist and a hugely imaginative historian makes In Europe a dazzling account of that journey, full of diaries, newspaper reports and memoirs, and the voices of prominent figures and unknown players; from the grandson of Kaiser Wilhelm II to Adriana Warno in Poland, with her holiday job at the gates of the camp at Birkenau. But Mak is above all an observer. He describes what he sees at places that have become Europe's well-springs of memory, where history is written into the landscape. At Ypres he hears the blast of munitions from the Great War that are still detonated twice a day. In Warsaw he finds the point where the tram rails that led to the Jewish ghetto come to a dead end in a city park. And in an abandoned cregrave;che near Chernobyl, where tiny pairs of shoes still stand in neat rows, he is transported back to the moment time stood still in the dying days of the Soviet Union. Mak combines the larger story of twentieth-century Europe with details that suddenly give it a face, a taste and a smell. His unique approach makes the reader an eyewitness to his own half-forgotten past, full of unknown peculiarities, sudden insights and touching encounters. In Europe is a masterpiece; it reads like the epic novel of the continent's most extraordinary century.
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
by John HeminwayThe remarkable story of one woman's search for a new life in Africa in the wake of World War II--a life that sparked a heroic career, but also hid a secret past.Dr. Anne Spoerry treated hundreds of thousands of people across rural Kenya over the span of fifty years. A member of the renowned Flying Doctors Service, the French-born Spoerry learned how to fly a plane at the age of forty-five and earned herself the cherished nickname, "Mama Daktari"--"Mother Doctor"--from the people of Kenya. Yet few knew what drove her from post-World War II Europe to Africa. Now, in the first comprehensive account of her life, Dr. Spoerry's revered selflessness gives way to a past marked by rebellion, submission, and personal decisions that earned her another nickname--this one sinister--working as a "doctor" in a Nazi concentration camp.In Full Flight explores the question of whether it is possible to rewrite one's troubled past simply by doing good in the present. Informed by Spoerry's own journals, a trove of previously untapped files, and numerous interviews with those who knew her in Europe or Africa, John Heminway takes readers on a remarkable journey across a haunting African landscape and into a dramatic life punctuated by both courage and weakness and driven by a powerful need to atone.
In God's Country: Travels in Bible Belt, USA
by Douglas KennedyThough much has been written about the political implications of the religious revival which has engulfed America in recent years, a question remains unanswered: what pushes its people into 'declaring for Jesus'?Douglas Kennedy spent a long hot summer cruising through that expanse of the American South known as 'The Bible Belt' exploring that question. In a remarkable journey into one of the strangest corners of the United States, Kennedy finds himself spending time in Miami with a one-time member of the Mafia turned charismatic preacher, discovering Christian heavy metal music in Nashville, and visiting Death Row in South Carolina with an evangelist who ministers to the condemned.Repeatedly discovering the extraordinary within the ordinary, IN GOD'S COUNTRY is a profound, yet brilliantly entertaining exploration of life in late twentieth century America.
In God's Country: Travels in Bible Belt, USA
by Douglas KennedyThough much has been written about the political implications of the religious revival which has engulfed America in recent years, a question remains unanswered: what pushes its people into 'declaring for Jesus'?Douglas Kennedy spent a long hot summer cruising through that expanse of the American South known as 'The Bible Belt' exploring that question. In a remarkable journey into one of the strangest corners of the United States, Kennedy finds himself spending time in Miami with a one-time member of the Mafia turned charismatic preacher, discovering Christian heavy metal music in Nashville, and visiting Death Row in South Carolina with an evangelist who ministers to the condemned.Repeatedly discovering the extraordinary within the ordinary, IN GOD'S COUNTRY is a profound, yet brilliantly entertaining exploration of life in late twentieth century America.
In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the Story of Its Survivors (True Rescue Series)
by Doug Stanton Michael J. TougiasA young readers edition of Doug Stanton and Michael J. Tougias' New York Times bestseller In Harm’s Way—a riveting World War II account of the greatest maritime disaster in US naval history."A masterful account of one of history's most poignant and tragic secrets." —#1 New York Times-bestelling author Lee ChildOn July 30, 1945, the U.S.S. Indianapolis was torpedoed in the South Pacific by a Japanese submarine. An estimated 300 men were killed upon impact; close to 900 sailors were cast into the Pacific Ocean, where they remained undetected by the navy for nearly four days and nights. Battered by a savage sea, they struggled to stay alive, fighting off sharks, hypothermia, and hallucinations. By the time rescue arrived, all but 316 men had died. The captain's subsequent court-martial left many questions unanswered: How did the navy fail to realize the Indianapolis was missing? And how did these 316 men manage to survive against all odds?New York Times bestselling author Michael J. Tougias adapts his histories of real life stories for young readers in his True Rescue Series, capturing the heroism and humanity of people on life-saving missions during maritime disasters.More Thrilling True Rescue Books:The Finest Hours (Young Readers Edition)A Storm Too Soon (Young Readers Edition)Into the Blizzard (Young Readers Edition)Attacked at Sea (Young Readers Edition)Rescue on the Bounty (Young Readers Edition)
In High Places with Henry David Thoreau: A Hiker's Guide with Routes & Maps (First)
by John GibsonHiking routes let you explore the same areas of MA, NH, and ME that Thoreau explored. This is the essential guide for modern-day walkers and hikers eager to retrace Thoreau's routes on New England's peaks. Insights about Thoreau's mountain journeys, excerpts from his trip narratives, detailed topographical maps, and precise trail directions pave the way--figuratively--for hikers who want to cover the same ground that Thoreau explored in the mid-19th century. With this inventive guide in hand, history and literature buffs and outdoors enthusiasts alike can enjoy a dozen hikes and at least as many stories of what the trails were like in Thoreau's day. Thoreau was drawn to these high places because they are the natural world amplified, the world thrust upward. Not to go there was unthinkable. "We must go out and re-ally ourselves to Nature every day," he wrote in 1856. "I am sensible that I am imbibing health when I open my mouth to the wind...Alone in distant woods or fields, I come to myself, I once more feel myself grandly related, and that cold and solitude are friends of mine." John Gibson is the author of several books, including Explorer's Guides 50 Hikes in Coastal and Southern Maine and Weekend Walks along the New England Coast (both Countryman). He lives in Hallowell, ME.
In India and East Africa E-Indiya nase East Africa: A travelogue in isiXhosa and English
by Tina Steiner Davidson Don Jabavu Mhlobo Jadezweni Catherine Higgs Evan M. MwangiA politician's journey to bring home Mahatma Gandhi's teachings home to South Africa in the wake of WWIIIn November 1949, Davidson Don Tengo (D.D.T.) Jabavu, the South African politician, Methodist lay preacher and retired professor of African languages and Latin at Fort Hare University in the Eastern Cape, set out on a four-month trip to attend the World Pacifist Meeting in India. The conference brought together delegates from over thirty countries to reflect on how Mahatma Gandhi’s life and teachings could inform pacifist work in the post-World War II era. Jabavu wrote an isiXhosa account of his journey up the east coast of Africa and to different parts of India which was first published in 1951 by Lovedale Press. His narrative contains wide-ranging reflections on the fauna and flora of the changing landscape, on intriguing social interactions during his travels, and on the conference itself, where he considered what lessons Gandhian principles might yield for oppressed South Africans engaged in struggles for freedom and dignity. He incorporates accounts of chance meetings with important figures of post-independence India and of the anti-colonial struggle in East Africa, as well as with members of the American civil rights movement. His commentary on non-violent resistance, and on the dangers of nationalism when coupled with militarism and racism, enriches the existing archive of intellectual and political exchange between Africa and India from a black South African perspective. This new edition includes Jabavu’s travelogue in the original isiXhosa, with an English translation by the late anthropologist Cecil Wele Manona. Tina Steiner’s introductory chapter examines the networks of international solidarity and friendship that Jabavu helped to strengthen in the course of his travels. A chapter by Mhlobo W. Jadezweni, whose updating of the original isiXhosa orthography has made Jabavu’s text accessible to new generations of readers, considers the richness of Jabavu’s isiXhosa style as a contribution to the archive of great African-language literature. Catherine Higgs provides biographical sketches of D.D.T. Jabavu and Cecil Wele Manona which situate this travelogue within the broader context of their lives. Evan M. Mwangi’s Afterword is a reflection on the historical and political significance of making African-language texts available to readers across Africa.
In Late Winter We Ate Pears: A Year of Hunger and Love
by Deirdre Heekin Caleb BarberMore than a cookbook, In Late Winter We Ate Pears is a love affair with a culture and a way of life. In vignettes taken from their year in Italy, husband and wife Caleb Barber and Deirdre Heekin offer glimpses of a young, vibrant Italy: of rolling out pizza dough in an ancient hilltown at midnight while wild dogs bay in the abandoned streets; of the fogged car windows of an ancient lovers' lane amid the olive groves outside Prato.The recipes in In Late Winter We Ate Pears are every bit as delicious as the memories. Selections such as red snapper with fennel sauce, fresh figs with balsamic vinegar and mint, and frangipane and plum tart capture the essence of Italy. Following the tradition of Italian cuisine, the 80 recipes are laid out according to season, to suggest taking advantage of your freshest local ingredients.Whether you are an experienced cook looking for authentic Italian recipes or a beginner wanting to immerse yourself in the romance of a young couple's culinary adventure, In Late Winter We Ate Pears provides rich sustenance in the best tradition of travel and food writing.Cheers to Chef Barber and writer Deirdre Heekin for sharing these marvelous recipes from Osteria Pane e Salute (Pane translates as bread and Salute as health) and for sharing the story of a most inspired year spent in Italy. In Late Winter We Ate Pears is a testament that bread and health are the things that make a good life.
In Love in New York
by Jacob Lehman Caitlin LeffelNew York is a city for lovers: In Love in New York guides the reader to the most romantic sights and destinations the city has to offer. Whether you want to watch the sun rise over the East River like Woody and Diane or enjoy a Cary Grant/Deborah Kerr moment at the top of the Empire State Building, there is no greater city than New York for couples in love. The book begins with "first impressions," the iconic New York sights that never fail to dazzle: the skyline (and the best places to view it), the most beautiful blocks and neighborhoods, the famous views (rooftops, bridges, riverside parks). Chapters follow on great date ideas, including destination museums and unusual "dinner-and-a-movie/theater" combinations. For readers ready to commit, the authors detail the best proposal spots; where to go ring shopping; the coolest places to register for gifts; and information about the legal requirements for marrying in the city (gay and straight), including a rundown on the classic City Hall wedding--with the best places to buy flowers and to celebrate afterwards, naturally. There are also ideas for planning honeymoons and anniversaries. Throughout, sidebars offer romantic options such as wonderful bars with fireplaces, the prettiest park benches, great New York literary and film affairs to inspire your visit, and romantic day trips within and near the five boroughs. From champagne on the Peninsula rooftop in midtown to ice skating in Bryant Park, In Love in New York is the perfect gift for any couple dreaming of experiencing the romance of New York.
In Love with Rome: Recipes and Stories from the Eternal City
by Lisa Nieschlag Lars WentrupIn Love with Rome is an irresistible combination of 50 delicious sweet and savoury recipes and stories of epic romance. Discover all that the Eternal City has to offer from its ancient architecture and iconic landmarks to its famously tasty cuisine. Whip up flavourful pasta dishes such as Spaghetti Cacio E Pepe and Rigatoni All'Amatriciana as well as Italian classics like Pizza Con Salsiccia and Risotto Alle Vongole e Limone. Indulge in a slower pace of life and linger over a Tiramisu or Affogato al Caffé while you read about famous films such as La Dolce Vita and Eat Pray Love that made this beautiful city their backdrop.In Love with Rome will have you cooking stunning Italian food until your next holiday there!
In Maremma: Life and a House in Southern Tuscany
by David Leavitt Mark MitchellNow with stunning illustrations and color photographs, this newly expanded edition of In Maremma recounts David Leavitt and Mark Mitchell's restoration of a dilapidated 1950s farmhouse in southern Tuscany. Beautifully written, witty, and concise, it recounts the process by which they became initiated into a part of Italian life foreigners rarely see. The pleasures of the olive harvest and picking wild asparagus are juxtaposed with the vagaries of political corruption and self-perpetuating bureaucracy. Landscape and weather provide the stuff of reverie, as do the benefits of boredom and the longing for peanut butter. A celebration and exploration of a little-known part of Italy, In Maremma is a fond if sometimes critical corrective to other more rapturous portrayals of Tuscany.
In My Stride: Lessons learned through life and adventure
by Helen SkeltonCountryfile presenter and Strictly star Helen Skelton, shows us how getting out in nature and putting one foot in front of the other can help us journey back to ourselves.Helen Skelton is no stranger to doing hard things, from kayaking the entire length of the Amazon to competing in a boxing match for Sports Relief. Her ability to dig deep and find the inner strength and to carry on no matter the challenge - physical, mental, or emotional - is nothing short of remarkable. Helen grew up on a farm in Cumbria and credits her deep connection with nature and family for grounding her throughout the experiences in her life. In My Stride explores the lessons Helen has learned through life and adventure, sharing how getting out in nature can help us heal, grow, and find the resilience to move through challenging times in our lives. It tells stories of finding confidence, authenticity, courage, resilience, acceptance, community, and freedom against the backdrop of life's peaks and troughs and through the power of the natural world. Helen shows us how putting one foot in front of the other - whether that's on the Strictly dance floor or in the great outdoors - can help us to journey back to ourselves.(P)2023 Headline Publishing Group Ltd
In My Stride: Lessons learned through life and adventure
by Helen SkeltonHelen Skelton is no stranger to doing hard things, from kayaking the entire length of the Amazon to competing in a boxing match for Sports Relief. Her ability to dig deep and find the inner strength and to carry on no matter the challenge - physical, mental, or emotional - is nothing short of remarkable. Helen grew up on a farm in Cumbria and credits her deep connection with nature and family for grounding her throughout the experiences in her life. In My Stride explores the lessons Helen has learned through life and adventure, sharing how getting out in nature can help us heal, grow, and find the resilience to move through challenging times in our lives. It tells stories of finding confidence, authenticity, courage, resilience, acceptance, community, and freedom against the backdrop of life's peaks and troughs and through the power of the natural world. Helen shows us how putting one foot in front of the other - whether that's on the Strictly dance floor or in the great outdoors - can help us to journey back to ourselves.
In New York
by Marc BrownMarc Brown now calls New York City home, and with In New York, he shares his love for all that the city has to offer and all that it stands for, including the way it's always changing and evolving. From its earliest days as New Amsterdam to the contemporary wonders of Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, and the Empire State Building, to the kid-appealing subway, High Line, and so much more, Marc's rollicking text and gorgeous illustrations showcase what he's come to adore about New York after fulfilling his life-long dream to live in the city he fell in love with during a childhood visit. This is at once a personal story from a beloved children's book creator, a useful primer for first-time travelers on what to see and do with kids in the Big Apple, and a perfect keepsake after a visit. It's also a great gift for anyone who loves New York, the Crossroads of the World. New York! New York! It's a heckuva town!From the Hardcover edition.
In Open Contempt: Confronting White Supremacy in Art and Public Space
by Irvin Weathersby Jr.&“An awe-striking masterpiece of love.&”—Jason Reynolds, #1 New York Times bestselling author&“The sentences alone in In Open Contempt make it one of the most memorable books of the decade. But it&’s the unexpected lingering and genius crafting of consequential action that makes this one of the freshest explorations of space I&’ve ever read. Irvin Weathersby Jr. has made something we&’ve never before seen, felt, or witnessed.&” —Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy: An American MemoirA stirring journey into the soul of a fractured America that confronts the enduring specter of white supremacy in our art, monuments, and public spaces, from a captivating new literary voiceAmid the ongoing reckoning over America&’s history of anti-Black racism, scores of monuments to slaveowners and Confederate soldiers still proudly dot the country&’s landscape, while schools and street signs continue to bear the names of segregationists. With poignant, lyrical prose, cultural commentator Irvin Weathersby confronts the inescapable specter of white supremacy in our open spaces and contemplates what it means to bear witness to sites of lasting racial trauma.Weathersby takes us from the streets of his childhood in New Orleans&’s Lower Ninth Ward to the Whitney Plantation; from the graffitied pedestals of Confederate statues lining Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia, to the location of a racist terror attack in Charlottesville; from the site of the Wounded Knee massacre in South Dakota to a Kara Walker art installation at a former sugar factory in Brooklyn, New York. Along the way, he challenges the creation myths embedded in America&’s landmarks and meets artists, curators, and city planners doing the same. Urgent and unflinchingly intimate, In Open Contempt offers a hopeful reimagining of the spaces we share in order to honor our nation&’s true history, encouraging us to make room for love as a way to heal and treat each other more humanely.
In Other Words
by Jhumpa Lahiri Ann Goldstein<P>From the Pulitzer Prize winner, a surprising, powerful and eloquent non-fiction debut.In Other Words is at heart a love story--of a long and sometimes difficult courtship, and a passion that verges on obsession: that of a writer for another language. <P>For Jhumpa Lahiri, that love was for Italian, which first captivated and capsized her during a trip to Florence after college. And although Lahiri studied Italian for many years afterward, true mastery had always eluded her. So in 2012, seeking full immersion, she decided to move to Rome with her family, for "a trial by fire, a sort of baptism" into a new language and world. <P> In Rome, Lahiri began to read, and to write--initially in her journal--solely in Italian. In Other Words, an autobiographical work written in Italian, investigates the process of learning to express oneself in another language, and describes the journey of a writer seeking a new voice. Presented in a dual-language format, it is a book about exile, linguistic and otherwise, written with an intensity and clarity not seen since Nabokov. <P>A startling act of self-reflection and a provocative exploration of belonging and reinvention. Translated from the Italian by Ann Goldstein. <P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
In Other Words: 40 Years of Writing on Indonesia
by Goenawan MohamadA wide-ranging and beautiful collection of essays from one of world literature’s most important writers.Goenawan Mohamad is one of Indonesia’s foremost public intellectuals, and this translated volume of essays-spanning from 1968 to the present day-demonstrates the breadth of his perceptive and elegant commentary on literature, faith, mythology, politics, and history.Through the worst days of Indonesia's authoritarianism, in the face of the trauma of great violence and the chaos of democratic transition, Goenawan has never lost faith in the act of writing. Many of his essays from In Other Words were first published for Tempo, the Indonesian weekly magazine that he founded in 1971. His writings bring nuance and sympathy to difficult histories, introduce doubt to damaging certainties, and apply clarity of thought and action to times of great upheaval. Activist, journalist, editor, essayist, poet, commentator, theater director, and playwright, Goenawan Mohamad brings an unparalleled and wide-ranging perspective to the world. These essays, translated by his long-time collaborator Jennifer Lindsay, reveal a vision both uniquely Indonesian and completely universal, and indisputably establish him as one of the leading political thinkers and cultural observers in the world today.
In Other Words: In Other Words
by Jhumpa Lahiri Ann GoldsteinIn Other Words is a revelation. It is at heart a love story—of a long and sometimes difficult courtship, and a passion that verges on obsession: that of a writer for another language. For Jhumpa Lahiri, that love was for Italian, which first captivated and capsized her during a trip to Florence after college. Although Lahiri studied Italian for many years afterward, true mastery always eluded her. Seeking full immersion, she decides to move to Rome with her family, for “a trial by fire, a sort of baptism” into a new language and world. There, she begins to read, and to write—initially in her journal—solely in Italian. <p><p> In Other Words, an autobiographical work written in Italian, investigates the process of learning to express oneself in another language, and describes the journey of a writer seeking a new voice. Presented in a dual-language format, this is a wholly original book about exile, linguistic and otherwise, written with an intensity and clarity not seen since Vladimir Nabokov: a startling act of self-reflection and a provocative exploration of belonging and reinvention.
In Paris: 20 Women on Life in the City of Light
by Jeanne Damas Lauren Bastide"If the Internet could create its version of the perfect girl, Jeanne Damas would probably be her. . . . She's nailed that French girl je ne sais quoi." --VogueA window on the world's most stylish city, with more than 100 full-color photos and profiles of 20 diverse and inspiring Parisian women, by "the coolest, most beautiful French girl in France" (GQ) and a former editor in chief of French Elle"We've always been crazy in love with this city. . . . We love its arrogance, its clumsiness, its simplicity. And especially the women who live here."Two quintessential Parisian women--model and fashion designer Jeanne Damas and journalist Lauren Bastide--shine a spotlight on twenty real-life women of Paris, dispelling the myth that there's only one type of Parisian woman and introducing us to the city that real Parisiennes live in. They're booksellers, singers, writers, activists, and antique dealers; they live in small studios, spacious apartments, or houseboats; their ages range from fourteen to seventy . . . and all embody the effortless chic and insouciant spirit of the legendary Parisian woman. In Paris takes us into these women's lives, telling us about their careers, families, favorite nightlife spots, shopping habits, and beloved books and films. Full-color photos taken by Jeanne herself accompany charming lists of advice on the French art de vivre--from the best places to people-watch with a glass of wine after work to the perfect Parisian playlist to the ten things that a French woman would never, ever post on Instagram. Witty, elegant, and modern, In Paris is an ode to Paris through the eyes of its eternally cool women--for everyone who has ever dreamed of one day living in Paris.
In Patagonia: Travels In Patagonia (Virago Modern Classics)
by Bruce ChatwinThe masterpiece of travel writing that revolutionized the genre and made its author famous overnight An exhilarating look at a place that still retains the exotic mystery of a far-off, unseen land, Bruce Chatwin's exquisite account of his journey through Patagonia teems with evocative descriptions, remarkable bits of history, and unforgettable anecdotes. Fueled by an unmistakable lust for life and adventure and a singular gift for storytelling, Chatwin treks through "the uttermost part of the earth"--that stretch of land at the southern tip of South America, where bandits were once made welcome--in search of almost-forgotten legends, the descendants of Welsh immigrants, and the log cabin built by Butch Cassidy. An instant classic upon publication in 1977, In Patagonia is a masterpiece that has cast a long shadow upon the literary world.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.From the Trade Paperback edition.
In Pursuit of Jefferson: Traveling through Europe with the Most Perplexing Founding Father
by Derek BaxterA debut that combines historical nonfiction with travel books, for fans of Bill Bryson and Tony Horwitz, In Pursuit of Jefferson is the story of an American on a journey through Europe, following the epic trail of Thomas Jefferson.A controversial founding father. A man ready for a change. And a completely unique trip through Europe.In 1784, Thomas Jefferson was a broken man. Reeling from the loss of his wife and stung from a political scandal during the Revolutionary war, he needed to remake himself. To do that, he traveled. Wandering through Europe, Jefferson saw and learned as much as he could, ultimately bringing his knowledge home to a young America. There, he would rise to power and shape a nation.More than two hundred years later, Derek Baxter, a devotee of American history, stumbles on an obscure travel guide written by Jefferson—Hints for Americans Traveling Through Europe—as he's going through his own personal crisis. Who better to offer advice than a founding father himself? Using Hints as his roadmap, Baxter follows Jefferson through six countries and countless lessons. But what Baxter learns isn't always what Jefferson had in mind, and as he comes to understand Jefferson better, he doesn't always like what he finds.In Pursuit of Jefferson is at once the story of a life-changing trip through Europe, an unflinching look at a founding father, and a moving personal journey. With rich historical detail, a sense of humor, and boundless heart, Baxter explores how we can be better moving forward only by first looking back.
In Putin's Footsteps: Searching for the Soul of an Empire Across Russia's Eleven Time Zones
by Jeffrey Tayler Nina KhrushchevaIn Putin’s Footsteps is Nina Khrushcheva and Jeffrey Tayler’s unique combination of travelogue, current affairs, and history, showing how Russia’s dimensions have shaped its identity and culture through the decades.With exclusive insider status as Nikita Khrushchev’s great grand-daughter, and an ex-pat living and reporting on Russia and the Soviet Union since 1993, Nina Khrushcheva and Jeffrey Tayler offer a poignant exploration of the largest country on earth through their recreation of Vladimir Putin’s fabled New Year’s Eve speech planned across all eleven time zones.After taking over from Yeltsin in 1999, and then being elected president in a landslide, Putin traveled to almost two dozen countries and a quarter of Russia’s eighty-nine regions to connect with ordinary Russians. His travels inspired the idea of a rousing New Year’s Eve address delivered every hour at midnight throughout Russia’s eleven time zones. The idea was beautiful, but quickly abandoned as an impossible feat. He correctly intuited, however, that the success of his presidency would rest on how the country’s outback citizens viewed their place on the world stage.Today more than ever, Putin is even more determined to present Russia as a formidable nation. We need to understand why Russia has for centuries been an adversary of the West. Its size, nuclear arsenal, arms industry, and scientific community (including cyber-experts), guarantees its influence.
In Sardinia: An Unexpected Journey in Italy
by Jeff Biggers"At last, a grand companion to the mysterious and enchanting island of Sardinia. Known to most travelers for its beaches, Sardinia's complex archeological heritage extends back to Neolithic times. Written with verve and love, In Sardinia is the book I'll be taking on future trips." -Frances Mayes, New York Times bestselling author of Under the Tuscan Sun Award-winning historian Jeff Biggers opens a new window into the hidden treasures of Sardinia in a groundbreaking travel narrative that crisscrosses one of the most enigmatic places in ItalyAfter three decades of living and traveling in Italy, Jeff Biggers finally crossed over to Sardinia, uncovering a treasury of stories amid major archaeological discoveries rewriting the history of the Mediterranean.Based in the bewitching port of Alghero, guided through the island&’s rich and largely untranslated literature, he embarked on a rare journey around the island to experience its famed cuisine, wine, traditional rituals and thriving cultural movements. &“Sardinia is something else. Enchanting spaces and distances to travel,&” D. H. Lawrence wrote in 1921. On the 100th anniversary of Lawrence&’s visit, Biggers opens a new window into the history of the island, chronicling how new archaeological findings have placed the island as one of the cradles of the Bronze Age. From the Neolithic array of Stonehenge-like dolmens and menhir stone formations to the thousands of Bronze Age "nuraghe" towers and burial tombs, the vastness of the uninterrupted cycles of civilizations and their architectural marvels have turned Sardinia into the Mediterranean's "open museum." Beyond its fabled beaches, reconsidering how its unique history and ways have shaped Italy and Europe today, Biggers explores how travelers must first understand Sardinia and its ancient and modern history to truly understand the rest of Italy.In the tradition of Mark Kurlansky&’s Basque History of the World, Peter Hessler&’s Oracle Bones: A Journey Through in China, and Frances Mayes&’ and Tim Parks&’ narratives on Italy, In Sardinia is a major new addition to travel writing and literature in Italy.
In Savage Africa: Or, The Adventures Of Frank Baldwin From The Gold Coast To Zanzibar (Classics To Go)
by Verney Lovett Cameron(Excerpt): "In the year of our Lord 18—, I was delighted one morning by receiving a letter from my father, who was captain and owner of the brig Petrel, telling me that he had arrived safely at Bristol with a valuable cargo, and that both he and my brother Willie, who was second mate of the Petrel, were well. The letter went on to say that my father had decided on taking me to sea with him, and had written to my schoolmaster, the Rev. Stephen Poynter of Clifton, to announce his intention. The letter also said that in two days’ time Willie would come to take me away from school, and that I was to have everything ready for starting when he came."