Jude Brosnan

Remembering Jan Morris

Last week we said good bye to someone who will forever hold a special place in our hearts as well as on our shelves, the wonderful Jan Morris. She had that rare talent to really take you places and introduce you to the people through her writing.

Red Sands: Reportage and Recipes Through Central Asia, from Hinterland to Heartland

Extracted from Red Sands by Caroline Eden (Quadrille, £26) Photography © Ola O. Smit and Theodore Kaye.

In the shattered rear-view mirror, the land was pink from the rising sun. The fractured looking glass rendered the desert view, mainly sand dunes, scrub and small hills, broken and repetitive. On the road, between the cities of Bukhara and Khiva – some stretches good, others badly potholed – there was a sense of slowly evaporating, of being dwarfed by the Kyzylkum (‘red sand’) Desert.

The Island of Socotra

AND THE ANSWER IS……

by Janice Booth

It’s a Pub Quiz-setter’s dream. Which Middle-Eastern island’s endemic buzzard flew into the Guinness Book of Records in 2010? Which Arabian island did Britain try to buy for 10,000 dollars in 1834? Which island is sometimes known as the ‘Galapagos of the Indian Ocean’? Where can you play a traditional game named Algashal that resembles fivestones or jacks? Answers: Socotra, Socotra, Socotra and (surprise!) Socotra.

History of World Trade in Maps, Trade and Diplomacy

A brand new book gracing the shelves at Stanfords is Philip Parker’s History of World Trade in Maps. In this beautiful book, more than 70 maps give a visual representation of the history of World Commerce, accompanied by text which tells the extraordinary story of the merchants, adventurers, middle-men and monarchs who bought, sold, explored and fought in search of profit and power. The maps are all works of art, witnesses to history, and have a fascinating story to tell.

To celebrate the launch of his new book, we asked Philip to write this blog post to give us all a taster of what we can expect:

Trade and Diplomacy by Philip Parker

In an age when trade negotiations – or the lack of them – seem to degenerate into political point-scoring or abstruse technical arguments over the cocoa content of chocolate – it is easy to forget that without trade, our way of life would collapse. Every country, even North Korea, has to trade the goods it can produce in exchange for those it needs but cannot produce. A trading advantage can be gained by a reputation for quality, specialization, sharp-tongued merchants or skill in spotting shortages. Above all, however, diplomacy acts as a multiplier of trading success.

Lido by Christopher Beanland

In his new book Lido: A dip into outdoor swimming pools: the history, design and people behind them (Batsford), Christopher Beanland takes a tour around the world’s best outdoor swimming pools. Here, Christopher gives us a sneak peak into five of them:

16-year-old Dara McAnulty wins the 2020 Wainwright Prize for UK Nature Writing

The winner of the Wainwright Prize for UK Nature Writing has been announced at a virtual awards ceremony on September 8th. Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty chronicles the turning of the then 15-year-old’s world and breaks the mould of modern nature writing. Dara’s book is an extraordinary portrayal of his intense connection to the natural world alongside his perspective as an autistic teenager juggling exams, friendships and a life of campaigning.

This year’s prize has been extended to include a second category for books about global conservation and climate change, and Rebirding by Benedict Macdonald is its inaugural winner. Praised as ‘visionary’ by conservationists and landowners alike, Rebirding sets out a compelling manifesto for restoring Britain’s wildlife, rewilding its species and restoring rural jobs – to the benefit of all. Irreplaceable by Justin Hoffman was awarded highly commended in the category.

Great Trees of London Map

New Map Celebrates London’s Remarkable Trees

Great Trees of London Map is a new map by Blue Crow Media. This two-sided guide map reveals highlights from London’s uniquely diverse urban forest. Featuring rare species, magnificent English oaks, an ancient, perhaps 2,000-year-old, yew and the finest flowering cherries, this selection of 50 trees spans from Kew Gardens to Greenwich Park, and Tottenham to Brixton. The map includes photography, an introduction and descriptions by Paul Wood, the author of London is a Forest and London’s Street Trees: A Field Guide to the Urban Forest.

River Danube: Extract from Atlas of Vanishing Places

Maps offer us a chance to see not just how our world looks today, but how it once looked. But what about the places that are no longer mapped?

Cities forgotten under the dust of newly settled land? Rivers and seas whose changing shape has shifted the landscape around them? Or, even, places that have seemingly vanished, without a trace?

The 2020 Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards

The 2020 Edward Stanfords Travel Writing Awards were held on the 26th February at the London Transport Museum, hosted by Julia Bradbury.

Video by The Outdoor Guide

To view all the shortlists and winners please see: https://www.stanfords.co.uk/edward-stanford-travel-writing-awards

Michael Portillo in Conversation: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2020

Back by popular demand following his 2018 appearance, Michael Portillo returns to the Stanfords Travel Writers Festival. Since leaving politics we have watched him travel all around the world in his television documentaries. Championing the Bradshaw’s Handbook, Michael has looked in depth at the history of rail travel and how it opened up the world for people to travel. Hear him talk to Julia Wheeler about his vast travels and what he has learned along the way.