All Along the Rhine: Recipes, Wine and Lore from Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein and Holland  •  Kay Shaw Nelson CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2003 •  PAPER  • 211 PAGES A tribute to the Rhine Valley, its history, culture and especially its food. Combining over 130 authentic recipes with small bits of background information, this is a delightful introduction to the culinary traditions of the region. (GER111, $14.95)
Alps Map  •  Freytag & Berndt MAP A detailed travel map of the Alps and surrounding areas, imported from Austria, at a scale of 1:600,000. (ALP07, $12.95)
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)
Architectural Guide Basel, 1980-2004  •  Lutz Windhofel GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES This guide showcases 108 projects built between 1980 and 2004 in Basel Tri-National, an important center for modern architecture. Grouped according to district, each building gets a double-page spread with map and directions. Second edition. (SWZ54, $29.95)
Basel City Map  •  Kummerly & Frey Maps MAP A foldup Basel city map guide at a scale of 1:16,000. (SWZ56, $9.95)
Basel in the Age of Burckhardt  •  Lionel Gossman HISTORY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 622 PAGES In this scholarly, engaging history Gossman looks at the 19th century independent city-republic of Basel through the lens of four of its key figures -- sociologist Johann Jacob Bachofen, historian Jacob Burckhard, philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and his colleague and neighbor, theologian Franz Overbeck. (SWZ57, $28.00)
The Bernese Alps, Switzerland  •  Kev Reynolds GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 248 PAGES A compact, practical guide to exploring the high mountains, glaciers and valley walks of Interlaken, Grindelwald and Kanderstag. This guide covers not only the Bernese Oberland but also the south side of the Jungfrau. (SWZ39, $22.95)
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)
Bradt Guide Switzerland: Rail, Road, Lake  •  Anthony Lambert GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES A practical guide to traveling in Switzerland with a particular focus on the various ways one can get around. Whether driving, walking, biking, riding the rails, or exploring the lakes by steamer, this guide provides ample information on how best to enjoy the scenic landscapes and villages of the region. (SWZ27, $23.95)
Chamonix to Zermatt, The Walker's Haute Route  •  Kev Reynolds GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 187 PAGES A comprehensive, practical guide to the classic Haute Route (with suggested alternatives). Apart from covering each segment of the long-distance walk, the book features a 30-page introduction to the region and good information on preparation. With photographs and sketch maps. The author, Kev Reynolds, has written a series of walking guides in Switzerland and the Alps published by Cicerone Press in Great Britain. (ALP21, $19.95)
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)
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)
German, A Language Map  •  Kristine K. Kershul LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  1999 •  PLASTIC CARD This durable, foldout card, featuring 1,000 words and phrases, works as a quick reference for travelers. (GER165, $7.95)
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, $35.00)
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)
Grenoble/Mont Blanc Map  •  IGN MAP A regional, topographic map of eastern France, covering Chamonix, Mont Blanc, Grenoble and Geneva, Switzerland, at a detailed scale of 1:100,000. (FRN256, $11.95)
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)
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)
Karen Brown's Switzerland, Exceptional Places to Stay & Itineraries  •  Karen Brown GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 278 PAGES A survey of inns, castles and other lodging of character, along with suggested itineraries and highlights of each region. (SWZ28, $19.95)
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)
Lonely Planet Central Europe  •  Krzysztof Dydnski  •  Steve Fallon  •  Anthony Haywood  •  Mark Honan GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 640 PAGES • BEST SELLER A comprehensive guide to Central Europe, including Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. It is a compact overview of the region, especially appropriate for the independent-minded traveler visiting several countries. With local and regional maps, a section of color photographs, and information on history, culture and attractions. (EUR94, $28.99)
Lonely Planet Switzerland  •  Damien Simonis GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES A practical guide in the popular series. (SWZ43, $19.99)
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)
The Man Who Planted Trees  •  Jean Giono  •  Michael McMurdy LITERATURE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 96 PAGES • FAMILY The inspiring story of Elzeard Bouffier, a shepherd turned tree-planter who single-handedly reforested a desolate region of southern France in now-towering oak and beech. Told with affection and lyrical simplicity by novelist Giono, the story was first published by "Vogue" magazine in 1954 as "The Man Who Planted Hope and Grew Happiness." (ALP12, $10.00)
Matterhorn Map  •  Swiss Government MAP A detailed topographic map of the Matterhorn, published by the Swiss government at a scale of 1:25,000. (SWZ50, $16.95)
The Measure of Her Powers, An M.F.K. Fisher Reader  •  M. F. K. Fisher LITERATURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES A fat, judicious selection of M.F.K. Fisher's writings, which spanned a lifetime and chronicled adventures (culinary and otherwise) in France, Switzerland and Italy, on shipboard and in her native California. A supremely wise woman and an unsurpassed prose stylist, M.F.K. is here represented in all her witty, sad and celebratory incarnations. Edited with minimal interference by Dominique Gioia, this volume also includes a brief introductory memoir of Fisher by her acolyte Ruth Reichl, who once went on a pilgrimage to Fisher's Sonoma cottage -- only to find that Fisher herself cooked simply, not extravagantly at all. (CUL01, $22.00)
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)
Michelin Green Guide Switzerland  •  Michelin Travel Publications GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 319 PAGES A survey of the cities, villages and sites of Switzerland in the classic Michelin style, featuring brief descriptions of all the major attractions, and with excellent full-color city maps. Organized alphabetically for easy reference, (SWZ17, $21.95)
Monte Rosa Map  •  MapLink 1998 •  MAP A Swiss-produced topographic map of the Monte Rosa massif, at a scale of 1:100,000. (SWZ41, $14.00)
Niki De Saint Phalle And Jean Tinguely Posters  •  Isabel Siben ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 96 PAGES A bold, lively collection of reproductions from the duo's most important posters, both individual and collaborative. With an introduction by Isabel Siben and a catalog of 150 posters. Tinguely (1925-1991) grew up in Basel, which built museum dedicated to his machine sculptures, reliefs and drawings. (ART76, $25.00)
The Railfan Guide to Switzerland  •  George H. Drury GUIDEBOOK •  1998 •  PAPER  • 160 PAGES A guide to the trains of Switzerland and the destinations along their tracks, from a writer and avid traveler on the rails of America and Europe. Filled with recommendations for lodging and day trips, as well as information on the trains themselves. (SWZ25, $17.95)
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)
Solo Faces  •  James Salter LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 218 PAGES The story of an American climber who, dissatisfied with his everyday life, travels to the Alps of southern France to tackle mountain peaks. The prose is glorious and the mountain-climbing scenes are as vivid as they get. Much of the action takes place in and around Chamonix. (ALP14, $14.00)
Swiss Made  •  Steven Spier  •  Tschanz, Martin ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 256 PAGES A look at the best of Switerzland's architects and architecture, with a particular emphasis on building techniques, traditional craftmanship and environmental sensitivity. (SWZ52, $45.00)
Switzerland Southeast Map  •  Michelin Travel Publications 2007 •  MAP A detailed regional map covering southern Switzerland and neighboring areas of Italy and Austria at a scale of 1,200,000. With city plans of St-Moritz and Lugano. The map covers from Zug and Stans across to St-Moritz and south to Milan. More detailed topographical maps are available in Switzerland. (SWZ36, $8.95)
Switzerland Southwest Map  •  Michelin 2003 •  MAP A detailed travelers map at a scale 1:200,000 for the French-speaking part of Switzerland and neighboring regions of France and Italy. With city plans including Geneve, Lausanne and Fribourg. The map covers from Zurich south to Zermatt and Aosta and across to Geneva. More detailed topographical maps are available in Switzerland. (SWZ34, $8.95)
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)
Tour of the Matterhorn  •  Hilary Sharp GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES A compact guide to the 8-10 day hike around the Matterhorn, as well as shorter variants and peak ascents. With color and black-and-white photos, maps and elevations. (SWZ49, $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)
Trentino Alto-Adige Map  •  Touring Club Italiano MAP A colorful regional map of the Italian Dolomites at a scale of 1:200,000, with shaded relief and excellent coverage of local towns and landmarks. (ITL42, $12.95)
The Walker's Literary Companion  •  Robert Gilbert  •  Anne Wallace  •  Jeffrey Robinson ANTHOLOGY •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 352 PAGES A diverse sampling of literature on the pleasures of walking, representing philosophers, naturalists, outcasts, athletes and intellectuals from Plato to Frank O'Hara. (WLK08, $24.00)
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 in the Alps  •  Kev Reynolds GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER  • 496 PAGES A nicely illustrated, authoritative guide to hiking throughout the Alps, organized geographically. Reynolds covers a range of activities from day hikes to the classic hut-to-hut mountain walks. With color photographs and good local maps. Intended as a planning guide, the book is an excellent general overview of the region and hikes from coastal France across to Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Austria. (SWZ44, $22.95)
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)
Wallpaper City Guide Basel  •  Wallpaper Magazine Editors GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 128 PAGES Sleek and extremely functional, this guide, crafted with the design-interested tourist in mind, offers recommendations for where to eat, sleep and drink, as well as featured architecture and local shopping destinations all conveniently marked in tabbed sections. Also includes color-coated city maps and rate and currency exchange tables. (SWZ53, $8.95)
Western Austria Tyrol Map  •  Freytag & Berndt MAP A regional map of western Austria, including the Tyrolean region, Innsbruck and bordering regions of Italy, Switzerland and Germany. The map, which features excellent full-color shaded relief, is at the very good scale of 1:200,000. With an index. (AST05, $10.95)