Our Book of the Month for October is Myths of Geography: Eight Ways We Get the World Wrong by Paul Richardson.
Is geography really destiny? Our maps may no longer be stalked by dragons and monsters, but our perceptions of the world are still shaped by geographic myths. Myths like Europe being the centre of the world. Or that border walls are the solution to migration. Or that Russia is predestined to threaten its neighbours.
Continue reading Book of the Month: Myths of GeographyLast week we hosted the first of our Table Talks – which include wine, delicious nibbles and fabulous conversation around the table, talking about all things books, travel and life journeys.
We were thrilled to welcome authors Karen McLeod and Travis Elborough to discuss Karen’s new book Lifting off.
Lifting Off: A Life in Freefall by Karen McLeod
Karen McLeod’s account of flying as long-haul cabin crew offers a fascinating insight into the profound impact of airline life. Having come out as a lesbian shortly before getting the job, she is forced to go back in as colleagues advise her that it’s not OK to be gay, unlike male cabin crew. Lifting Off is a fly on the wall tale of flying long-haul, drinking miniatures, hotel bedroom parties with the rest of the crew, one-night stands in exotic locations and the loneliness of having to deny your true self. It is the story of how Karen McLeod saved herself and finally came into land.
Lifting Off came out of trying to write that difficult second novel. Karen realised she had to confront her past before she could write creatively again.
In the 1990s Karen had begun performing as a drag queen, impersonating men impersonating women. This was found to be too unorthodox even on the drag scene so Karen created Barbara who is the inverse of mainstream drag. She hides her hair, makes her legs unflattering in pop socks and wears a shapeless cagoule. The Sunday Times described Barbara as ‘Rik Mayall meets performance art’ and she is now a regular across the UK gay cabaret, literary and comedy community
‘An absorbing and often hilarious account of the author’s 12 years as closeted cabin crew for BA & the profound impact that had on her life as a gay woman’ The Bookseller, Editor’s Choice
‘Beautiful, wise and funny…I really did love it’ Evie Wyld
‘Witty, irreverent, deeply felt and exquisitely written…I can’t recommend this memoir enough. Stunning’ Joelle Taylor
About the speakers:
Karen McLeod is writer in residence at independent bookseller, The Bookseller Crow on the Hill and a visiting lecture in creative writing at UCAS. She performs comedy as Barbara Brownskirt and regularly works with Polari the LGBTQ+ Literary Salon.
Travis Elborough
Described by the Guardian as ‘one of the country’s finest pop culture historians’, Travis Elborough is the author of many books, including Wish You Were Here: England on Sea, The Long-Player Goodbye, Through the Looking Glasses: The Spectacular Life of Spectacles and Atlas of Vanishing Places, winner of Edward Stanford Travel Book Award in 2020.
Keep an eye on our events page or subscribe to our newsletter for news about our next Table Talk.
It was a full house at Stanfords last night to hear Dariusz Wójcik and James Cheshire talk about the Atlas of Finance: Mapping the Global Story of Money.
Pre-order your copy of Tim Marshall’s Prisoners of Geography: The Quiz Book from Stanfords to be in with the chance to win the following prizes:
Continue reading Pre-order Tim Marshall’s NEW book to be entered into our competitionLaunched in 2015, the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards (ESTWA) seek to celebrate the best travel writing and travel writers in the world. For the second year we are partnering with Viking to bring you four awards:
Continue reading Submissions for the 2025 Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards Presented by Viking are now OPENThe winners of the 2024 Wainwright Prize were announced on Wednesday evening at Camley Street Natural Park, an urban nature reserve in the heart of London, with the event live streamed by The Wildlife Trusts.
The Wainwright Prize is awarded annually to books which most successfully inspire readers to embrace nature and the outdoors and develop a respect for the environment. This year’s winning books highlight the exploration of nature on a global scale through journeys of migration, finding beauty in the everyday, and celebrate the deep connections between humanity and nature through powerful storytelling.
THE 2024 WAINWRIGHT PRIZE WINNERS ARE:
Continue reading 2024 Wainwright Prize Winners Announced
Last night we hosted the launch of The Lie of the Land: Who Really Cares for the Countryside? by Guy Shrubsole.
Continue reading Book Launch: The Lie of the Land by Guy Shrubsole
We had a wonderful evening hearing about our Book of the Month Four Points of the Compass Event: The Unexpected History of Direction by Jerry Brotton. He was joined by a special guest, the recipient of our 2024 Edward Stanford Outstanding Contribution to Travel Writing Award, Nicholas Crane.
Read more about Four Points of the Compass.
Four Point of the Compass: The Unexpected History of Direction is available now for £20. We have signed copies available while stocks last.
This #mapmonday we are talking about the National Trail maps by Harvey Maps. A week’s walking – usually the entire Trail – on a single sheet. The maps are conveniently laid out in panels with the route clearly highlighted in red.
Here are 3 of our favourites:
Thames Path Harvey National Trail XT40
£15.95
The Thames Path follows the banks of the river for 184 miles (294km) from the flood barrier at Woolwich in South East London to Kemble Gloucestershire. It is a long distance walking route, most of it cannot be cycled. The Trail passes through water meadows, historic towns and lovely villages.
The path is flat which makes for easy walking. Jos Joslin National Trails Manager (Marketing & Projects) said of this map, “Really beneficial to have the whole length of the Thames Path upstream of London on just one map. Clear mapping and useful information makes this this a very practical map.”
This map is printed on 100% waterproof paper which is light, durable and tearproof.
Coast to Coast – St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay Harvey XT40 National Trail Map
This map shows the whole of the Coast to Coast long distance walking route. The Coast to Coast is a 307km (192 miles) walking route across northern England, passing through the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks. It connects the west coast (St Bees) with the east coast (Robin Hood’s Bay).
This map shows the entire route split into sections. Tough, light, durable and 100% waterproof.
Dales Way Harvey National Trail XT40
£15.95
The Dales Way, a 135km / 85 mile route in the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District National Parks, presented at 1:40,000 on a map from Harvey Map Services. The route itself, between Ilkley and Bowness-on-Windermere, is shown on six panels, with additional three panels covering the access to the start of the Dales Way in Ilkley from Leeds, Harrogate or Shipley near Bradford.
Last night we hosted the book launch of our Book of the Month, Four Points of the Compass by Jerry Brotton.
