The Sunday Times Bestseller A glorious insight into Britain over the last 150 years – its history, landscape and people – from the window of Britain’s many and magnificent railway journeys.

This extraordinary series of observations on England and Ireland complements de Tocqueville's masterpieces on the United States and France in the mid-nineteenth century. These pages are perhaps the most penetrating writings on the spirit of British politics. In effect, as indicated by John Stuart Mill, de Tocqueville was the Montesquieu of the nineteenth century. This is especially the case if one thinks of the present Irish situation. His political acumen reached into the future -which is now our present.

This all-new fourth edition of the most popular motorcycle touring guide to New England offers more suggested routes than ever, along with fully updated listings of motorcycle-friendly lodgings and great out-of-the-way restaurants. Motojournalist Ken Aiken leads two-wheeled travelers through twisty mountain passes and beautiful valley backroads to scenic, intriguing destinations in six key regions: the rugged Maine coast, the high notches of New Hampshire's White Mountains, the lush gaps of the Green Mountains of Vermont, the Lake Champlain region between upstate New York and Vermont, the rolling Berkshire hills of Massachusetts, and the coastal delights of Rhode Island and Connecticut. Aiken covers well-known motorcycle-touring roads like Vermont's Route 100, the Mohawk Trail, and the Kancamagus Highway, but his inclusion of little known regional roads frequented by local riders sets this guide apart from others. Altogether, Aiken has carefully plotted 28 trips for motorcyclists, most of them taking one day to complete. Multi-day tours can easily be created by linking adjacent trips. Each trip includes a detailed map and specific route directions. The trips are designed to accommodate various riding styles and audiences, from sightseeing two-up travelers to sport riders bending the curves. Vermont: the Marble Belt, Green Mountain Gaps, the Piedmont, the Northeast Kingdom, Lake Champlain New Hampshire: the Bronson Hills, Seacoast region, Lake Winnipesaukee, the White Mountains, Coos County Maine: Mid-coast, Mount Desert Island, Down East, the Great North Woods, Rangeley Lakes Massachusetts: the Berkshires, Mohawk Trail, Central region Connecticut: Litchfield Hills, Eastern Connecticut Rhode Island: the Gilded Age of Newport

From the #1 travel magazine in the country, a collection of travel tales from some of today's finest writers Travel writing maintains its seemingly endless popularity, and this volume offers a particularly transporting body of work, pairing exotic locales with writers of the highest caliber: Russell Banks writes on the Everglades, Francine Prose explores the secrets of Prague, Robert Hughes takes us on a tour of Italy, and more. From the most beautiful gardens to visit in Japan to the best free things to do in Provence, this book is as enlightening as it is entertaining. Whether off to the other side of the globe or to their favorite reading chair, wanderers of every sort will find this book truly indispensable. Other featured writers and places include: Nik Cohn on Savannah Philip Gourevitch on Tanzania Shirley Hazzard on Capri Pico Iyer on Iceland and Ethiopia Nicole Krauss on Japan Suketu Mehta on the Himalayas Edna O'Brien on Bath Patricia Storace on Provence and Athens James Truman on Iran Gregor Von Rezzori on Romania Edmund White on Jordan Simon Winchester on Mount Pinatubo William Dalrymple on his pilgrimage to Santiago John Julius Norwich on the Vatican Jan Morris on Hawaii

Experience – at comfortable second-hand – a selection of the worst journeys in the world, described by some of the best writers on travel in the world. Worst Journeys combines reportage, fiction and poetry in an anthology that features many of the best-known writers of our times. ‘It is always good to discover new excuses to stay at home, particularly when the excuses are as enjoyable and well-written as these’ Peter Mayle ‘We are all brutish in our relieved enjoyment of the misadventures of others, and some of these stories make the toes curl with pleasure in one’s safe, cosy bed . . . all the big guns are represented in Fraser’s admirable choice: Colin Thubron and Bruce Chatwin . . . Theroux, Raban, Fenton, Young, Gellhorn, Thesiger, Newby . . . no wonder the writing is of the highest order, telling of blistering heat and crippling cold, injustice and cruelty, the hell of Vietnam and the Sudan’ Moira Shearer, Daily Telegraph ‘An excellent book full of funny, moving and exciting prose’ Time Out ‘Exquisitely uncomfortable far-flung moments from all the usual suspects, both venerable – Greene, Gellhorn, Newby – and chic – Chatwin, O’Hanlon, Amis, Rourke – plus unfamiliar gems and novel extracts that leave you eager for more’ Independent on Sunday All royalties are donated to Canada India Village Aid

The bestselling Journey to the West comic book by artist Chang Boon Kiat is now back in a brand new fully coloured edition. Journey to the West is one of the greatest classics in Chinese literature. It tells the epic tale of the monk Xuanzang who journeys to the West in search of the Buddhist sutras with his disciples, Sun Wukong, Sandy and Pigsy. Along the way, Xuanzang's life was threatened by the diabolical White Bone Spirit, the menacing Red Child and his fearsome parents and, a host of evil spirits who sought to devour Xuanzang's flesh to attain immortality. Bear witness to the formidable Sun Wukong's (Monkey God) prowess as he takes them on, using his Fiery Eyes, Golden Cudgel, Somersault Cloud, and quick wits! Be prepared for a galloping read that will leave you breathless!