Gifts $30 and OverNEW The Bazaar: Markets and Merchants of the Islamic World--Walter Weiss and Kurt-Michael Westerman take you on a grand tour of Islamic bazaars, where food, history, culture and art converge. This is a compelling book, a visual feast that takes you from Marrakech to Samarkand, Istanbul to Dubai, with fascinating commentary and beautiful color photographs that bring the landscape, markets, customs, and architecture to life. From couscous to camels, from the silver trade to a market that just sells the Koran, each market is described, placed in cultural context, and located on maps. This oversize cloth volume is much more than a coffee table book, it is a gift of rare insight. $50.00
NEW Chasing Rickshaws--Ranging all over Asia in pursuit of the rickshaw, Lonely Planet founder Tony Wheeler and photographer Richard l’Anson have created a uniquely wonderful book. Wheeler uses the rickshaw as a window into Asian cultures, taking us from Agra and Calcutta to Manila, Hong Kong, Penang and seven other cities, where the number, design and use of the rickshaw varies with each city, culture and nation. Wheeler’s well-written, informative prose is accompanied by l’Anson’s striking color photographs, and together they make a great addition to any Asia enthusiast’s bookshelf. $34.95
Discovering Spain--Veteran travel writer/photographer Michael Busselle takes us on an illustrated tour of the "real" Spain through visits to 76 parador hotels throughout the country. He describes each parador, from castles to convents, and gives historical background on the surrounding region, as well as itinerary suggestions. Gorgeous color photographs attest to the beauty of the hotels, as well as the countryside, and an appendix provides information on amenities and room reservations. $35.00
Food Markets of the World--Local author and food critic Mimi Sheraton leads us on a tour of international food markets where the richest arrays of local produce are displayed. Arranged by region, this mouth-watering book is filled with vibrant color photographs that capture spice markets in Delhi, vegetable stalls piled high with ripe tomatoes in Guatemala, cheese shops in Palermo and much more. Short essays on local cuisine and favorite regional recipes are interspersed throughout the book. The perfect gift for the food lover in the family. $35.00
NEW Gardens of the Wine Country--This oversize cloth book is filled with gorgeous color photographs of the gardens of Napa Valley. Full-page plates as well as smaller photos evoke a sense of the land; the vineyards, orchards, rolling hills, and spectacular gardens that make up this fertile valley. Molly Chappellet, a Napa gardener herself, provides informal notes about the landscaping and the people who planted and designed each garden, from formal rose gardens to rock gardens to wisteria-covered homes and rows of cypress trees. Personal anecdotes and recollections of the area’s history complete the portrait of this beautiful region. $40.00
NEW Grand Hotels--Elaine Denby has written a lavishly illustrated history of the world’s grand old hotels. Equal parts social history, architectural guide and coffee table book, it offers a detailed look at the origin of these lavishly appointed hotels, from the onset of rail travel in Europe and North America in the mid-1800’s to steamship travel in the Orient, from the creation of seaside resorts to mountain spas. Denby covers it all, even including a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the people who made the hotels run and the people who made them famous. Gorgeous interior and exterior shots in color and black and white accompany the truly fascinating text. $65.00
Greece From the Air--See Greece from the perspective of the gods with this sumptuous new book of photographs by Yann Arthus-Bertrand and text by Janine Trotereau. From the ruins on Crete to the volcanoes of Santorino, from the Acropolis to Mount Athos, the aerial views are truly breathtaking, and the detailed captions explain the history and lore of the sights. A celebration of Greece that is long overdue. $45.00
NEW Hammond Atlas of the World - The new edition of this grand atlas is even better than the last. Satellite photography, 167 pages of computer-generated maps with topographic features, sections on population, climate, productivity, agriculture and environmental concerns, and a 100,000 entry index make this one of the most reliable atlases around. Fully updated, it includes over 60 maps of major cities and specialized maps of areas not usually covered, such as Vatican City and the Nile River Delta. The perfect gift for the globetrotter or student in your life. $69.95
Also:
Hammond Atlas of the World on CD-ROM $79.95
Hammond Atlas of the World Leather-bound Executive Edition $95.00
Hotel Gems of France--This beautiful book covers 34 of the very best hotels in France; hotels that are the home away from home for royalty, hotels that represent the best in architecture, decor, cuisine and wine cellars. Each hotel is described and photographed in all its glory, with articles on its history and lore. Just in case you plan on booking a room, reservation information is included. It's a beautiful keepsake either way. $59.95
Also:
Hotel Gems of Great Britain & Ireland $59.95
Ismail Merchant's Florence --Subtitled "Filming & Feasting in Tuscany", this new book is Merchant's entertaining account of the filming of A Room With a View, with an emphasis on the sampling of regional cuisine. Whether dining at first class restaurants in Florence, wandering through a country market, or enjoying a Tuscan feast al fresco, Merchant clearly knows his Italian food. Mouth-watering photographs capture the beauty of both the food and the region, and 70 recipes encourage you to satisfy your inevitable hunger. $39.95
Jerusalem: In the Shadow of Heaven--Fifty of the world's top photojournalists capture the beauty, history and diversity of this holy city, revered by Christians, Jews and Muslims alike. 200 color photographs celebrate all the spiritual and secular sights, from the Dome of the Rock to the streets of the Jewish Quarter, producing a captivating tribute to this ancient and controversial city. $35.00
The Most Beautiful Villages of Dordogne-Distinguished travel author James Bentley has been writing about France for years. Now he teams up with photographer Hugh Palmer to explore the villages and small towns of the Dordogne, chosen for their beauty and their role in local culture and history. From the medieval abbey at Brant_meõ(@
Also:
The Most Beautiful Villages of Tuscany $40.00
The Most Beautiful Villages of Burgandy $40.00
The Most Beautiful Villages of New England--The newest in the series, this lovely volume captures the old-fashioned beauty of New England's architecture and unspoiled landscapes. From coastal harbors and mountain ranges to historic landmarks and stately churches, the 240 photographs by Len Rubinstein and Tom Shactman's informative text celebrate the seasons and timelessness of the region. An appendix provides information on the villages chosen, just in case you decide to relocate... $40.00
The New Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia--This definitive new reference by acclaimed U.K. wine writer Tom Stevenson examines all the wine-producing regions of the world and charts the best wines from France to the Far East, from California to Chile. Over 350 color photographs and 100 maps illustrate the clear well-written text. $50.00
Okavango: Africa's Last Eden-This collection of 132 spectacular photographs was taken by award-winning National Geographic photographer Frans Lanting during a year-long expedition. With an eye for detail and drama, Lanting sheds a fresh light on the diverse wildlife he encounters and vividly shows us the power and magnetism of this unparalleled habitat. The epilogue explores the environmental challenges faced by the region and brings home the fragility of Okavango and the dire need for preservation. $45.00
Also available in paperback $24.95
NEW Ring of Fire Boxed Video Set--If you missed the original 1988 showing on PBS of Ring of Fire, Lawrence & Lorne Blair's documentary of their ten-year journey through Indonesia, or if you would like to relive the excitement of the remarkable journey, we now have a complete boxed set available (videos not sold separately):
Volume One: Spice Island Saga
Volume 2: Dance of the Warriors
Volume 3: East of Krakatoa
Volume 4: Dream Wanderers of Borneo Boxed VHS Video Set: $79.95
NEW Venice and Food--Sally Spencer has produced a beautifully illustrated examination of the intimate connection between the city of Venice and its cuisine. It is filled with information on the rich history and culture of Venice and the culinary specialties of the area, with Spencer’s full-color illustrations throughout. For those of us who would like a little Venetian magic in our own kitchens, Spencer includes recipes of traditional delicacies such as Gnocchi de Suca, Fondi de Articiochi, and Baicolo cookies. Venice and Food makes a wonderful gift for italophiles, gourmets (or gourmands) or oneself…
Cloth, $35.00
Where Every Breath is a Prayer--We are proud to present the latest book by our friend (and sometimes catalogue-cover photographer) Jon Ortner. Here he explores the "spiritual heart" of Asia through 300 photographs taken during 15 years of travel to Nepal, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Java and Bali. The spectacular photographs and accompanying text trace the Hindu and Buddhist traditions of the region and form a tribute to the unrivaled beauty of the land, the sacred sights and the people. $50.00