Magnusson's study is indispensable and beautifully written, revealing the Vikings to be both ruthless warriors and skilled traders, both rampant pillagers and deft poets.
This wonderful and unusual book resulted from the two young poets' journey to Iceland in 1936. Their letters home, in verse and prose, are full of private jokes and irreverent commentary on people, politics, literature and ideas. A real treat.
A bleak, quiet crime novel set in Reykjavik which is the first in Indridason's prize-winning Detective Erlendur series. Erlendur, another miserable yet determined crime fighter cut from the Wallandar mould, must uncover the story behind a corpse found in a Reykjavik flat.
An immensely entertaining collection of final reports by various British ambassadors. Insightful, rude or bitter; these letters shed an otherwise unreported light on the foreign service.
Eclipse, the horse that won at Epsom Downs in 1769, is at the centre of this portrait of Georgian England. Its owner, a notorious gambler of immense wealth, had connections to royalty whilst living flagrantly amongst criminals.
An exquisitely written ode to the last remaining wilderness of Great Britain. Robert Macfarlane describes a series of journeys around the British Isles, part history, part evocative description and part nature lover's guide.
This little picture book of London is beautifully and lovingly designed, and fascinates our adult booksellers as much as children. Charming lino-cuts in striking colours draw the eye, whilst the clever clues on every page will challenge the mind. For a book of local interest this is surprisingly universal in its appeal and would make a thoughtful gift.
A tongue-in-cheek yet academic study of contemporary English behaviour, including chapters on the weather, humour and rules of sex. Thoroughly entertaining and highly recommended.
A coffee-table style paperback guide with a philosophical approach to travel that is the antithesis of our modern, fast-food attitudes. Special places to stay on any budget, attractions and restaurants are all hand-picked according to the time, attention and love they lavish on their product.
A writer is devastated when his passionate affair with a married woman is brought to an end with no explanation. A heart-breaking story about love and religion set in wartime London.
With the same broad range but a more cultural version of the Everyman Mapguide. Features streetplans from Hampstead to Greenwich with brief historical and cultural background on everything from museums to jazz clubs. Contains special features on London Zoo and Wren's London.
A list of recommended, off-the-beaten track restaurants, bars, pubs, shops and attractions for each area far removed from the tourist trap. Also includes information on the highs and lows of each area, the schools and the properties.