Best of London Theatre on Queen Mary 2

Colum McCann (Let the Great Wold Spin) traces the derring-do of early aviation and the arc of the lives of two British airmen and four generations of remarkable women in Ireland and America in this stunning novel. The fictional tale is based on real people and events, with sections on the British aviators Alcock and Brown and their 1919 flight from Newfoundland to Ireland, Frederick Douglass's emotional Irish journey in 1845 and Senator George Mitchell's efforts on behalf of the 1998 Belfast Agreement. The extended sequence aboard the WW1-era biplane Vickers Vimy through the weather and perils and cold is nothing short of breathtaking. You can see the plane at the London Science Museum.

Through visits to Tudor England’s historic palaces, castles, theaters and abbeys, Suzannah Lipscomb brings to life the rich history of the Tudors.

A fully illustrated survey of the theater from the days of the ancient Greeks to today, part of the "World of Art" series.

With photographs, archival reprints and firsthand accounts, this coffee table history of cruising focuses on the freedom and romance of cruise vessels in their golden age.

A dramatic tale of a pivotal year in English history, the life of the bard and the Globe Theater, resulting in Henry V, Julius Caesar, As You Like It and, most likely, Hamlet.

Countering the notion that the location of a Shakespearean play is irrelevant, Whitfield argues that each play’s setting is deliberate and full of meaning that original Elizabethan-era audiences would have understood.

Ranging from the 15th century to the present day, the British Library’s generous selection of poems and novel excerpts evokes the spirit of London through the ages. Full-color works of art from the library's collection are interspersed throughout.

This superb guide to London features color photography, dozens of excellent neighborhood maps and a district-by-district synopsis of the city's attractions. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry.

Written in 1889, "Three Men in a Boat" (to say nothing of the dog!) is a laugh-out-loud account of a man-powered voyage along the River Thames, full of detail on life and lore. A Longitude favorite.

The story of London, from the Romans to Tony Blair, tailored to the traveler.

A brief, evocative meditation on the rich and varied history of England's capital city by the prolific British writer, critic and historian. Wilson examines London through several lenses, using humor and insight to discuss art, architecture, politics and culture.

A comprehensive, chronological tour of 3,000 years of dramatic history (including opera and ballet). With color photos throughout.

A marvelously illustrated, oversized survey of Gothic architecture, cathedrals and castles across Europe.

The subtitle tells it all -- Winchester squeezes "Great Sea Battles, Heroic Discoveries, Titanic Storms, and a Vast Ocean of a Million Stories" into the covers of this latest entertaining and digressive tale.

A remarkably concise, elegant overview of the world of Shakespeare in the Modern Library Chronicles series by the eminent British critic and scholar.

An enthusiast, Scott delves into the history, design, architecture and wonder of Europe's medieval cathedrals and great Abbey churches.

A colorful and detailed laminated city map with a variety of useful inset maps.

Drawing on the unforgettable stories of nearly 100 Londoners, Taylor provides a rich and vivid kaleidoscopic view of modern-day London through the diverse voices of those who, regardless of whether they love or hate it, capture the heart and soul of one of the world's greatest cities.

Beautifully illustrated with color pictures, chronological charts, royal genealogies and maps, this popular history of English politics, economics and culture from the Neolithic Age to the 1990s is an excellent travel companion.