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.
Continue reading The Island of SocotraA 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:
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.
Continue reading History of World Trade in Maps, Trade and DiplomacyIn 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:
Continue reading Lido by Christopher BeanlandThe 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.
Continue reading 16-year-old Dara McAnulty wins the 2020 Wainwright Prize for UK Nature WritingNew 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.
Continue reading Great Trees of London MapMaps 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?
Continue reading River Danube: Extract from Atlas of Vanishing PlacesThe 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
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.
Continue reading Michael Portillo in Conversation: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2020The wellbeing of our oceans has never been more important. But to truly understand the vital role they play, we need to first understand how the oceans work, how we explore them and learn about the mysteries they hold, and what our effect is on them. Combining untold history of ocean exploration and personal account of what it’s like to be a ‘bathynaut’ diving in a mini-submarine, Jonathan Copley brings to light weird and wonderful deep-sea creatures and how the oceans and their future is connected to our everyday lives.
Continue reading Dr Jon Copley: Exploring the Ocean Depths: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2020In 2016 Ben Aitken moved to Poland to work in a fish and chip shop. He booked the cheapest flight he could find, to a place he had never heard of – Poznan. Between peeling potatoes and boning fish, Ben spent time on the road travelling the country and learning about its history. Talking to Julia Wheeler, Ben gives a bittersweet portrait of an unsung country, challenging stereotypes and revealing a diverse country, rightfully proud of its colourful identity.
Continue reading Ben Aitken: An Unlikely Year in Poland: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2020
