Other books that might interest you

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  Travels Through France And Italy

  Tobias Smollett

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  In Travels Through France and Italy , Tobias Smollett offers a sharp-witted and often acerbic account of his 1765 journey across continental Europe. Written in the form of letters, the narrative captures Smollett’s observations on the customs, manners, politics, and social conditions of France and Italy during the mid-18th century. With little patience for foreign eccentricities or perceived backwardness, Smollett delivers biting commentary on everything from French cuisine and Italian architecture to medical practices and local superstitions. Though often critical and biased, his travelogue provides a vivid and historically rich portrait of Enlightenment-era Europe through the eyes of a skeptical, opinionated Englishman. Combining satire with cultural insight, it remains a classic of early travel literature.

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  Wild Cities: Discovering New...

  Chris Fitch

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  'Mind-shifting, heart-lifting' ISABELLA TREE 
  'Inspiring and essential' ALASTAIR HUMPHREYS 
  'As entertaining as it is enlightening' INDEPENDENT, ★★★★★ 
  Nature isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. But today the majority of the world’s population lives in some form of urban environment. And by 2050, two-thirds of humanity will live in towns and cities. 
  Studies have shown that a daily walk in the woods can improve our health and happiness, that those who can observe a natural scene through a hospital window will recover faster. The sound of birds, the smell of tree oils, the presence of free-flowing water – these are all vital to our wellbeing. So as the human footprint of brick, concrete and metal expands, how do we protect our connection to the natural world? 
  In Wild Cities, Chris Fitch leads us around the world in search of answers, visiting pioneering cities and meeting the people working at the forefront of this issue. From the tiny urban forests in Tokyo and the star-rich skies of Flagstaff, to the meandering river of Munich and lions prowling through gardens in Nairobi, this is a globe-spanning look at how to bring nature into the places we live – and how to create the wild cities of the future. 
  In Wild Cities, Chris Fitch takes us on a journey through the latest advancements in architecture and planning, focusing on the integration of natural habitats into our urban landscapes. This non-fiction book is a must-read for those with an interest in ecotourism and community gardening, offering a unique perspective on how we can use land to create ecosystems within our cities. 
  For fans of Travis Elborough (The Writer's Journey), Alastair Bonnett (Off the Map), Edward Brooke-Hitching (The Devil's Atlas), Ian Mortimer (Medieval Horizons), and Merlin Sheldrake (Entangled Life). 
  HarperCollins 2025

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  Wayfarer: Love loss and life on...

  Phoebe Smith

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  Shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year 2025A Financial Times best summer travel book of 2024Travel Book of the Year at the Inspire Global Media Awards 
  'A powerfully delicate book of love, loss and discovery, along paths of emotional understanding and physical wonder.' Raynor Winn 
  On an assignment to walk the most famous pilgrimage in the world – the Camino de Santiago, in northern Spain – Phoebe Smith somehow lost her way. 
  Having spent a lifetime exploring unfamiliar places, she quit her dream job, ended her long-term relationship and headed home to North Wales to discover the point to… everything. 
  In her search for answers she found herself – quite by accident – walking some of Britain’s oldest pilgrim paths. And by following these old ways, she ended up confronting past traumas that she thought she had laid to rest. 
  But while it follows holy trails, this is not a book about religion. From losing her mother as a teenager to surviving toxic relationships, Phoebe offers an unflinchingly honest look at her battle with an eating disorder, depression, and the pitfalls of newfound singledom. 
  Skilfully weaving together Phoebe’s own story with those of countless travellers past and present, Wayfarer reveals how nature and place can heal past wounds, offering a pathway to salvation she’d never thought existed. 
  In this award-winning autobiography, Smith takes us on a journey through Europe, her words painting vivid images of the walks and hikes she undertakes. Her memoirs are not just travelogues, but essays of self-discovery and healing. 
  For fans of Raynor Winn (Landlines), Stephen Neale (The South West Coast Path), Will Millard (The Way of the Hermit), Steve Davison (15 Short Walks on Dartmoor North), and Daniel Start (Wild Guide Lake District and Yorkshire Dales). 
  HarperCollins 2024

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  The Darién Gap - A Reporter's...

  Belén Fernández

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  The narrow Darién Gap, the only land bridge connecting South and Central America, encompasses a spectacularly hostile jungle, covered in steep mountains, dense rainforests, and flood-prone marshes. Known in Spanish as el infierno verde, or “the green hell,” it is one of the most inhospitable places in the world. Its terrain is too treacherous for roads, yet hundreds of thousands of refuge seekers contend with its horrors every year in the hopes of reaching the United States, still some three thousand miles away. And of the countless who set out for the border, an untold number never arrive. In this book, journalist Belén Fernández travels through the Darién Gap to report on the dehumanizing and deadly stretch of land that has become a mass graveyard for migrants. Fernández’s journey brings her into contact with refuge seekers, people smugglers, law enforcement officials, and many more whose stories bring life to a place overwhelmingly associated with death. Combining history, on-the-ground reporting, travelogue, memoir, and searing politico-economic analysis, she shines light on a largely made-in-the-USA crisis that has come to define our modern era. 

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  Liao Dynasty - Nomadic...

  Rolf Hedger

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  The story of the Liao people begins in the vast and harsh steppe regions to the north of China, where they first emerged as a formidable force in the region’s history. The Liao were a nomadic group, characterized by their mastery of horseback riding and combat, which set them apart from the sedentary agricultural societies of the surrounding civilizations. Their origins are not fully understood, but it is widely believed that they came from the Mongolian Plateau, migrating southward and eastward into the northern reaches of China during the early centuries of the Common Era. 
  In their early years, the Liao people were organized into various tribes, each with its own leadership and customs. These tribes were constantly in motion, following the migratory patterns of their livestock and engaging in periodic warfare with one another for dominance and resources. Despite the chaotic nature of their existence, the Liao were bound together by a common identity rooted in their nomadic lifestyle and warrior culture. Over time, they developed a strong sense of unity, driven by their shared need to survive in an unforgiving environment. 
  As the tribes of the Liao people grew in number and influence, they began to organize themselves more systematically under the leadership of powerful chieftains. These chieftains rose to prominence not only through their military prowess but also through their ability to forge alliances and broker peace with neighboring peoples. The Liao were skilled diplomats, and many of their early leaders recognized the value of creating relationships with the settled agricultural societies that dominated China’s northern frontier. This strategic diplomacy allowed them to secure critical resources, such as grain and horses, while maintaining their autonomy and military strength.

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  Mountain Walks Kinder Scout - 15...

  Sarah Lister

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  Mountain Walks Kinder Scout by Sarah Lister is a guide to walking routes up and around Kinder Scout in the Peak District. Alongside the routes up to the plateau, there are also valley walks for mixed weather days and those new to mountain walking.
  Among the 15 inspiring routes, the classics are all included, such as Grindsbrook Clough from Edale, and Kinder Downfall from Hayfield, and even those who are familiar with the area will find new and imaginative route ideas to discover. Whether you aspire to walk up Kinder on a straightforward route, or you're looking for a bigger adventure, this is the only guidebook you need.
  Together with stunning photography, each route features: Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps; easy-to-follow, detailed directions; essential info about public transport and safety advice; details about the terrain and navigation; facilities, refreshments and points of interest; and downloadable GPX files.

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