Showing 1–12 of 44 resultsSorted by latest
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£20.00
‘The Four Points of the Compass’ takes the reader on a journey of directional discovery. Jerry Brotton reveals why Hebrew culture privileges east; why the Renaissance Europeans began drawing north at the top of their maps; why the imperial Chinese revered the south; why the Aztecs used five colour-coded cardinal directions; and why no societies, primitive or modern, have ever orientated themselves westwards, the direction of darkness. He ends by reflecting on our digital age in which we, the little blue dot on the screen, have become the most important compass point. Throughout, Brotton shows that the directions reflect a human desire to create order and that they only have meaning, literally and metaphorically, depending on where you stand.
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£25.00
A riveting journey through the history of mountaineering – before Everest.
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£25.00
Twenty historical journeys, routes and adventures followed through the maps that made them.
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£28.00
The Astronomers’ Library is a dynamic collection of the best astronomy books from across the past eight centuries.
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£25.00
As a child, Chris Thorogood dreamed of seeing Rafflesia – the plant with the world’s largest flowers. He crafted life-size replicas in an abandoned cemetery, carefully bringing them to life with paper and paint. Today he is a botanist at the University of Oxford’s Botanic Garden and has dedicated his life to studying the biology of such extraordinary plants, working alongside botanists and foresters in Southeast Asia to document these huge, mysterious blooms. ‘Pathless Forest’ is the story of his journey to study and protect this remarkable plant – a biological enigma, still little understood, which invades vines as a leafless parasite and steals its food from them.
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£25.00
He’s climbed Everest not long after a heart bypass operation, he’s run seven marathons on seven continents, he’s hauled loaded sledges across both polar ice caps and he’s circumnavigated the earth – Ran Fiennes truly is the world’s greatest explorer, and this book celebrates his 80th birthday by showcasing his greatest achievements in his own words. Featuring interviews and tributes from his friends, colleagues and admirers, ‘Around the World in 80 Years’ celebrates the incredible life of a legendary explorer.
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£10.99
A Waterstones Travel Book of the Year 2023
A funny, warm and timely meditation on identity and belonging, following the scenic route along the England-Wales border: Britain’s deepest faultline.
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£10.99
A TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR
What is the nature of things? Must I think my own way through the world? What is justice? How can I be me? How should we treat each other?
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£11.99
Explorers and travellers have always been attracted by the lure of the unknown. By traversing and mapping our planet, they have played a vital role in mankind’s development. For almost two hundred years, the Royal Geographical Society has recognised their achievements by awarding its prestigious gold medals to those who have contributed most to our knowledge of the world. Taking us on a journey across mountains and deserts, oceans and seas, this book tells the stories of more than eighty of these extraordinary men and women. Some, such as David Livingstone, Scott of the Antarctic and Jacques-Yves Cousteau, are well known; whilst others, such as William Chandless and Ney Elias, are today less familiar. Some dreamed of being the first to sight a lake or a river; others sighted some of the world’s greatest natural features by chance.
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£25.00
Written by Ranulph Fiennes, this is an authoritative, illuminating biography of T.E. Lawrence – the man who inspired the iconic film Lawrence of Arabia.
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£10.99
The Ship Beneath the Ice is the extraordinary story of how the world’s most famous shipwreck was found, told by the search’s Director of Exploration.
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£12.99
In the 19th century, there was a frenzy of interest in ancient Egypt. Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke were sent by the Royal Geographical Society to claim the prize for England. Burton spoke 29 languages, and was a decorated soldier. He was also mercurial, subtle and an iconoclastic atheist. Speke was a young aristocrat and Army officer determined to make his mark, passionate about hunting, Burton’s opposite in temperament and beliefs. ‘River of the Gods’ is a story of courage and adventure, set against the backdrop of the race to exploit Africa by the colonial powers.
