Other books that might interest you

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  The Tree of the Doves - Ceremony...

  Christopher Merrill

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  “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

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  Somerset - Stone Age to WWII

  David Lassman, Mick Davis

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  An informative springboard from which to dive deep into the rich and illustrious heritage of the county steeped in the legend of King Arthur. 
   
  Every inch of legendary Somerset is imbued with history, from the towns of Dunster and Taunton in the west, to those of Shepton Mallet and Frome in the east; while also contained within its county boundaries are the cities of Bath and Wells and the mystical and magical Isle of Avalon: Glastonbury. 
   
  The county, located in southwest England and part of the Ancient Kingdom of Wessex, has played a significant role in many of the nation’s most formative events. These include the Roman occupation, Alfred the Great’s rise to power, the English Civil War and the Monmouth Rebellion. 
   
  And all this epoch-making activity has been played out against a landscape of dramatic and breathtaking beauty, from vast tracts of land such as Exmoor, hill ranges such as Mendip and Blackdown and an abundance of incredible rivers, lakes and streams; many situated within the famous Somerset Levels. 
   
  Wordsworth, Coleridge and Austen, among many others, have immortalized the county in literature, while everyone from the Celts, Cavaliers and Saxons, to the Roundheads, Romans and rebels have fought over its sought-after resources. 
   
  The authors, both living in Somerset, guide you on a fascinating and illuminating trip into the past of this most historical and legendary of counties, which boasts among its attractions the last battle fought upon English soil, the scene of the Bloody Assizes and the final resting place of King Arthur.

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  Ultimate Fishing Adventures -...

  Henry Gilbey

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  This book takes you on a remarkable journey visiting 100 destinations from Alaska to New Zealand. Fly, lure and bait fishing in rivers, oceans and lakes, from deftly dropping a fly in front of a hungry trout to shaking with fear at a rampaging giant trevally, this book covers it all._x000D_ Remarkable full-page images accompany each of the fishing adventures in this stunning coffee-table book. Written to inspire, excite and inform, there is plenty of information on the locations, the fish and how to catch them. Go on a voyage of discovery from secret African rivers to idyllic tropical islands, fight with monsters of the deep in Australia, get set for superb sport in the USA, or discover fishing delights in and around Britain and Europe._x000D_ Anglers of all sorts will treasure this inspirational collection of the world's most exceptional fishing adventures.

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  Switzerland - Culture Smart! -...

  Kendall Hunter

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  There is far more to Switzerland than beautiful scenery, chocolate, watches, faceless bankers, and spotless cities. The real Switzerland is full of surprises and anything but bland. This small, rugged, landlocked country at the heart of Europe has been a confederation since the first three cantons came together in a defensive alliance in 1291. Four national languages are spoken within its borders. Its present twenty-six cantons are largely autonomous and retain their individual characters. In this grassroots democracy real power lies with the people, who exercise it directly through frequent referendums. Swissness is, above all, a spirit of independence and of communal involvement.

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  The Vale of Rheidol Railway -...

  Peter Johnson

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  “A great book about a small railway with a lot of history that has managed to adapt . . . and become a tourist attraction without losing its charm.” —Unos Cuantos Trenes (A Few Trains) 
   
  Built to carry minerals from mines in the Rheidol valley, the 2ft gauge Vale of Rheidol Railway found its niche carrying tourists to the tourist attraction at Devil’s Bridge, 12 miles inland from the Cardigan coast resort of Aberystwyth. Taken over by the Cambrian Railways and then the Great Western Railway, it became the last steam railway operated by British Rail. In 1989 it became the first part of the national network to be privatized.  
   
  Now under the control of a charitable trust it is undergoing a revival that will see it become one of the leading tourist attractions in Mid-Wales. 
   
  “The book is comprehensively illustrated with photographs spanning the entire history of the line, plus maps, diagrams and tabulated information. An excellent publication, well worth its cover price, and thoroughly recommended.” —Ffestiniog Railway Society Magazine 
   
   
   
  “A complete story of the line to date, an enjoyable read and a good pictorial record of this attractive railway. So a good way to spend some time in lock-down!” —Michael’s Model Railways

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  The Spice Necklace - My...

  Ann Vanderhoof

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  The author of An Embarrassment of Mangoes offers “a mouthwatering slice of Caribbean culture” in this blend of travel memoir and cookbook (New York Post).   While sailing around the Caribbean, Ann Vanderhoof and her husband Steve track wild oregano-eating goats in the cactus-covered hills of the Dominican Republic, gather nutmegs on an old estate in Grenada, make searing-hot pepper sauce in a Trinidadian kitchen, cram for a chocolate-tasting test at the University of the West Indies, and sip moonshine straight out of hidden back-country stills.   Along the way, they are befriended by a collection of unforgettable island characters: Dwight, the skin-diving fisherman who always brings them something from his catch and critiques their efforts to cook it; Greta, who harvests sea moss on St. Lucia and turns it into potent Island-Viagra; sweet-hand Pat, who dispenses hugs and impromptu dance lessons along with cooking tips in her Port of Spain kitchen.   Back in her galley, Ann practices making curry like a Trini, dog sauce like a Martiniquais, and coo-coo like a Carriacouan. And for those who want to take these adventures into their own kitchens, she pulls 71 delicious recipes from the stories she tells, which she places at the end of the relevant chapters. The Spice Necklace is a wonderful escape into a life filled with sunshine (and hurricanes), delicious food, irreplaceable company, and island traditions.  

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