180 Years of Cunard
by Chris Frame and Rachael Cross
Cunard’s first ship, Britannia, set sail across the Atlantic on 4 July 1840, inaugurating a service that has endured for 175 years. Cunard’s success is in part due to its continuous technological advances; from the early years of wooden paddle steamers to steel-hulled leviathans, electric lighting to steam turbine engines. But it is the ships themselves, the shipbuilders, managers, crew and guests that have had the greatest impact on the success of the line, creating unique environments full of personality. This book uses stunning photographs and personal stories to explore the history of these magnificent ships.
Australia, A Traveler's Literary Companion
by Robert Ross
Arranged geographically, this collection of works by mostly local writers, including Patrick White, Peter Carey and other luminaries, introduces the cultures, geography and mindset of Australia.
Chasing Kangaroo
by Tim Flannery
In this ode to the kangaroo, Flannery weaves his own coming of age as a scientist with tales of the strange marsupial, past and present.
Elephant Complex, Travels in Sri Lanka
by John Gimlette
This exuberant travelogue by an award-winning writer takes stock of Sri Lanka, from the capital city of Colombo through the remotest interior. Gimlette mixes his narrative with colonial history and plenty of lucid observations.
Evening Is the Whole Day
by Preeta Samarasan
Set in post-colonial Malaysia, this richly textured debut novel depicts the unraveling of a wealthy family and the six-year-old daughter left reeling from losses and departures. Samarasan's unflinching yet tender examination of one immigrant family's experience exposes the complexities and layered history of Malaysia itself.
In a Sunburned Country
by Bill Bryson
The intrepid, ever-resourceful Bryson revels in Australia's eccentric characters, dangerous flora and fauna and other oddities in this wildly funny, effortlessly informative travelogue.
Journey to Mauritius
by Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, Jason Wilson (Translator)
A lyrical account of colonial society, daily life and nature in Mauritius, newly translated and with an introduction by Jason Wilson.
King Rat
by James Clavell
The first in Clavell's acclaimed Asia series, this book describes the life of a POW in Japanese-occupied Singapore during World War II, richly evocative of its setting
Long Walk to Freedom
by Nelson Mandela
An unpretentious tale of an extraordinary life, Mandela's autobiography is essential reading for an understanding of South Africa. His grace and his love for his country shine throughout.
The Eaves of Heaven, A Life in Three Wars
by Andrew X. Pham
Pham recounts the story of his father's life during the French occupation, Japanese invasion and the American War, weaving such momentous events with anecdotes from his childhood and details of family, friends, food and daily life.
The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914
by David McCullough
This national bestselling epic chronicle of the creation of the Panama Canal, in this book, acclaimed historian David McCullough delivers a first-rate drama of the sweeping human undertaking that led to the creation of the Panama Canal. Winner of the National Book Award for history, the Francis Parkman Prize, the Samuel Eliot Morison Award, and the Cornelius Ryan Award (for the best book of the year on international affairs).
The Travel Book, A Journey Through Every Country in the World
by Lonely Planet Publications
Bigger and better than ever (the third edition of the best-selling original), we can't keep our hands off this celebration of the world. Each country, no matter how big or small, gets a colorful double-page spread in this glossy A-to-Z of travel from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.
Tracks, A Woman's Solo Trek Across 1700 Miles of Australian Outback
by Robyn Davidson
The true story of a woman's trek across the Australian Outback -- an adventurous tale shot through with a feel for the landscape and empathy for the Aborigines she meets along the way. Has also been made into a movie.
True History of the Kelly Gang
by Peter Carey
Carey's powerful, daring novel, steeped in the colonial history of late 19th-century Australia, won him a second Booker (the first was for Oscar & Lucinda). Outlaw, folk hero, thief and patriot, the Irish immigrant Ned Kelly and his clan figure large in the Australian mindset.
Wildlife of Australia
by Iain Campbell, Sam Woods
This compact photo guide covers commonly encountered birds, mammals, reptiles and frogs across Australia, including 350 species of birds.
Wildlife of Southern Africa
by Martin B. Withers
This Princeton Pocket Guide, featuring 400 color photographs by Withers and co-author David Hosking, covers all the birds, mammals, lizards and insects you are likely to encounter.
