From ancient cities to modern metropolises, travel the world in eight paperback books. Whether uncovering the story of Venice, wandering around 18th-century Istanbul or unlocking the hidden secrets of historic Britain, these books will inspire curiosity and perhaps a hint of wanderlust.
1. Paris: A Short History
For the enquiring tourist wishing to know more about Paris’s rich past, this makes for the perfect read - All About History
The history of Paris is more than just the history of a city; it is the history of a culture, a society and a state that has impacted the rest of the world through centuries of changing fortunes. In Paris: A Short History, Jeremy Black explores how a humble Gallic capital grew into a flourishing medieval city full of spectacular palaces and cathedrals. He depicts the opulent courts of Louis XIV and XV and the Revolution that tore French society apart; the Belle Époque and the destruction of World Wars I and II, leading us on to the Paris of today: one of the most iconic cities in the world.
Discover Paris: A Short History by Jeremy Black.
2. Digging Up Britain
‘If you’ve ever wondered how we know so much about who we used to be, this is the book for you’ - Greg Jenner
Britain has long been fascinated with its own history and identity, as an island nation besieged by invaders from beyond the seas: the Romans, Vikings and Normans. The long saga of prehistory is often forgotten – but our understanding of our past is changing.
In Digging Up Britain, Mike Pitts presents ten astounding archaeological discoveries that have radically altered the way we think about our history. This compelling archaeological odyssey illustrates the diversity, complexity and sheer strangeness of the lives that represent Britain’s past.
Discover Digging Up Britain by Mike Pitts.
3. Venice: A 'Sunday Times' Art Book of the Year
A major centre of art in the Renaissance where the medium of oil on canvas became the norm, Venice remains the site of important artistic events. From native artists like Canaletto and Guardi to visitors like Turner, Monet and Sargent, the city has been depicted in many diverse styles and moods.
In Venice: A City of Pictures, Martin Gayford – who has visited Venice countless times since the 1970s, covered every Biennale since 1990, and even had portraits of himself exhibited there on several occasions – takes us on a compelling visual journey through the past five centuries of the city known as ‘La Serenissima.’
Discover Venice: A City of Pictures by Martin Gayford.
4. The Great Journeys in History
From Marco Polo and Ferdinand Magellan to Amelia Earhart and Neil Armstrong, The Great Journeys in History reveals the thrilling stories of those who set out into the unknown and explored the unexplored.
Edited by the distinguished explorer Robin Hanbury-Tenison, it chronicles the stories of some of the greatest travellers and pioneers of all time, from the extraordinary migrations out of Africa by our earliest ancestors to voyages to the edge of our solar system and beyond. These epic journeys have changed the world and our understanding of it.
Discover The Great Journeys in History by Robin Hanbury-Tenison.
5. India: A Short History
India − the resurgent home to one sixth of the global population − has had many histories. To some, it was the birthplace of the Buddha; to others, it was a land of philosophers and indomitable, elephantine armies. In India: A Short History, Andrew Robinson provides a clear focus to the unfolding story of Indian history, from the remarkable cities of the Indus Valley civilization four millennia ago to the nation’s emergence as the world’s largest democracy and one of its fastest growing economies in the modern era.
Discover India: A Short History by Andrew Robinson.
6. Istanbul on Five Kurush a Day
Charles FitzRoy’s Istanbul on Five Kurush a Day plunges you back in time to 18th-century Istanbul. Discover how to haggle with the expert salesmen in the bustling bazaar; learn what excitements await you in a Turkish bath; and taste the forbidden delicacies on offer in the most risqué coffee houses and opium dens. Witty and fact-filled, Istanbul on Five Kurush a Day will appeal to anyone who wonders what it would really have been like to visit the hub of the Ottoman Empire.
Discover Istanbul on Five Kurush a Day by Charles FitzRoy.
7. Great Cities Through Travellers’ Eyes
Throughout history, intrepid men and women have written of their experiences and perceptions of the world’s great cities, from Beijing and Chicago to Lhasa, Sydney and Rome. While some writers sought to provide a straightforward, accurate description of all they have seen, other writers concentrated on their subjective experiences of the city and encounters with its inhabitants.
In Great Cities Through Travellers’ Eyes, bestselling historian Peter Furtado presents an anthology of thirty-eight such travellers’ tales, spread over six continents and three millennia. This is a book that delves into the splendours and stories that exist beyond conventional guidebooks and websites.
Discover Great Cities Through Travellers’ Eyes by Peter Furtado.
