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• FAVORITES

Odysseus: Mediterranean Odyssey

READING AND TRAVEL GUIDE

• E-MAIL
• PRINT

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Books for

Voyages of the Great Explorers

Item EXWLD157. Buy these 5 items as a set for $91 including shipping, 15% off the retail price.
With free shipping on anything else you order.

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Mediterranean by Cruise Ship

by Anne Vipond

• GUIDEBOOK
• 2011
• PAPER
• 368 PAGES

The best-selling, compact guide, featuring excellent local maps, hundreds of color photographs, concise background information and recommended excursions for ports-of-call throughout the Mediterranean. (MED34, $21.95)

The Mediterranean in History

by David Abulafia

• CULTURAL PORTRAIT
• 2011
• PAPER
• 320 PAGES

A professor at Cambridge, David Abulafia leads a team of eight historians in this engaging, richly illustrated overview of the civilizations, societies and grand themes in the history of this great sea at the heart of Europe. Published in conjunction with the J. Paul Getty Museum, the book features 150 well-integrated color and 150 black-and-white illustrations. (MED79, $29.95)

The World of Odysseus

by Moses I. Finley

• HISTORY
• 2002
• PAPER
• 205 PAGES

A classic portrait of ancient Greek society based in large part on the author's ground-breaking interpretation of the Iliad and Odyssey. (GRE76, $14.95)

The Odyssey

by Homer | Robert Fagles

• LITERATURE
• 1997
• PAPER
• 541 PAGES

Translator Robert Fagles captures the poetry and power of The Odyssey in this translation, celebrated for its clarity and expressiveness. (GRE45, $17.00)

Mediterranean Cruises Map

by Freytag & Berndt

• 2010
• MAP

A double-sided, full-color map of the Mediterranean, including the Iberian Peninsula and Black Sea, North Africa and the Levant, at a scale of 1:2,000,000. (MED36, $14.95)

 

Also Recommended

Alexandria Illustrated

by Michael Haag

• GUIDEBOOK
• 2004
• PAPER
• 80 PAGES

A warm, richly illustrated portrait of the city, featuring 125 color photographs of the people, monuments and attractions of Alexandria alongside Michael Haag's insightful commentary. (EGY142, $22.95)

A Traveller's History of Cyprus

by Timothy Boatswain

• HISTORY
• 2005
• PAPER
• 231 PAGES

A brief history of Cyprus from ancient times to today -- accessible and necessarily condensed. With a chronology and historical gazetteer. (CYP08, $14.95)

Ancient Turkey, A Traveller's History

by Seton Lloyd

• HISTORY
• 1999
• PAPER
• 240 PAGES

Turkey's archaeology and early history for the traveler by the former head of the British Archaeological Institute in Ankara. (TKY43, $28.95)

D-Day June 6, 1944, The Climactic Battle of World War II

by Stephen Ambrose

• HISTORY
• 1995
• PAPER
• 655 PAGES

Written by the best-selling historian Stephen Ambrose, this well researched book draws together interviews and government documents to tell the gripping tale of D-Day. This comprehensive account contains 32 pages of photos and eight maps. (FRN40, $18.99)

Empires of the Sea

by Roger Crowley

• HISTORY
• 2009
• PAPER
• 336 PAGES

Crowley vividly reconstructs the epic clash between the Ottoman Empire and Christendom for the control of the Mediterranean -- and the soul of 16th-century Europe -- in this thrilling account of dramatic battles and brutality, rival faiths and larger-than-life personalities. (MED146, $16.00)

Harem, The World Behind the Veil

by Alev Lytle Croutier

• CULTURAL PORTRAIT
• 1991
• PAPER
• 224 PAGES
• OUT OF PRINT

A fascinating illustrated look at the culture of the Harem -- particularly the well-known quarters at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. The author combines interviews, history and a wonderful selection of art in this intriguing book. (ARB23, $25.00)

La Bella Figura, A Field Guide to the Italian Mind

by Beppe Severgnini

• CULTURAL PORTRAIT
• 2007
• PAPER
• 288 PAGES

Italians themselves love this guide to the Italian character, which addresses the apparently never-ending passion for beauty, disorder and high emotion. Severgnini opens the book with a snapshot of the hubbub at Malpensa Airport, then moves on to Tuscany, Rome, Naples and Sardinia. (ITL718, $14.00)

Mont Saint Michel and Chartres

by Henry Brooks Adams

• HISTORY
• 1986
• PAPER
• 398 PAGES

First published at the turn of the century, this classic work is a meditation on the Medieval world as reflected through its most famous religious structures. (FRN44, $17.00)

Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea, Why the Greeks Matter

by Thomas Cahill

• HISTORY
• 2004
• PAPER
• 320 PAGES

Cahill sketches ancient Greek society and civilization through the lives and words of politicians, playwrights, a poet, philosopher and artist in this eloquent and absorbing tribute. (GRE182, $16.00)

Sea of Faith

by Stephen O'Shea

• HISTORY
• 2009
• PAPER
• 352 PAGES

O'Shea brings a traveler's eye and a poet's touch to this gripping tale of conquest, co-existence and conflict in the medieval Mediterranean. He focuses on seven key battles between Christians and Muslims from Yamuk (AD 636) to the Siege of Malta (1565). (MED95, $17.00)

The Ancient Mediterranean

by Michael Grant

• CULTURAL PORTRAIT
• 1990
• PAPER
• 374 PAGES

Grant explores the realms of archaeology, geography, art and economics to sketch this classic portrait of the ancient world, from prehistory through the Roman Imperium, and the influence on western civilization. (MED10, $20.00)

The Balkans, A Short History

by Mark Mazower

• HISTORY
• 2002
• PAPER
• 188 PAGES

A brief, provocative survey of the complex and often contentious history of the Balkans. With eloquence and insight, Mazower addresses the issues of geography, nationalism and modern nation-building in the region. (BLK28, $13.95)

The Classical World

by Robin Lane Fox

• HISTORY
• 2008
• PAPER
• 656 PAGES

Fox conjures tyrants, conquerors and enthralling personalities, from Homer to Hadrian, in this marvelously written history of ancient Greece and Rome. (GRE293, $19.99)

The Middle Sea

by John Julius Norwich

• HISTORY
• 2007
• PAPER
• 720 PAGES

A marvelous writer who has already tackled Byzantium, the Normans in Sicily and Venice, Norwich spins his magic in this story of culture, trade and politics, royalty and rulers, wars and religion in the Mediterranean. (MED98, $21.00)

The Ornament of the World, How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain

by Maria Rosa Menocal | Harold Bloom

• RELIGION
• 2003
• PAPER
• 272 PAGES

A lively, illuminating portrait of the Andalucian Kingdom, its cultural achievements and religious tolerance from the eighth century to 1492. (SPN185, $15.99)

Ancient Greece: Art, Architecture, and History

by Marina Belozerskaya | Kenneth Lapatin

• ART & ARCHITECTURE
• 2004
• PAPER
• 144 PAGES

This lively illustrated guide covers the architecture, painting and sculpture of Ancient Greece from the third millennium to the end of the Hellenistic period. With 282 color and 28 black-and-white illustrations. (GRE194, $19.95)

Ancient Sicily, Monuments Past & Present

by G. Messineo | E. Borgia

• ARCHAEOLOGY
• 2006
• PAPER
• 72 PAGES

In this illuminating overview, ingenious overlays depict 17 important sites as they appear today and how they may have appeared in the past. (ITL733, $29.95)

The Alhambra

by Robert Irwin

• ART & ARCHITECTURE
• 2004
• PAPER
• 213 PAGES

Irwin's brief, indispensable guide introduces the stunning Moorish palace and fortress complex, revealing its mysteries, myths and significance with wit and insight. (SPN226, $14.95)

The Complete World of Greek Mythology

by Richard Buxton

• ART & ARCHITECTURE
• 2004
• HARD COVER
• 240 PAGES

With hundreds of color illustrations, site plans, genealogies and maps, this handsome, encyclopedic reference illuminates the world of the Greek gods. (GRE377, $39.95)

A Year in the World, Journeys of a Passionate Traveler

by Frances Mayes

• TRAVEL NARRATIVE
• 2007
• PAPER
• 420 PAGES

A warm account of mostly Mediterranean travels -- Spain, Portugal, Greece, Sicily, Capri, Sardinia, the Turkish Coast, Naples, Burgundy, Scotland -- arranged by season. (TVL109, $15.00)

Balkan Ghosts, A Journey through History

by Robert D. Kaplan

• TRAVEL NARRATIVE
• 2005
• PAPER
• 307 PAGES

Kaplan interweaves the history, art and culture of Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece with his travels in this portrait of the region. (BLK02, $17.00)

D.H. Lawrence and Italy

by D.H. Lawrence

• TRAVEL NARRATIVE
• 2008
• PAPER
• 495 PAGES

This omnibus Penguin Classics edition includes Lawrence's three travel tales, each very different in tone and all wonderful: Sea and Sardinia is a nostalgic look at traditional ways of life; Twilight in Italy, an evocation of Lawrence's memorable stay on Lake Garda; and Etruscan Places his musings on ancient sites, including the painted tombs of Tarquinia. (ITL62, $18.00)

Homage to Catalonia

by George Orwell

• BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
• 1987
• PAPER
• 234 PAGES
• FAVORITE

Orwell's portrait of the Barcelona uprising and the spirit of a city at war is a classic, an observant and heartfelt report from the streets. (SPN03, $14.00)

Istanbul, Memories and the City

by Orhan Pamuk

• BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
• 2006
• PAPER
• 320 PAGES

Nobel Prize-winner Pamuk writes with quiet grace of the city of his birth, celebrated in his many novels: a magical place of crumbling mansions and Ottoman riches, mingling Asian, Islamic, secular and European influences. (TKY99, $16.95)

Italian Days

by Barbara Grizzuti Harrison

• TRAVEL NARRATIVE
• 1998
• PAPER
• 479 PAGES
• FAVORITE

Grizzuti Harrison writes with warmth and depth of her journey from Milan south to Calabria in this sprightly account of Italy and the Italians. (ITL02, $15.00)

Midnight in Sicily, On Art, Food, History, Travel and La Cosa Nostra

by Peter Robb

• TRAVEL NARRATIVE
• 2007
• PAPER
• 400 PAGES
• FAVORITE

Combining interviews, research and essays on Sicilian history and culture, this vivid report by journalist Peter Robb is a superb introduction to Italy's glorious, corrupt and troubled south. (ITL74, $18.00)

Neither Here Nor There, Travels in Europe

by Bill Bryson

• TRAVEL NARRATIVE
• 2001
• PAPER
• 254 PAGES

Bryson deploys his famously cranky humor in this romp through European capitals. He's great fun to read and insightful on quirks of character. (EUR25, $14.99)

Pillars of Hercules

by Paul Theroux

• TRAVEL NARRATIVE
• 1996
• PAPER
• 509 PAGES

Theroux seems to have had an exceptionally good time on his tour of the Mediterranean, circling the celebrated sea on foot, horseback, train and boat from Gibraltar to North Africa. (MED20, $17.00)

The Colossus of Maroussi

by Henry Miller

• TRAVEL NARRATIVE
• 2010
• PAPER
• 223 PAGES
• FAVORITE

Miller captures the spirit and warmth of the resilient Greek people in this inspired tale of a wartime journey from Athens to Crete, Corfu and Delphi with his friend Lawrence Durrell. (GRE05, $12.95)

The Spirit of Mediterranean Places

by Michel Butor

• TRAVEL NARRATIVE
• 1986
• PAPER
• 147 PAGES
• FAVORITE
• HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE

In this remarkable short book, the celebrated French novelist chronicles his travels to Cairo, Luxor, Crete, Istanbul and other Mediterranean sites in absorbing, appreciative painterly detail. (MED03, $13.95)

The World of Venice

by Jan Morris

• TRAVEL NARRATIVE
• 1995
• PAPER
• 315 PAGES
• FAVORITE

Morris displays her talent for research, anecdote and well-wrought prose in this spirited history of a beloved city. (ITL12, $18.95)

Death at La Fenice

by Donna Leon

• MYSTERY
• 2004
• PAPER
• 270 PAGES

The first of the tremendously good Guido Brunetti mysteries, all set in the author's beloved Venice, in which a famous conductor is found dead at the celebrated theater of the title. (ITL555, $13.99)

Ironfire, A Novel of the Knights of Malta and the Last Battle of the Crusades

by David Ball

• LITERATURE
• 2005
• PAPER
• 688 PAGES

In this rousing historical novel the fates of a young boy, his sister, one of the Knights of Malta and an inquisitor play out against the backdrop of the 16th-century Ottoman assault on Malta, the formidable citadel of the Knights of St. John. (MLT18, $15.00)

Mediterranean Passages, Readings from Dido to Derrida

by Grant Parker | Miriam Cooke | Erdag Goknar

• ANTHOLOGY
• 2008
• PAPER
• 416 PAGES

This compendium highlights 3,000 years of cultural exchange around the Mediterranean. With an assortment of maps, architectural drawings, photographs, paintings and historical and literary texts, it brings antiquity into conversation with the present. (MED139, $27.95)

Odysseus, A Life

by Charles Rowan Beye

• LITERATURE
• 2005
• PAPER
• 197 PAGES

A chronicle of the life of Homer's Odysseus by a classicist with a wry sense of humor. Beye draws on recent scholarship, literature and archaeology in constructing this clever "biography" of the cunning wanderer. (GRE191, $13.95)

Pride of Carthage, A Novel of Hannibal

by David Anthony Durham

• LITERATURE
• 2006
• PAPER
• 576 PAGES

A richly imagined epic saga based on the events of the Second Punic War. Although a work of fiction, the book does a good job of evoking the history of the era and its personalities. (TUN24, $15.95)

Spain, A Traveler's Literary Companion

by Peter R. Bush

• ANTHOLOGY
• 2003
• PAPER
• 242 PAGES

These 30 short stories form a who's who of contemporary Spanish literature, including writers from Galicia, Leon, the Basque Country, Madrid and Barcelona. (SPN173, $13.95)

The Iliad

by Homer | Robert Fagles

• LITERATURE
• 2002
• PAPER
• 704 PAGES

In the excellent Fagles translation -- here presented in a deluxe paper edition -- Homer's Trojan epic hasn't aged a bit in the last 2,700 years. Take it along to Troy and the Aegean. We also carry Fagles's translation of The Odyssey. (Item no. GRE45, $17.00) (GRE173, $17.00)

The Leopard

by Giuseppe Di Lampedusa

• LITERATURE
• 2007
• PAPER
• 384 PAGES
• FAVORITE

Evoking a lost world of privilege and tradition, Giuseppe Di Lampedusa's memorable tale, set on a rural Sicilian estate during the days of independence, follows the world-weary Don Fabrizio, Prince of Salina. A classic, now in a 50th anniversary edition. (ITL11, $16.00)

The Songs of the Kings

by Barry Unsworth

• LITERATURE
• 2004
• PAPER
• 342 PAGES

Unsworth's sly novel, set in 1260 B.C. as scheming Odysseus prepares to plunder Troy. A familiar story enhanced by Unsworth's mix of classic cadence, contemporary language, ripe humor and pulled-from-the-headlines satire. (GRE185, $13.95)

Birds of the Mediterranean, A Photographic Guide

by Paul Sterry

• FIELD GUIDE
• 2003
• PAPER
• 192 PAGES

A slim, concise and clearly organized guide to 440 species of birds from the Mediterranean. Range maps and descriptions are opposite good, clear color photographs, digitally enhanced to aid in identification. (MED82, $29.00)

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