A comprehensive anthology selected by the great explorer Robin Hanbury- Tenison. The ultimate in travel writing, by legends such as Vasco da Gama, Marco Polo, Sir Francis Drake, Roald Amundsen, and Wilfred Thesiger, these are the words of those who changed the world through their pioneering search for new lands, new peoples, and new experiences.
A book that records the majesty of life on Earth and offers an achievable global strategy for its preservation.
Determined to discover the Albanian that lies behind so many stereotypes and preconceptions, Robin Hanbury-Tenison and his wife Louella crossed the country on horseback, from Theth in the north to the border with Greece in the south. In the footsteps of Byron, Edward Lear and Edith Durham they crossed some of the most wild and arrestingly beautiful landscapes in Europe. Through soaring mountain ranges and hidden valleys they lived simply; staying in the homes of communities completely untouched by the 21st century and in towns bursting with artistic creativity. Land of Eagles is the story of a lyrical and dramatic journey, peppered with adventure and mishap, discovery and unexpected encounters. Adorned with the history, legends and literature of Albania and with the tales of past travellers, it is a luminous portrait of this mysterious and eccentric country, which has for too long been forgotten by Europe.
Stories of the thrills and hardships faced by modern expeditions that continue to enhance our understanding of the world around us This book profiles thirty-nine modern explorers who have disproved the idea that there is nowhere left to discover and explore. Some are greatly experienced and are celebrated worldwide, while others are young or less well known and just starting to make their mark. Here are challenging and extraordinary expeditions to the remotest parts of the world by explorers from the United States, Australia, China, France, and beyond. Eight thematic sections cover all terrains: Polar, Desert, Rainforest, Mountain, Ocean, River, Under Sea, Under Land, and Lost Worlds. Written mainly by the explorers themselves, the accounts provide a unique insight into what it is actually like to join an expedition, from being dragged through the top of the rainforest canopy in an inflatable raft suspended from a balloon to pedaling a boat across the Pacific to standing on the edge of an erupting volcano. Their stories are supplemented with dramatic expedition photographs, many capturing the moment of discovery or danger.