The Alps, A Cultural History  •  Andrew Beattie HISTORY •  2006 •  HARD COVER  • 256 PAGES Andrew Beattie explores the turbulent past and vibrant present of the Alps, where early pioneers of tourism, mountaineering and scientific research, along with the enduring legacies of historical regimes from the Romans to the Nazis, have all left their mark. (ALP30, $29.95)
Altitude Illness: Prevention and Treatment, How to Stay Healthy at Altitude  •  Stephen Bezruchka REFERENCE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 128 PAGES A pocket reference to both preventing and the treatment of altitude sickness. Bezruchka, a mountaineer, M.D. and wit, includes case studies, a section of frequently asked questions, and simple methods of diagnosis and treatment when things go wrong. Travelers to high altitudes will devour this little book, dedicated "To all those who have died of altitude sickness." (REF02, $8.95)
The Best of the Alps  •  Jay Cowan HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 169 PAGES A tour of 11 well known resorts throughout the Alps, illustrated in full-color photos. With descriptions of popular activities, events and a short history of each resort. (ALP18, $19.95)
Birds of Britain & Europe  •  Hermann Heinzel  •  Richard Fitter  •  John Parslow FIELD GUIDE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 384 PAGES • COMING IN This masterfully organized Collins Pocket Guide, featuring 3,000 color illustrations covers the birds of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Maps, text and illustrations for each species are organized together on facing pages for quick reference in the field. Heinzel contributed all the handsome watercolor illustrations. (EUR49, $27.50)
Clara's Grand Tour, Travels With a Rhinoceros in Eighteenth-century Europe  •  Glynis Ridley HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES The entertaining history of a most unusual eighteenth-century European celebrity. Clara the Indian rhinoceros was brought to Europe in 1741 by the Dutch sea captain Douwemout Van der Meer, and toured for seventeen years, to the delight of heads of state such as Louis XV and Frederick the Great. A marvelous and unique look at the introduction of Eastern wildlife into the Western world. (FRN536, $12.00)
Daisy Miller  •  Henry James LITERATURE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 126 PAGES This classic story of a young American woman's innocent flirtation and its misinterpretation by a sophisticated European man is set in Lac Leman and Chillon. This is James' first fictional work to gain mass popularity and one of his great American female portraits. Daisy, the young American tourist, baffles her Continental lovers with her ingenuousness and blatant honesty. Misunderstandings ensue when the formal, prim Winterbourne misconstrues her innocent flirtations. (SWZ09, $7.00)
Epic, Stories of Survival from the World's Highest Peaks  •  Clint Willis ANTHOLOGY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 342 PAGES A greatest-hits collection of mountaineering literature, Willis excerpts 15 stories, including Mathiessen's classic "The Snow Leopard," and harrowing passages from Everest, the West Ridge, K2, The Savage Mountain, Annapurna and others. Not just the Himalayas, he also includes the tale of the first-traverse of South Georgia by Shackleton. Each excerpt is satisfying long, as interesting for the quality of the writing as the adventure depicted. (HML37, $17.95)
Essential Switzerland  •  Gerry Crawshaw GUIDEBOOK •  1994 •  PAPER  • 128 PAGES A compact guidebook with background information, regional maps, and practical information on all the major sites. (SWZ16, $8.95)
Eyewitness Guide Switzerland  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 324 PAGES A compact, illustrated guide to Switzerland and the Swiss Alps, featuring over 900 photographs, illustrations and maps, as well as plenty of information on places to eat, stay and visit. (SWZ45, $25.00)
Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus  •  Mary Shelley LITERATURE •  1992 •  PAPER  • 212 PAGES Set around Lake Geneva, this classic gothic novel, was written in 1816 when the author and her husband were neighbors of Byron, who suggested writing ghost stories to while away the damp, summer days during their stay. It memorably explores the dual dilemma of the danger of scientists playing God and the corruption of an innocent creature by an immoral society. (SWZ10, $7.95)
The French  •  Theodore Zeldin CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1996 •  PAPER  • 592 PAGES • COMING IN This book, by a warm-hearted Brit, takes the reader straight to the heart of the French character, answering such perplexing questions as when to laugh at jokes and how to eat properly. Combining interviews, news reports and astute analysis, this is a stimulating social history in the guise of a "how-to" book. (FRN31, $17.00)
French or Foe? Getting the Most Out of Visiting, Living and Working in France  •  Polly Platt CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2003 •  PAPER  • 292 PAGES With humor, directness and great insight, this little book explains the French and how to get along with them. Whatever your thoughts about cultural stereotypes, her suggestion for how to get out of sticky situations is perfect: "Excusez-moi de vous deranger." It also works! An expanded third edition, which now includes the French romance with cell phones and a short chapter with recent vignettes. (FRN54, $16.95)
Glacier Ice  •  Austin Post  •  Edward R. LaChapelle NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 145 PAGES An extraordinary book of aerial photographs of mountains, glaciers and ice accompanied by explanatory text by two devoted glaciologists. Much too beautiful to be called a textbook, this collection of striking black-and-white photographs introduces the major surface features, varieties of glaciers and diversity of ice. With a glossary and annotated bibliography for further reading. An obvious choice for mountaineers and polar explorers, this book will appeal to any curious traveler -- or even anyone who has ever looked out the window of an airplane en route over Greenland. In cooperation with the International Glaciological Society. A modern classic, originally published in 1971. (SCI07, $27.95)
The Gothic Enterprise, A Guide to Understanding the Medieval Cathedral  •  Robert A. Scott ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 307 PAGES Scott, whose interest in the history of cathedrals began when he first saw the magnificent Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Salisbury, England, takes his reader on a historical, architectural and sociological tour of the magnificent spires and stained-glass windows that dot the landscape of Europe. It's an accessible, personable overview. (EUR190, $17.95)
Here Is Where We Meet  •  John Berger LITERATURE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES This novel weaves a portrait of several European countries through encounters with the dead, from the narrator's mother, whom he discovers on a park bench in Lisbon, to a childhood friend wandering a market in Krakow. "The dead don't stay where they are buried," the protagonist's mother tells him, and this becomes the mantra for this most unusual journey through Europe's history and people. (EUR189, $14.00)
Homestead  •  Rosini Lippi LITERATURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 210 PAGES Set firmly in a small village in the Austrian Alps, these 12 interlinking stories are almost ethnographic in their rich detail of small town life. The stories range from the turn-of-the-century to the present, accurately charting change in the remote region of Andelsbuch, Egg and Grossdorf. The author spent four years among the villages of the Bregenz forest collecting information on the local dialect. Winner of the Pen/Hemingway Award. (ALP11, $13.00)
I'm Not Stiller  •  Max Frisch LITERATURE •  1994 •  PAPER  • 384 PAGES Now published for the first time in its entirety, this haunting story of a man in prison who claims not to be himself raises disturbing questions of identity and self-acceptance. A masterpiece of post-World War II fiction, it commands attention from the first sentence and explores many layers of meaning as a Swiss who expatriated himself to America returns home under a pseudonym and denies his Swiss origins in an exercise of self-discovery. (SWZ08, $20.00)
Iceman: Uncovering the Life and Times of a Prehistoric Man Found in an Alpine Glacier  •  Brenda Fowler ARCHAEOLOGY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 313 PAGES The complete story of the 1991 discovery of the frozen corpse of a prehistoric man in the Tyrol. A major archaeological find, the "Iceman" sparked off a media frenzy, and caused a significant stir in the scientific community and much ruckus between Austria and Italy over who actually had the rights. (ALP20, $15.00)
An Illustrated History of the First World War  •  John Keegan HISTORY •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 448 PAGES • COMING IN An illustrated edition of Keegan's outstanding history of the Great War, considerably enhanced by his selection of almost 500 photographs, maps, drawings and illustrations. The visuals clarify and augment his wide-ranging narrative of the origins, battles and consequences of WWI. (WAR16, $50.00)
Insight Guide Switzerland  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 368 PAGES This handsome guide gives a profusely illustrated overview of Switzerland, featuring concise essays by well-regarded authors on history, politics and culture, hundreds of photos and maps, and some practical information. (SWZ15, $32.20)
The Italians  •  Luigi Barzini CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1996 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES The definitive portrait of the Italian people, noteworthy for its insight, grace and wit. It's a classic, scholarly essay on the Italian character, still worthwhile though first published in 1964. Much historical information is included. Highly recommended. (ITL05, $16.00)
La Nouvelle Heloise  •  Jean-Jacques Rousseau LITERATURE •  1989 •  PAPER  • 421 PAGES Rousseau may be best known for his political philosophy, but in this novel we see his softer side. This is the passionate story told through the letters of two lovers in a small town at the foot of the Alps. (SWZ19, $28.00)
The Magic Mountain  •  Thomas Mann LITERATURE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 755 PAGES In this classic novel of ill health in a sanatorium in the Swiss mountains, the author explores disease as a symbol of the sick, capitalistic society of pre-World War I Europe. The sanatorium as a microcosm of the continent reveals a society exhibiting the first symptoms of its own terminal irrationality. This monumental work pulses with sexual tension, intellectual ferment and life in the midst of death. (SWZ07, $18.95)
Mammals of Europe  •  Priscilla Barrett  •  David W. MacDonald FIELD GUIDE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES Published by Princeton, this is a field guide to land and marine mammals throughout Europe, both endemic and introduced. With more than 600 color illustrations of over 200 mammals, it's a comprehensive handbook, with detailed descriptions, range maps and commentary on behavior. (FG61, $34.95)
Michelin Green Guide French Alps  •  Michelin Travel Publications GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 450 PAGES A compact, practical guide to the region in the classic Michelin style, organized alphabetically by town and featuring brief descriptions of all the major attractions. The dozens of local maps are especially useful. Not just a driving guide, it includes footpaths and suggested hikes from Mount Blanc to the Grand Canyon du Verdon. With a brief section of practical travel information. (FRN197, $21.95)
The Night Manager  •  John Le Carre LITERATURE •  1994 •  PAPER  • 473 PAGES This best-selling, post-Cold War thriller about ruthless arms dealers in Geneva is a gripping read. Carrying on the great Le Carre tradition of espionage, a man who essentially gave up living after a tremendous failure is given a costly shot at redemption. In the new world order, spies have become their own worst enemies. (SWZ06, $7.99)
Pilgrimages, The Great Adventure of the Middle Ages  •  John Ure HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES (EUR202, $15.95)
Rick Steves' French, Italian & German Phrase Book & Dictionary  •  Rick Steves LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2003 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES A compact phrase book for travelers, organized thematically and with a brief dictionary. French, German and Italian phrases are side-by-side on the page so that you can pick and choose depending on the situation. This is no dry litany but instead peppered with humor and Rick Steves' insider insight into how to break the ice and make friends around the world. (EUR142, $9.95)
Rick Steves' Switzerland Guide  •  Rick Steves GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES A personable, practical guide in the growing series by travel guru Rick Steves. (SWZ46, $19.95)
Rough Guide Switzerland  •  Matthew Teller GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 552 PAGES This comprehensive guide in the British series includes an excellent historical and cultural overview of Switzerland, detailed travel information, and dozens of sketch maps. It's an excellent choice for the independent traveler. (SWZ24, $20.99)
Seven Summits  •  Dick Bass  •  Frank Wells  •  Rick Ridgeway EXPLORATION •  1988 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES They were both in their 50s, one of them doesn't even make it to all seven peaks. This book -- as told to climber and writer Rick Ridgeway -- is nonetheless pretty amazing, a testimony to the power of money and determination. For those heading to Africa, it includes a detailed description of the (non-techinal) Machame route on Kilimanjaro. They tackled the peaks (some with Ridgeway) in the following order, culminating on the third try with a successful Everest Summit by Bass, then the oldest man to ever stand on top of the world's highest mountain: Aconcagua, McKinley, Kilimanjaro , Elbrus, Kosciusko, Vinson and Everest. (EXP48, $15.99)
Tour of Mont Blanc, Complete Trekking Guide  •  Kev Reynolds GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 243 PAGES A compact guide to the 11-day, 120-mile classic walk encircling Mont Blanc. With color and black-and-white photos, maps and elevations. The heart of the book is a detailed kilometer-by-kilometer guide to each section of the tour including timings, distances and the author's encouraging, personable remarks on the route. Revised. (ALP24, $19.95)
Travelers' Tales, A Woman's Europe  •  Marybeth Bond  •  Mary Morris ANTHOLOGY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 298 PAGES This entertaining collection depicts Europe through the eyes of a diverse group of women writers, including Frances Mayes, Jan Morris and Mary Morris. These humorous and well-written true stories capture the misadventures, discoveries and slices of life that the continent (and travel!) has to offer. (EUR160, $17.95)
Walking  •  Henry David Thoreau REFERENCE •  1994 •  PAPER  • 92 PAGES You may want to carry this small volume in your daypack for inspiration. In it, Thoreau offers his meditations on the spiritual benefits of this most civilized form of travel. (WLK04, $9.95)
Walking Switzerland, The Swiss Way: From Vacation Apartments, Hotels, Mountain Inns, and Huts  •  Marcia Lieberman GUIDEBOOK •  1997 •  PAPER  • 286 PAGES This guide includes all the information you need to plan your own Swiss walking tour including renting an apartment, trails, maps, descriptions of terrain, scenery, the alpine environment, and 102 tailored walks in 11 different regions. With 25 years of Swiss walking and hiking experience, the authors know their territory. Each walk is rated for strenuousness and includes the distance, the highest point above sea level, ascent/descent time, recommended transportation and a map. Travel tips include information on clothing, equipment, food, safety, and hazards. (SWZ03, $16.95)
Why Switzerland?  •  Jonathan Steinberg CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1996 •  PAPER  • 300 PAGES A sweeping study of the Swiss character and an examination of how Switzerland, alone in western Europe, resisted centralization of its state and economy and membership in the European Union. Its unique institutions, direct democracy, absence of strikes, communal autonomy and four national languages make it unique, but can it last? Through lucid descriptions of history, politics, religion, and culture, this book captures what it means to be Swiss. Illustrated with black-and-white photos and maps. (SWZ04, $33.99)