Having recorded in pen and ink the Fishing Boats of Scotland which she loves, Gloria Wilson here focusses her attention on the Peterhead yard of Richard Irvin & Sons, and the wooden, cruiser sterned fishing boats for which it became renowned in the second half of the twentieth century. Almost one hundred of her own photographs accompany her account of the boats and the people who made up a distinctive and now disappearing maritime culture. As the naval architect and boatbuilder Paul Gartside writes in his Foreword: Gloria Wilson truly belongs in the tradition of the folklorists—individuals moved initially by the discovery of beauty in the commonplace who are then compelled to understand and record what they find… One hopes her example will spur others to similar effort, for the capturing of culture and local knowledge before it slips away is always a noble pursuit.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 138

Dimensions: 216 x 216 mm

Publication Date: 08-12-2017

Fishing boats, particularly those along the eastern seaboard of Britain, from Whitby northwards, have always been fundamental to my existence writes Gloria Wilson in her Introduction. … I touch upon my own story, give some account of how I have arrived at the happy and somewhat unconformable circumstance of being a writer and illustrator within the commercial fishing and boat building communities. Nevertheless, the boats themselves form the mainstay, the connective narrative throughout the book… I have chosen those which, for me, are the most likeable and pleasing, predominantly the classic, cruiser-sterned wooden-hulled seine netters and dual-purpose craft which are splendid sea boats and have such beautiful hull forms. Gloria Wilson was born in Surrey but spent her childhood in the Yorkshire fishing village of Staithes. She studied at Durham University under Victor Pasmore and Kenneth Rowntree and gained a BA (Hons) in Fine Art. This is her eleventh book on fishing craft of the British Isles, and she has written extensively for maritime journals including Classic Boat, Fishing News, and Maritime Life and Traditions. Gloria lived in Scotland for some years, but now lives and works in the north-east of England.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 140

Dimensions: 216 x 216 mm

Publication Date: 16-10-2019

They say that what matters is the journey and not the destination, and that couldn't be more accurate when one goes bikepacking. Choosing the path less travelled, exploring the surroundings at every pedal of the way, and embracing the freedom it offers: long-distance cycling is more than a method of transportation - it's a vibrant travelling philosophy. Bikepacking is the ultimate publication to discover the adventurous spirit of bikepacking. Exploring journeys in different regions around the world, introducing the people and culture around it, and giving you the lowdown of all the tips and tricks, this book presents the insights and inspiration to plan your own expeditions, no matter how experienced (or not) you are. Pack your bag and prep your bike, the journey awaits!

Bind: hardback

Pages: 256

Dimensions: 210 x 260 mm

Publication Date: 30-07-2021

There's no two ways about it: life is better by the beach. The salty air, the sound of the waves and, above all, the relaxed way of life. This low-key attitude to living manifests itself in how we decorate our homes by the sea. Life's A Beach takes readers into beach homes around the world - from the hills of New Zealand to beaches of Brazil to the remote islands of the Aegean - exploring the many ways to decorate a cozy home by the sea. Handmade touches, natural materials and eclectic interiors all imbue a sense of wellbeing, and are found throughout the homes in Life's a Beach. From humble little beach cottages to extraordinary modern bungalows, these spaces are designed for respite and relaxation, and for enjoying the beachy surrounds.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 288

Dimensions: 240 x 300 mm

Publication Date: 20-05-2021

Follow photographer Frederic Chaubin as he embarks on a unique, century-spanning journey through Europe. Featuring images of more than 200 buildings in 21 countries, Stone Age presents the history and architecture of the most magical medieval castles of the continent in an unprecedented collection. Building on the success of his foray into Soviet design with CCCP, Chaubin once again documents the afterlife of highly rational structures that seem out of place in a modern-day world. Precursors of Brutalism, these castles value function over form and epitomize the raw materials and shapes that would go on to define so much of architectural history. Shot on film with a Linhof view camera, the collection is the outcome of five years of travel and investigation. Complete with a practical map and explanatory essay, its castles tell the story of 400 years, unfolding through the feudal Middle Ages into the 15th century. A photographic study of decay as much as endurance, Stone Age traces the history of some of these singular structures that continue to enchant their audiences today and that occupy a distinct, mystical place in our collective imagination.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 416

Dimensions: 260 x 340 mm

Publication Date: 29-04-2021

Leave the city behind you, switch off, reconnect with yourself and nature, and fall in love with the world again through the pages of Stay Wild. With an emphasis on environmentally-friendly travel, Stay Wild shines the light on places for curious, conscious travellers to rest and recharge. From towering treehouses, compact cabins, houseboats, yurts, and mobile homes that let you cook your meals al fresco whilst the campfire flickers, this book showcases alternative travel’s astounding diversity and enriching qualities.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 256

Dimensions: 210 x 260 mm

Publication Date: 15-04-2021

How does a plane move through the air? What is turbulence? What do those lines on the runways mean? All these questions and many more are answered in this gorgeously illustrated history of planes and flight. The book opens with a basic introduction to plane anatomy and shows how aircrafts have developed over the ages. Readers will then learn about aerodynamics, the mechanics of wing shape and lift, and how ailerons, propellers, and flaps work. There's even a section on communications systems, runway design, and GPS. Profiles of famous historic planes illustrate basic principles throughout the book. Readers will find out about record-breaking flights across continents and oceans; how "flying wings" evolved into the B-2 bomber; and where the world's most treacherous runways are located. A section on experimental aircraft looks at zeppelins, flying cars, and the fate of the Concorde jet. Jan Van Der Veken's lushly colored, retro drawings detail everything from plane design to the physics of flight and provide the perfect companion to his engaging text. Budding aviators will linger over every detail of this information-packed book that serves both to demystify and celebrate the miracle of flight.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 104

Dimensions: 240 x 290 mm

Publication Date: 04-03-2021

In the late 1920s Norwegian Erling Tambs and his wife Julie set out from Oslo with their Colin Archer pilot boat Teddy, little in the way of navigational equipment, and not much else. The Cruise of the Teddy is Erling's charming and modest account of how, with great fortitude, resourcefulness and good humour they reached New Zealand via the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, with many delightful human encounters along the way, to arrive with one more in the family than they started with.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 176

Dimensions: 156 x 216 mm

Publication Date: 04-12-2020

In this first biography of David Henry Lewis, Ben Lowings examines his lifetime of adventure forensically yet sympathetically, and unlocks the secrets of his determination. This British-born New Zealander was the first person to sail a catamaran around the world, the first - in Ice Bird - to reach Antarctica solo under sail, and the first to make known to Westerners how ancient navigators reached - and could reach again - the Pacific islands. His many voyages resulted in thirteen books published and translated worldwide; many were bestsellers - We, the Navigators has not been out of print since first publication in 1972. David Lewis's achievements have been acknowledged with a series of awards, including that of Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. But the price of David Lewis's adventures had ultimately to be paid by others in the succession of families he created, then broke apart; and many of his actions brought him into conflict with the feelings of friends and contemporaries. We may legitimately ask 'was it really all worth it?' For the first time his six marriages are revealed, through more than a year of original research in Britain, Australia and New Zealand - including interviews with all surviving family members, as well as friends and fellow voyagers. Events thinly-sketched or omitted in his own writings, such as his father's own failings, are investigated. His kayaking, mountain-climbing and sailing were struggles all the more difficult because of a fractured backbone, shattered elbow and impaired vision. David Lewis's early years get the comprehensive documentation they deserve - in his own memoir he jumps straight from child to fully-fledged explorer. Inaccuracies are corrected in his tale of kayaking four hundred miles home from school. As playboy medical student, British paratrooper fighting in Normandy, and political activist in Palestine, Jamaica and London, he grappled with academic and colonial prejudice, and fought anti-Semitism and inequality; all is examined. As a general practitioner in the East End's impure 1950s air he worked where the new National Health Service was most needed. Professional frustrations and marital disappointments were not soothed by weekend sailing. He would join a pioneering single-handed yacht race to America in 1960, leaving his first daughter to find him on board in Plymouth to say farewell only at the last minute. In 1964 he would race again, but this time in a catamaran, and then, with Fiona, his new wife, and their daughters, girdle the earth in it. For the first time, their circumnavigation is described in part from Fiona's perspective. Media accounts and passages from his many books build up a picture of a consistently experimental, and utterly untypical, middle aged man. Every word in the Antarctic logbook of Ice Bird - scrawled with freezing hands - is closely compared with literary sources, National Geographic articles and his commercially successful book-length account. A new critical appreciation shows the white heat at the core of his being. He has abandoned his children again, and been drugged by ocean solitude. But in the act of writing he is earning his place among humanity. To hell with the frozen hands.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 288

Dimensions: 156 x 216 mm

Publication Date: 30-10-2020

Italy is more than just the home of pizza, pasta and gelato! Discover the Colosseum in Rome and join the Carnival party in Venice―children will love this fun-filled journey into the heart and soul of Italy. Italy has something for everyone! Did you know that pizza comes from Naples, and that Italians celebrate Carnival with a masquerade ball? Whether you’re fascinated by the history of Pompeii or would simply be happy with a big scoop of tasty gelato, dive into the wonders of Italy. Join us as we travel across the beautiful country―pick up some Italian phrases to order your favorite dishes when you go on holiday, learn about all of the brave heroes and clever inventors in Italian history, and find out about the origins of the most delicious food you can find on the planet. From the Dolomites in the north, to Mount Etna in Sicily, Let’s Go to Italy! invites you to come along and explore the food, culture, history, and geography of this incredible country.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 160

Dimensions: 150 x 235 mm

Publication Date: 30-08-2019