Peter Ackroyd’s prose re-telling of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales makes the Middle English classic accessible to a new generation of readers. Using expletives & avoiding euphemisms, the tales are presented in all the glorious splendor, colour & grime of their originals. From the exuberant Wife of Bath`s Arthurian legend to the Miller`s worldly, ribald farce, the Canterbury Tales tales can be taken as a mirror of fourteenth-century London & incorporate every style of medieval narrative
- bawdy anecdote, allegorical fable & courtly romance, all of which encompass a blend of universal human themes. Ackroyd has also written a historical introduction to Chaucer & the Tales which sheds light on why he felt inspired to “translate” them for a modern day audience.
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Cape Horn`s fearsome reputation & the price it has extracted from those who venture there derives from a lethal contrivance of geography that unleashes the most powerful natural dynamic forces on the earth`s surface. Reaching deep into the Southern Ocean, the Cape intrudes into the flow of the water & weather patterns at the bottom of the world & funnels them into a maritime superhighway a mere 500 miles wide, building massive seas & accelerating wind speeds to hurricane strength. Currents rip at rates that defeat powerful engines. These legendarily treacherous conditions were enough to secure Cape Horn`s reputation as the ultimate in ocean violence; the supreme test of sailors & ships. It is the oceanic equivalent of the climbers` Everest, & the challenge to some became irresistible. The roll call of sailors who have managed to round the Horn east-about (and more rarely, head to wind & west-about) glitters with the names of sailing legends: Vito Dumas, Marcel Bardiaux, Francis Chichester, Robin Knox-Johnston, Bernard Moitessier & Chay Blyth. This book recounts the history of the Cape through the stories of the people who`ve taken it on & made it round
- the Cape Horners` Club. From the very first recorded single-hander in 1934 (Al Hansen, who was lost shortly afterwards & his body never found), we follow these very different protagonists as they pursue the ultimate goal whilst battling almost overwhelming odds. Woven through their stories is a history of the Cape, from its discovery to its use as a trading corridor until the opening of the Panama Canal, to its more recent role as a pure challenge for the very best yachtsmen & yachtswomen in the world. Changes in weather prediction & navigation have had a huge impact, but the pressure for ever-faster times has never been greater.
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The Cape Wrath Trail Cicerone guidebook to walking the 230 miles of the from Fort William to Cape Wrath, crossing the wild north west of the Scottish Highlands; this epic challenge has long been recognised as the toughest long-distance route in Britain. A long tough trek with no waymarking, attracting hikers from around the world, this is for the ambitious & tested backpacker. The guidebook is split into three main sections – Fort William to Strathcarron, Strathcarron to Inverlael (near Ullapool) & Inverlael to Cape Wrath – which are in turn divided into a total of 14 stages, plus 6 alternative stages, allowing the trekker to create a flexible & personal itinerary. The guide gives detailed route descriptions & profiles as well as OS mapping & inspiring photography. To help you plan & prepare for this tough yet rewarding trail, the book also provides invaluable advice on staying safe in the mountains, navigation, when to go, weather etc., & information about bothies, campsites & (rare) amenities en route. The trail offers an unparalleled level of freedom & adventure to an experienced & self-sufficient trekker prepared to walk & camp for many days in remote wilderness. It`s a tough test & you`ll brave genuine wilderness, rugged terrain, rain, wind, midges, bog & remote river crossings, travelling through breathtakingly wild landscapes in Morar, Knoydart, Torridon & Assynt. With a wide range of route alternatives, it`s perfect for the ambitious & experienced backpacker. Whatever time of year you attempt the trail, it will test the limits of your endurance. ...

This Cicerone guidebook to walking the 200 miles of the Cape Wrath Trail from Fort William to Cape Wrath, crossing the wild north west of the Scottish Highlands, describes the route in detail in 14 stages, with 6 alternative stages along the way. This epic challenge has long been recognised as the toughest long-distance route in Britain & travels through breathtakingly wild landscapes in Morar, Knoydart, Torridon & Assynt. With a wide range of route alternatives, it's perfect for the ambitious & experienced backpacker. It's a tough test & you'll brave genuine wilderness, rugged terrain, rain, wind, midges, bog & remote river crossings. Whatever time of year you attempt the trail, it will test the limits of your endurance. & this guidebook gives you all the information you need about bothies, campsites & (rare) amenities en route as well as detailed OS mapping & route profiles to help you plan & prepare for your trip. ...

The Capital Ring, a 125km/78 miles route encircling inner London & incorporating footpaths through the capital’s parks, woodlands & nature reserves, in a series of walking guides to the National Trails in England & Wales & other long distance paths with colour extracts from the Ordnance Survey`s Explorer series at 1:25, 000 showing points along the route cross-referenced to the text The Capital Ring takes in some of London’s most outstanding attractions, including the Thames Barrier, Eltham Palace & Richmond Park, & encounters little-known treasures such as Oxleas Meadows, the Parkland Walk & Abney Park Cemetery. The guide divides the route into 15 sections, each representing a day’s walk of reasonable length & starting & finishing at a public transport point. The guides in this series are illustrated throughout with colour photos & include an introductory section on the path & the surrounding landscape, plus a chapter of useful information including access to various locations along the route by public transport, a list of tourist information offices & (where appropriate) principal overnight stopping places, a bibliography, etc. To see other titles in the Aurum Press series of guides to the national trails & other long-distance footpaths, please click on the series link. ...

To sail first Class on the great ocean liners was to experience the last word in luxury & service. The Captain`s Table recalls ...

Written in Paris in the early 1950s, this book created instant controversy in its analysis of modern society that had allowed itself to be hypnotized by socio-political doctrines, & to accept totalitarian terror on the strength of a hypothetical future. ...

A fun-filled, summer adventure from Enid Blyton`s classic Family series, with brand new line illustrations from acclaimed illustrator, Aleksei Bitskoff. Mike, Belinda & Ann are delighted when Dad buys two caravans for them to live in. They become the Caravan Family, & they are really lucky
- not only do they have wonderful homes, but they go on amazing holidays & see the world! The perfect holiday story for readers of all ages! Also available: The Seaside Family
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In the “ Caravan Moves On”, Irfan Orga journeys to the centre of Turkey to stay with the Yürük nomads in the High Taurus mountains. He learns their traditions, listens to their legends, & lives to feel that heroes dead a thousand years & abducted princesses turned mad by grief are palpably still alive. Orga enters a world untouched by politics or the march of world events. He reconnects us with a once-ubiquitous emotional landscape
- a visceral place underpinned by elemental values.
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Chetna Makan is known for her unique recipes, which introduce colourful spices, aromatic herbs & other Indian ingredients into traditional Western baked favourites. Whether it`s a sponge cake with a cardamom & coffee filling; puff pastry bites filled with fenugreek paneer; a swirly bread rolled with citrusy coriander, mint & green mango chutney; or a steamed strawberry pudding flavoured with cinnamon, Chetna`s Indian influences will transform your baking from the familiar to the exotic, from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Discover rare but precious traditional bakes from India, as well as new spice-infused recipes. Delve into the history of Indian herbs & spices & learn how to match foods & flavours. ...