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From Castle to Teahouse
by John B. KirbyThe Momoyama period of Japanese art history, at the turn of the 16th century, is perhaps best known to the West through the resplendent paintings of the Kano masters and their fellow artists. Yet this same period offers such a variety of architectural pleasures that, in at least one of its many facets, it makes an appeal to every taste. It ranges from the largest and most imposing castles to the smallest and most tastefully designed teahouses. Paintings and gardens are an integral part of it, as they are in all Japanese architecture, and here, also, the range extends from the gorgeous and elaborate to the utmost in simplicity and restraint. It is with this exuberant period in Japanese history that the present book is concerned. Its purpose is to present, against a background of colorful history, the architectural achievements of an elegant age.In the first part of this book, Mr. Kirby discusses and illustrates the principal forms of castle, shoin, and sukiya architecture that he considers to the most important contributions of the Momoyama period. The second part presents existing examples of Momoyama structures together with a brief section on developments of less importance in religious architecture and construction of an essentially engineering nature. All of these are pictured in a generous selection of excellent photographs accompanied by plans and elevations for a number of the structures discussed.
A la taula dels altres: A peu pel Priorat
by Josep Maria EspinàsEspinàs comparteix l'experiència de caminar per un Priorat en temps de verema, amb costums i personatges que avui semblen inventats. El 1957 Josep M. Espinàs va conèixer un Priorat del qual, amb l'excepció del vi, se'n tenien molt poques notícies, en una època en què encara es traginava el raïm en rucs i s'anava a buscar l'aigua a la font amb àmfores. En el llibre A la taula dels altres, l'escriptor camina per aquesta comarca durant la verema i passeja per uns pobles on un foraster és una raresa. Espinàs esmorza i conversa amb la gent que troba a les vinyes i coneix una sèrie de personatges curiosos que, a través de la mirada de l'escriptor, hi apareixen molt ben retratats. El que era una crònica de viatge, fidel a la realitat, ara s'ha convertit en una narració que reviu un món que forma part del nostre passat.
The Middle Passage: Impressions of Five Societies -- British, French and Dutch in the West Indies and South America
by V. S. NaipaulIn 1960 the government of Trinidad invited V. S. Naipaul to revisit his native country and record his impressions. In this classic of modern travel writing he has created a deft and remarkably prescient portrait of Trinidad and four adjacent Caribbean societies & countries haunted by the legacies of slavery and colonialism and so thoroughly defined by the norms of Empire that they can scarcely believe that the Empire is ending.
Moon Canadian Rockies: Scenic Drives, Wildlife, Hiking & Skiing (Travel Guide)
by Andrew HempsteadSnowy peaks, icy glaciers, glittering lakes, and alpine meadows: Answer the call of the wild with Moon Canadian Rockies. Inside you'll find:Strategic, flexible itineraries in the national parks, including a two-week Canadian Rockies road tripThe best hikes in the Canadian Rockies: Find the right trek for you with details on length, elevation gains, difficulty levels, and trailheads Can't-miss outdoor experiences: Hike to incredible vistas and try to spot moose, bighorn sheep, wolves, and black bears. Soak in a natural hot spring after a day on the slopes or wander through meadows of colorful wildflowers. Ride across the Columbia Icefield in an Ice Explorer, float through the sky in a mountain gondola, or white-water raft down rivers of snowmelt. Go horseback riding though the Tonquin Valley or fish for your own fresh dinner and camp under the stars Expert insight from Banff local Andrew Hempstead on when to go, where to eat, and where to stay, from campgrounds to luxurious mountain lodges Full-color photos, detailed maps of each park, and handy directions, including driving times and mileages, and coverage of gateway towns Background information on the landscape, culture, history, wildlife, and environment In-depth coverage of Banff National Park, Kootenay National Park, Yoho National Park, Jasper National Park, Waterton Lakes National Park, and nearby cities of Banff, Canmore, Jasper, Calgary, Radium Hot Springs, Golden, and Kananaskis Country With Moon's practical tips and local insight, you can experience the best of the Canadian Rockies. Hitting the road? Try Moon U.S. and Canadian Rockies Road Trip. Focusing on the parks? Check out Moon Best of Glacier, Banff, and Jasper. About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell—and they can't wait to share their favorite places with you. For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.
Moon Greek Islands & Athens: Timeless Villages, Scenic Hikes, Local Flavors (Travel Guide)
by Sarah SouliSoak up the sun, dance till dawn, hike through wild forests, or explore Greek history: Escape to the Mediterranean with Moon Greek Islands & Athens. Choose the right islands for you, with strategic itineraries for different timelines, budgets, and activities, whether you want to lounge on the best beaches, linger in ancient villages, explore the outdoors, or island-hop for a little taste of everything Focused coverage of Athens and 18 Greek islands, including Santorini, Mykonos, Karpathos, Corfu, Lefkada, and more Unique experiences and must-see highlights: Marvel at Oia's picturesque blue and white architecture or take a boat to the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. Soak in therapeutic hot springs, hike through lush forests to waterfalls in Samothrace, or hop aboard a boat and discover hidden coves and wild beaches. Learn about local folklore in Olympos, explore Athens' contemporary galleries and ancient ruins, and savor authentic Greek cuisine, from roasted lamb and olives to dakos and fiery shots of ouzo Insight from Athens local Sarah Souli on how to experience Greece like an insider, support local businesses, and avoid over-tourism Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout Background information on the landscape, history, and cultural customs of Greece and each individual island In-depth coverage of: Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Folegandros, Milos, Naxos, Anafi, Karpathos, Rhodes, Kalymnos, Samothrace, Ikaria, Lesvos, Alonnisos, Skyros, Corfu, Zakynthos, Lefkada, and Crete With Moon's practical tips and local know-how, you can experience the best of Athens and the Greek islands. Exploring more of Europe? Check out Moon Prague, Vienna & Budapest or Moon Southern Italy.About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell—and they can't wait to share their favorite places with you. For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.
Moon Sicily: Best Beaches, Local Food, Ancient Sites (Travel Guide)
by Linda Sarris Moon Travel GuidesFrom relaxing on sun-soaked beaches to hiking Mount Etna, immerse yourself in la dolce vita with Moon Sicily. Inside you'll find:Flexible itineraries for exploring the best of Sicily, including Palermo, Western Sicily, the Aeolian Islands, Catania, Mount Etna, Syracuse, and more Strategic advice for foodies and oenophiles, art lovers, hikers, history buffs, beach bums, and more Must-see highlights and unique experiences for any season: Go climbing and wine-tasting on scenic Mount Etna. Visit the noble palaces and flourishing outdoor markets of Palermo. Island-hop and soak up the spectacular beaches of the Aegadian Islands. Walk among Greek ruins at the Valle dei Templi and wander romantic towns like Cefalú and Taormina The best local flavors: Savor fresh seafood straight from the Mediterranean, sample locally made sheep cheese, and taste some of Italy&’s best street food in Palermo. Enjoy diverse Sicilian wines like historic marsala and sip a morning cappuccino at a charming café Expert advice from Palermo local and chef Linda Sarris on where to stay, what to eat, and how to get around Full-color photos and detailed maps throughoutBackground information on the landscape, history, and cultural customs Handy tools including an Italian phrasebook and tips for senior travelers, travelers of color, traveling with children, and more With Moon&’s practical tips and local insight on the best things to do and see, you can experience the very best of Sicily. Exploring more of Italy? Check out Moon Southern Italy or Moon Rome, Florence & Venice.About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell—and they can't wait to share their favorite places with you. For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.
Oriental Rugs a Complete Guide
by Charles W. JacobsenThis authoritative reference contains a vast amount of information about Oriental rugs.<P><P>Oriental Rugs: A Complete Guide is the first large volume on the subject to be printed in the past forty-five years is meant for the individual who is interested in purchasing his first Oriental Rug, as well as the collector, museum, and rug importer.The volume is divided into three main parts. Part I, entitled "General Discussion devotes one chapter to each of the large rug weaving countries and includes helpful hints as to what the rug buyer should look for in an particular rug.Part II, "Description of Types," is an alphabetical list of all the names that have been used to identify rugs in the past, as well as the names that are being used at present. Each entry is followed by a full discussion and description of the rug.Part III, "Plates," contains 194 pictures of different types of rugs, complete with descriptive captions for each. Thirty-nine of the plates are in full color. All of the plates are large, allowing the reader to see the design, and in some cases, the colors used in the particular rug.
Painted Fans of Japan
by Reiko ChibaThe chief purpose of this modest little book is to present for Westerners some of the gorgeous paintings found on fans used in tne traditional Japanese Non drama. Painting as limited to conform to the fan shape has teen practiced for hundreds of years in Japan, even hy such immortal artists as Sotatsu and Korin. Until now, however, there has heen no popularly availahle volume of reproductions to reveal the almost limitless possibilities in color, design, and perspective within this restricted form of painting, The artists whose works are reproduced in this book are unknown, and the time when the works were painted can only he estimated as early (1601-1741), middle ( 1742-1791 ) , or late ( 1792-1867 ) Totugawa, the period of Japanese history that extended from the beginning of the seventeenth century to well past the middle of the nineteenth.
The Secret of the Golden Flower: A Chinese Book of Life
by Richard WilhelmThe ancient Taoist text that forms the central part of this book was discovered by Wilhelm, who recognized it as essentially a practical guide to the integration of personality. Foreword by Carl Jung.
Travels with Charley: In Search of America
by John SteinbeckAn intimate journey across America, as told by one of its most beloved writers<P> To hear the speech of the real America, to smell the grass and the trees, to see the colors and the light—these were John Steinbeck's goals as he set out, at the age of fifty-eight, to rediscover the country he had been writing about for so many years.<P> With Charley, his French poodle, Steinbeck drives the interstates and the country roads, dines with truckers, encounters bears at Yellowstone and old friends in San Francisco. Along the way he reflects on the American character, racial hostility, the particular form of American loneliness he finds almost everywhere, and the unexpected kindness of strangers.
The Wares of the Ming Dynasty
by R. L. HobsonThis book explains and illustrates as many varieties of Ming ceramics as possible. The text is based primarily on information obtained from Chinese sources and the occasional notes made by Europeans who visited China in Ming times. To these, Mr. Hobson has added his own penetrating deductions, made after careful study of well-authenticated specimens and of observation by earlier scholars. His presentation is not only clear and precise but also incontestably authoritative and at the same time highly readable.The first twelve chapters of the book deal almost exclusively with the porcelain produced at Ching-te Chen; the next four, with the porcelain and pottery made at other centers. The bulk of the 129 pieces illustrated (12 in color) are drawn from private collections, but references is also made to important examples in museums. Of particular interest are Mr. Hobson's comments on collecting and on the identification of genuine Ming wares. A special chapter on marks, inscriptions, and Chinese characters is included, together with a selected bibliography.
Book of the Eskimos
by Dagmar FreuchenPeter Freuchen was a Danish explorer who had spent many years among the Eskimo people. This book is crammed full of information on the history, life-styles, and rapid changes in this civilization's lives.
Enjoy Japan
by Walt SheldonFor several years Walt Sheldon has been helping visitors and foreign residents to understand and appreciate things Japanese through the medium of his popular weekly radio program "Enjoy Japan" over the U.S. Forces' Far East Network. Now, in his latest book, Mr. Sheldon presents his own "personal and highly unofficial guide" to Japan, its people, places, and outstanding features. In chatty and intimate style he discusses, among other things, such wide-ranging topics as the geisha, the ancient gods, the emperor system, the Japanese "salary man, "resorts, cities, food, costume, language, sports, and theater. The visitor to Japan, as well as the newcomer who has arrived for a longer stay and the Westerner who is just plain interested in this Asian land will find here an assortment of interesting facts wittily presented and charmingly illustrated.
The Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons
by J. W. PowellThe time is 1 p.m., May 24, 1869. The place: the Green River portage, in present-day Wyoming. The personnel are ten: Major John W. Powell, one-armed Civil War veteran, later head of the U. S. Geological Survey) and nine geologists, geographers, scouts, and adventurers. Their assignment: to fill in the last white space on the map, to explore the last great unmapped and unknown part of the continental United States.<P><P> No man has ever descended the Colorado River — some 1,000 miles cut through impassable badlands. It is known that there are other rivers in the area, like the Dirty River and the Grand River, but their interrelationships are unknown. What lies along the course of the Colorado as it flows between cliffs 5,000 feet high on either side? Some say that there are waterfalls that dwarf Niagara; others that there are impassable rapids; others that the river flows underground; others say that it is a smooth placid stream, lined by horizon-reaching fields of wild wheat. No one knows, not even the Indians.<P> Major Powell wrote the account of this remarkable expedition, and his narrative is one of the great classics of exploration, as thrilling as the feat itself. As we follow Powell's journal (expanded for publication), we find the ten men sailing through wild waters, momentarily expecting rapids around the next bend; and finding rapids, throwing out drag anchors, while one advanced boat tries to find through-flowing channels. We see mutiny, as three men refuse to face the perils any longer and desert — to be massacred by the hostile Indians. Famine — the beans are sprouting, the apples are fermenting, and the flour has gone moldy. Yet six men finally emerged, after 95 days of peril and a new continent of experience was recorded.<P> This is the only uncut version of Powell's narrative that has been printed in the many years. It even includes the full text of the later 1870 expedition along the Uinta, where Powell rediscovered the Pueblo Indians. It also contains Powell's later reflections on the expedition, omitted in other editions.
Fables in Ivory
by Adrienne BarbansonTo introduce these miniature sculptures to a wider audience and, at the same time, to tell some of the legends that inspired their creators, Adrienne Barbanson presents here a collection of superb photographs accompanied by a narrative text designed to enhance the reader's appreciation of this remarkable by relatively unfamiliar art.
Fables in Ivory
by Adrienne BarbansonTo introduce these miniature sculptures to a wider audience and, at the same time, to tell some of the legends that inspired their creators, Adrienne Barbanson presents here a collection of superb photographs accompanied by a narrative text designed to enhance the reader's appreciation of this remarkable by relatively unfamiliar art.
A Fine Line
by Gianrico Carofiglio Howard Curtis"A FINE LINE is a terrific novel, a legal thriller that is also full of complex mediations on the life of the lawyer and the difficult compromises inherent in any system of criminal justice. A book that is intensely rewarding at many levels."Scott TurowThe fifth in the best-selling Guido Guerrieri series. When Judge Larocca is accused of corruption, Guerrieri goes against his better instincts and takes the case. Helped by Annapaola Doria, a motorbike-riding bisexual private detective who keeps a baseball bat on hand for sticky situations, he investigates the alleged links to the mafia. Of course Guerrieri cannot stop himself from falling for Annapaola's exotic charms.The novel is a suspenseful legal thriller but it is also much more. It is the story of a judge who, to quote Dostoevsky, "lies to himself and listens to his own lies, so gets to the point where he can no longer distinguish the truth, either in himself or around himself."
A Gull on the Roof: Tales from a Cornish Flower Farm (Minack Chronicles #5)
by Derek TangyeThe first title in the Minack Chronicles, which tell the story of how Derek and his wife Jeannie left behind their London home to establish a flower farm on the coast of Cornwall. From inauspicious beginnings, this book includes tales of the couple's first animals, including Monty the ginger cat, and takes us through trials and tribulations until the arrival of a gull on the roof provides the first augury of better times to come.
Ketchikan: Alaska's Totemland
by Mary G. Balcombrief, but interesting, history of Ketchikan Alaska and it's surrounding area. Covers both the local indians and the white settlers.
The Whispering Land: A Zoo In My Luggage, The Whispering Land, And Menagerie Manor (The Zoo Memoirs #2)
by Gerald DurrellThe sequel to A Zoo in My Luggage, this is the story of how Durrell and his wife's zoo-building efforts at England's Jersey Zoo led them and a team of helpers on an eight-month safari in Argentina to look for South American specimens. Through windswept Patagonian shores and tropical forests in Argentina, from ocelots to penguins, fur seals to parrots, Durrell captures the landscape and its inhabitants with his signature charm and humor.
Birds of Hawaii
by George C. MunroBirds of Hawaii is not a drily scientific text, although it is clearly the product of scientific observation and study. It is enlivened by Mr. Munro's consuming pleasure in his subject and by his introduction of hundreds of interesting sidelights from his lifetime pursuit of knowledge concerning it.The book is divided into three sections: "Native Birds", "Stray Variants to the Hawaiian Islands" and "Imported Birds." Each bird is identified by its scientific name, its common name(or names), and in the case of native birds, by its Hawaiian name. These designations are followed by a description of the bird's essential characteristics, its habitat, its distinctive song or cry, and its habits. The descriptions are enhanced by vivid details from the author's own experience in observing his subjects.Twenty plates in full color, comprising illustrations of more than 150 different species of birds, together with a selection of black and white photographs, provide the reader with an easy means for identification of the birds described.
Birds of Hawaii
by George C. MunroBirds of Hawaii is not a drily scientific text, although it is clearly the product of scientific observation and study. It is enlivened by Mr. Munro's consuming pleasure in his subject and by his introduction of hundreds of interesting sidelights from his lifetime pursuit of knowledge concerning it.The book is divided into three sections: "Native Birds", "Stray Variants to the Hawaiian Islands" and "Imported Birds." Each bird is identified by its scientific name, its common name(or names), and in the case of native birds, by its Hawaiian name. These designations are followed by a description of the bird's essential characteristics, its habitat, its distinctive song or cry, and its habits. The descriptions are enhanced by vivid details from the author's own experience in observing his subjects.Twenty plates in full color, comprising illustrations of more than 150 different species of birds, together with a selection of black and white photographs, provide the reader with an easy means for identification of the birds described.
Chinese Snuff Bottles
by Lilla S. PerryThis title was originally published in print form by Tuttle Publishing in 1960This book is not only an invaluable document for all interested in the history of Chinese art, but also a lucid and fascinating guidebook for the collector or would be collector, both of snuff bottles and other products of Chinese craftsmanship.
Goodbye to a River
by John GravesIn the 1950s, a series of dams was proposed along the Brazos River in north-central Texas. For John Graves, this project meant that if the stream's regimen was thus changed, the beautiful and sometimes brutal surrounding countryside would also change, as would the lives of the people whose rugged ancestors had eked out an existence there. Graves therefore decided to visit that stretch of the river, which he had known intimately as a youth.Goodbye to a River is his account of that farewell canoe voyage. As he braves rapids and fatigue and the fickle autumn weather, he muses upon old blood feuds of the region and violent skirmishes with native tribes, and retells wild stories of courage and cowardice and deceit that shaped both the river's people and the land during frontier times and later. Nearly half a century after its initial publication, Goodbye to a River is a true American classic, a vivid narrative about an exciting journey and a powerful tribute to a vanishing way of life and its ever-changing natural environment.From the Trade Paperback edition.
The Kingdom Within
by Genevieve CaulfieldGenevieve Caulfield became blind as an infant, and was educated at the Perkins and Overbrook Schools for the Blind before attending college. When she was seventeen she became passionately interested in Japan, and determined to work there as a teacher. This memoir describes her long and careful preparations for her move to Japan, and her 14 years there as a teacher of English. In 1937, as Japan went to war in Manchuria and its relations with the United States deteriorated, Caulfield relocated to Thailand, where she established that nation's first school for blind children. Along the way Caulfield made innumerable friends, adopted a Japanese daughter, and raised her twin grandchildren after her daughter's tragic death. Life in Thailand during World War II is vividly portrayed in this memoir. This is a straightforward account by a woman of enormous determination and ability.