A portrait in words & photographs of 50 of the most scenic, remote & long-distance routes in Asia, Africa, Australia, North & South America, & Europe. Some, such as the ” Orient Express” route from Paris to Istanbul, are historical & no longer possible as a single journey; for these, full details of how to trace the route today accompany the description of the original concept. Other journeys are included because of the dramatic countryside they pass through, such as ” The Ghan” in Australia, or the challenging nature of the track construction, such as the Western Australia Mixed Gauge built to accommodate trains with different gauges on the same line, or for the nostalgia of steam locomotives like the West Coast Wilderness Railway in Tasmania & the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway from Pinjarra to Dwellingup. There are journeys to the Arctic & trips traversing whole countries. The descriptions tell of the logistics of the route, the historical reasons for its existence & the spectacular scenery to be viewed from the train window. Each journey is accompanied by a route map & illustrated with contemporary images.” ...

Every now & again the world takes notice of someone who has done something truly extraordinary. Whether that involves jumping from a balloon on the edge of the earth`s atmosphere, trekking through the depths of the Antarctic winter or sailing solo around the world, these exceptional feats of endurance & bravery capture the imaginations of individuals around the globe. The World`s Most Extreme Challenges explores how hard & far individuals are willing to push themselves in their pursuit of the ultimate physical challenge. Some of the challenges featured are professional races, but most are simply acts of supreme physical endurance that few people can imagine, let alone conceive attempting. Providing an in-depth look at these events, profiling both the challenges & the individuals who take part in them, this is a celebration of what human beings can do when they decide to push themselves to their limits
- & beyond. Showcasing 50 of the hardest physical tests, including: Cycling around the world Jumping from outer space Running around Australia Surfing the world`s biggest wave Swimming the Atlantic Ocean Trekking to the North Pole Holding your breath for 22 minutes Trekking across the Sahara Climbing the world`s highest mountains The Triple Deca Ironman
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Each journey is accompanied by a route map & is described in terms of the technical challenges of the construction of the track as well as the stunning views to be seen while travelling on the trains. Some of the railway journeys featured include the Harz narrow-gauge railway in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany; the Indian Pacific which runs across Australia from Perth to Sydney; India`s Darjeeling Himalayan Railways; & the spectacular railways in the Canadian Rockies. Brian Solomon was editor of Pacific Rail news for several years before becoming a freelance writer & photographer. His work has appeared in numerous railway publications & he has authored more than 44 books. He has travelled to ride & photograph railways in more than 30 nations around the world. For this book he has brought together a team of expert contributors, all with firsthand experience of the journeys. ...

What do fierljeppen, running 156 miles in the Sahara desert & coal-carrying all have in common? They`re just some of the wackiest, toughest & most extreme manpower races & challenges dreamt up by the human race. This fact-packed miscellany is bursting with all the details, statistics & anecdotes of the world`s most unusual competitions (ever heard of bog snorkelling?) & intense endurance contests. Whether you`re an armchair thrill seeker or you`re wild enough to have an adventure or two under your belt, this book will entertain & inspire. ...

WORLD WAR ONE BOOK OF THE YEAR In a sweeping narrative, David Olusoga describes how Europe`s Great War became the World`s War
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From the world`s favourite author, David Walliams
- ten cautionary tales & a delightfully dreadful cast of characters; all in
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READ BY DAVID WALLIAMS, with Nitin Ganatra as Raj
- listen to David perform these ten cautionary tales introducing a delightfully
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The brilliant follow-up to David Walliams` bestseller The World`s Worst Children! Ten more stories about a brand new gang of hilariously horrible kids from everyone`s favourite children`s author, illustrated in glorious full colour by Tony Ross. If you thought you had read about the World`s Worst Children already, you`re in for a rather nasty shock. The beastly boys & gruesome girls in this book are even ruder, even more disgusting & WORSE than you could ever imagine! This gorgeous hardback collection of ten stories from the master himself, David Walliams, will make you snort with laughter & thank your lucky stars that you don`t know anyone like Gruesome Griselda or Fussy Frankie in real life. It also features a special appearance from fan-favourite Raj! Gloriously illustrated in full colour throughout by artistic genius Tony Ross, The World`s Worst Children 2 is a side-splitting companion to David`s blockbuster hit, The World`s Worst Children, & the perfect gift for kids aged 9 & up. ...

Deep below the earth, Worm dreams of having more space. There`s not much room down there. Above, Bird waits, through sun & rain & wind. As the day goes on, will they both find what they are looking for? From the author of The Fox & the Star, this is a book about searching & hoping, & how the smallest moment can be beautiful. ...

This title is presented with an introduction by Robert Macfarlane. During the Second World War, John Stewart Collis volunteered to leave his comfortable life as an academic to work on the land for the war effort. His account of this time perfectly captures the soft-handed, city-dweller`s naivety & wonder both at the workings of nature & the toughness of life on a farm. It`s set in the south of England & comprises exquisitely written sections on whatever happens to take Collis` fancy & inspire his thoughtful curiosity, ranging from humorous sketches of the characters he works alongside; mini-essays such as ` Contemplation upon Ants`, The Mystery of Clouds`, ` Colloquy on the Rick`, ` Meditation while Singling Mangolds`, ` The Garden of Eden`; &, celebrations of the earthworm, pea & potato. His mind ranges far & wide through literature science & philosophy as well as amazing descriptive writing, which makes for a book that is as uncategorisable as it is enchanting. ...