Random House New Releases - Travel - Europe - Western

The Little Bookroom Guide to Paris with Children by Kim Horton Levesque

2013-04-16T00:30:00-05:00

The Little Bookroom Guide to Paris with Children Play, Eat, Shop, Stay
Written by Kim Horton Levesque

Trade Paperback, 388 pages | Little Bookroom | Travel - Europe - France; Travel - Family Travel; Travel - Europe - Western | $19.95 | 978-1-892145-98-7 (1-892145-98-7)

The Little Bookroom Guide to Paris with Children focuses on what sophisticated parents with good taste want to know: how to see Paris’s most important sights and neighborhoods in a child-centered way—in this case, through the eyes and experiences of author Kim Horton Levesque and her three research assistants, her daughters.

Organized around places to eat, play, and shop, there’s lots of information on family-friendly restaurants (yes, they exist in Paris), classic cafés where Parisians take their children, items on Parisian menus that appeal to children, charming tea salons for your little Madeline, ice-cream stands and parlors for everybody, and places for picnicking and snacking; parks and playgrounds near attractions, and how to feel at home in the parks, including all you need to know about pony rides, marionette shows, model-boat rentals, merry-go-rounds, and more; where to shop with children and for them, including the best places to find quintessential French children’s clothing (espadrilles, striped sailor’s jerseys, and, this being France, perfume for babies!) as well as the best baby gear and toys at both exclusive shops and chain stores. Levesque also profiles the best small boutiques that feature French designers for children’s clothing and artisanal toys.

The guide also includes practical advice on finding a babysitter in a pinch or an English-speaking playgroup; words you may need at pharmacies, whether the problem is a sore throat, blisters, or an upset stomach; and how to locate a toilet when your child needs one. And you’ll feel comfortable anywhere in the city after the author debriefs you on stroller etiquette.

Levesque also provides fascinating glimpses into the lives of Parisian children: typical school lunches (a cheese course? bien sûr!); the all-important after-school goûter; the classic French layette; formula and baby food (forget applesauce, think ratatouille, potato leek, artichoke, and more); and all sorts of fascinating and useful information that will make your trip en famille an easy and pleasurable one.
Bon voyage!

A Time of Gifts by Jan Morris

2011-09-14T00:30:00-05:00

A Time of Gifts On Foot to Constantinople: From the Hook of Holland to the Middle Danube
Written by Patrick Leigh Fermor
Introduction by Jan Morris

eBook | NYRB Classics | Travel - Europe - Western; Travel - Special Interest - Literary; Biography & Autobiography - Personal Memoirs | $16.95 | 978-1-59017-517-0 (1-59017-517-4)

In 1933 Patrick Leigh Fermor was eighteen. Expelled from school for a flirtation with a local girl, he headed to London to set up as a writer, only to find that dream harder to realize than expected. Then he had the idea of leaving his troubles behind; he would “change scenery; abandon London and England and set out across Europe like a tramp . . . travel on foot, sleep in hayricks in summer, shelter in barns when it was raining or snowing and only consort with peasants and tramps.” Shortly after, Leigh Fermor shouldered his rucksack and set forth on the extraordinary trek that was to take him up the Rhine, down the Danube, and on to Constantinople.
It was the journey of a lifetime, after which neither Leigh Fermor nor, tragically, Europe would ever be the same, and out of it came a work of literature that is as ambitious and absorbing as it is without peer. The young Leigh Fermor had a prodigious talent for friendship, keen powers of observation, and the courage of an insatiable curiosity—raw material from which he later fashioned a book that is a story of youthful adventure, an evocation of a now-vanished world, and a remarkable unfolding of the history and culture of Central Europe. Taking in not just haylofts but mountain heights, country houses as well as cottages, with stops along the way in the great cities of Hamburg, Munich, Vienna, and Prague, A Time of Gifts is a radiant evocation of people and places and one of the glories of modern English prose.

The story of Patrick Leigh Fermor’s trip continues in Between the Woods and the Water.

Slovenia - Culture Smart! by Jason Blake

2011-09-06T00:30:00-05:00

Slovenia - Culture Smart! The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
Written by Jason Blake

Trade Paperback, 168 pages | Kuperard | Travel - Europe - Western | $9.95 | 978-1-85733-600-9 (1-85733-600-3)

Slovenia seems closer to Austria or Italy than to its Balkan neighbors. The richest of the Slavic nation-states, it has an entirely Western tradition, having belonged in the past to the Roman Empire, the Frankish kingdom, the Holy Roman Empire, the Republic of Venice, the Habsburg monarchy, and the First French Empire. After the Second World War it became part of the Republic of Yugoslavia, before declaring independence in 1991. This extraordinary cultural legacy is what sets Slovenia apart, matched by an amazingly varied topography packed into a small area. Traveling toward the coast, you see changes in the landscape and in the architecture. This reflects both the natural and the historical variety: the Venetians built their buildings one way, the Austrians another.

Slovenia’s natural beauty is astonishing. Legend relates that when God was allotting nature’s bounty, he forgot Slovenia. His last-minute solution was to take bits of the best from other places: gorgeous Alpine ranges, the less craggy Pohorje mountains, the Pannonian plain stretching toward Hungary, hill after hill rolling southward into the horizon, the unique karst landscape, rivers aplenty, and a few miles of Adriatic coastline.

Never having had a glorious unified kingdom in the past, Slovenians identify themselves not by blood or history but by their language, which differs from the other languages of the ex-Yugoslavia. The older generation is fluent in Serbo-Croatian, which helps for politics and trade, but has little of its historical baggage, and the country has geo-political importance as a politically stable stepping stone to the Balkans. As far as nationhood goes, Slovenia’s golden age is now. There is a sense of change in the country—mostly for the better, and not the dull stampede toward materialism that one sees in some other former Eastern bloc countries.
As a tourist destination Slovenia has it all, from medieval ruined monasteries to whitewater rafting.

The people of this lovely land are genuinely glad that others are “discovering” their country. There are no real language problems; the younger people all speak English. Moreover, membership of the EU means that this is a country in transition. Culture Smart! Slovenia will introduce you to the inner world of this moderate, orderly, and conservative people who have emerged into the post-Communist world hungry for change.

Slovenia - Culture Smart! by Jason Blake

2011-09-06T00:30:00-05:00

Slovenia - Culture Smart! The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
Written by Jason Blake

eBook, 168 pages | Kuperard | Travel - Europe - Western | $9.95 | 978-1-85733-601-6 (1-85733-601-1)

Slovenia seems closer to Austria or Italy than to its Balkan neighbors. The richest of the Slavic nation-states, it has an entirely Western tradition, having belonged in the past to the Roman Empire, the Frankish kingdom, the Holy Roman Empire, the Republic of Venice, the Habsburg monarchy, and the First French Empire. After the Second World War it became part of the Republic of Yugoslavia, before declaring independence in 1991. This extraordinary cultural legacy is what sets Slovenia apart, matched by an amazingly varied topography packed into a small area. Traveling toward the coast, you see changes in the landscape and in the architecture. This reflects both the natural and the historical variety: the Venetians built their buildings one way, the Austrians another.

Slovenia’s natural beauty is astonishing. Legend relates that when God was allotting nature’s bounty, he forgot Slovenia. His last-minute solution was to take bits of the best from other places: gorgeous Alpine ranges, the less craggy Pohorje mountains, the Pannonian plain stretching toward Hungary, hill after hill rolling southward into the horizon, the unique karst landscape, rivers aplenty, and a few miles of Adriatic coastline.

Never having had a glorious unified kingdom in the past, Slovenians identify themselves not by blood or history but by their language, which differs from the other languages of the ex-Yugoslavia. The older generation is fluent in Serbo-Croatian, which helps for politics and trade, but has little of its historical baggage, and the country has geo-political importance as a politically stable stepping stone to the Balkans. As far as nationhood goes, Slovenia’s golden age is now. There is a sense of change in the country—mostly for the better, and not the dull stampede toward materialism that one sees in some other former Eastern bloc countries.
As a tourist destination Slovenia has it all, from medieval ruined monasteries to whitewater rafting. The people of this lovely land are genuinely glad that others are “discovering” their country. There are no real language problems; the younger people all speak English. Moreover, membership of the EU means that this is a country in transition. Culture Smart! Slovenia will introduce you to the inner world of this moderate, orderly, and conservative people who have emerged into the post-Communist world hungry for change.

Western Europe - Culture Smart! by Roger Jones

2011-07-12T00:30:00-05:00

Western Europe - Culture Smart! the essential guide to customs & culture
Written by Roger Jones

Trade Paperback, 480 pages | Kuperard | Travel - Europe - Western | $24.95 | 978-1-85733-490-6 (1-85733-490-6)

The historic countries of Western Europe – Austria, Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland – are the jewels in the crown of European civilization. Their importance and attraction for the rest of the world are so great that the region is the prime travel destination for businesspeople, tourists, and students.

Western Europe is a relatively compact geographical area, containing an enormous diversity of landscapes, peoples, and cultures. The historically competitive Western Europeans are unlike each other in many ways, yet share an underlying system of values, and the restless Western European spirit of enquiry, enterprise, and adventure has had a decisive impact on world history. In the past, their empires spread their languages, religions, arts, and ideologies around the globe, and today the world beats a pathway to their doors. For foreign visitors, first encounters in Western Europe can be overwhelming. The richness and complexity of the different national cultures are difficult to take in, and people’s behavior and reactions can be surprisingly unpredictable.

For example, attitudes to time vary. In Germany it’s rude to be late; in France it’s rude to be on time. In business there is a range of negotiating styles. And because there is more to communication than speech, it is easy to misread the signals in other people’s societies. Even smiling can sometimes be wrong – in France it’s distinctly uncool to smile at strangers.

Western Europe is ideal for student travelers, businesspeople, or academics who will be visiting several countries on their trip and who don’t wish to be burdened with eleven books on different destinations. In this it is unique. No other book captures the essence of eleven national cultures in a single volume.

Drawing on the wealth of information in the individual Culture Smart! country guides, it focuses on those situations in each country where visitors are likely to come into contact with local people. Beyond listing the dos and don’ts, it explains the cultural context of different or unexpected behavior. It tells you about beliefs and attitudes, and alerts you to local manners and sensitive issues. Full of fascinating insights and practical advice, it will help you navigate your way through uncharted seas, avoid gaffes and misunderstandings, and establish a rapport with people wherever you are.

The Sinner's Grand Tour by Tony Perrottet

2011-05-10T00:30:00-05:00

The Sinner's Grand Tour A Journey Through the Historical Underbelly of Europe
Written by Tony Perrottet

eBook | Broadway | Travel; Travel - Europe - Western | $9.99 | 978-0-307-59219-4 (0-307-59219-7)

The Grand Tour: the cultural rite of passage from London to Paris, Berlin, Venice, Florence, Rome, and down to the boot of Italy, which linked the Continent’s most spectacular artistic treasures

Sex and travel have always been intertwined, and never more so than on the classic Grand Tour of Europe in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Today the Continent is still littered with salacious remnants of that golden age, where secret boudoirs, notorious dungeons, and forbidden artifacts lured travelers all the way from London to Capri.

In The Sinner’s Grand Tour, celebrated historian and travel writer Tony Perrottet sets off to discover a string of legendary sites and relics that are still kept far from public view. In southern France, an ancient text leads him inside the château of the Marquis de Sade, now owned by fashion icon Pierre Cardin. In Paris, an 1883 prostitute guide helps him discover the Belle Époque fantasy brothel Le Chabanais and the lost “sex chair” of King Edward VII. Renaissance documents in the Vatican Secret Archives point the way to the Pope’s very own apartments in Vatican City, wherein lies the fabled Stufetta del Bibbiena, a pornography-covered bathroom painted by Raphael in 1516.

With his unique blend of original research, sharp wit, and hilarious anecdotes, Perrottet brings us a romping travel adventure through the scandalous backrooms of historical Europe.

Western Europe - Culture Smart! by Roger Jones

2011-05-10T00:30:00-05:00

Western Europe - Culture Smart! Getting to Know the People, Their Culture and Customs
Written by Roger Jones

eBook, 480 pages | Kuperard | Travel - Europe - Western | $24.95 | 978-1-85733-628-3 (1-85733-628-3)

Scrambles Amongst the Alps by Anthony Brandt

2002-10-01T00:30:00-05:00

Scrambles Amongst the Alps
Written by Edward Whymper
Edited by Anthony Brandt

Trade Paperback, 432 pages | National Geographic | Travel; Travel - Adventure; Travel - Europe - Western | $16.00 | 978-0-7922-6923-6 (0-7922-6923-3)

When he first saw the Alps in 1860, Edward Whymper was a 20-year-old English wood engraver whose dream was to become an arctic explorer. Ambitious and hungry for adventure, he fell in love with the challenge the Alps presented and set out to conquer them peak by peak. Whymper made quick work of the challenge, racking up dozens of first ascents and acquiring a reputation as one of the best in the nascent field of mountaineering. But on the Matterhorn, considered to be mountaineering's Holy Grail at the time, Whymper met with failure again and again. On his eighth attempted ascent he finally succeeded, becoming the first man to reach its magnificent peak. The victory came at a heavy cost, however, as Whymper watched four of his companions fall to their deaths on the descent. It was a tragedy that would cast a shadow over the remainder of his life.

Published in 1871, Scrambles Amongst the Alps is Whymper's own story of his nine years spent climbing in the Alps. One of the first books devoted to the sheer thrill of mountaineering, it is a breathtaking account of the triumph of man over mountain in a time before thermal clothing, nylon ropes, global positioning systems, and air rescues. It also offers Whymper's controversial story of the tragedy on the Matterhorn. One of the best adventure books of all time, Scrambles Amongst the Alps is an essential classic of climbing literature by one of mountaineering's most legendary figures.

Random House New Releases - Travel - Europe - Western

The Little Bookroom Guide to Paris with Children by Kim Horton Levesque

The Little Bookroom Guide to Paris with Children Play, Eat, Shop, StayWritten by Kim Horton Levesque

A Time of Gifts by Jan Morris

A Time of Gifts On Foot to Constantinople: From the Hook of Holland to the Middle DanubeWritten by Patrick Leigh Fermor Introduction by Jan Morris

Slovenia - Culture Smart! by Jason Blake

Slovenia - Culture Smart! The Essential Guide to Customs & CultureWritten by Jason Blake

Slovenia - Culture Smart! by Jason Blake

Slovenia - Culture Smart! The Essential Guide to Customs & CultureWritten by Jason Blake

Western Europe - Culture Smart! by Roger Jones

Western Europe - Culture Smart! the essential guide to customs & cultureWritten by Roger Jones

The Sinner's Grand Tour by Tony Perrottet

The Sinner's Grand Tour A Journey Through the Historical Underbelly of EuropeWritten by Tony Perrottet

Western Europe - Culture Smart! by Roger Jones

Western Europe - Culture Smart! Getting to Know the People, Their Culture and CustomsWritten by Roger Jones

Scrambles Amongst the Alps by Anthony Brandt

Scrambles Amongst the Alps Written by Edward Whymper Edited by Anthony Brandt

The Little Bookroom Guide to Paris with Children Play, Eat, Shop, Stay
Written by Kim Horton Levesque

A Time of Gifts On Foot to Constantinople: From the Hook of Holland to the Middle Danube
Written by Patrick Leigh Fermor
Introduction by Jan Morris

Slovenia - Culture Smart! The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
Written by Jason Blake

Slovenia - Culture Smart! The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
Written by Jason Blake

Western Europe - Culture Smart! the essential guide to customs & culture
Written by Roger Jones

The Sinner's Grand Tour A Journey Through the Historical Underbelly of Europe
Written by Tony Perrottet

Western Europe - Culture Smart! Getting to Know the People, Their Culture and Customs
Written by Roger Jones

Scrambles Amongst the Alps
Written by Edward Whymper
Edited by Anthony Brandt