Jan Morris Books

Farewell the Trumpets: An Imperial Retreat traces the momentous decline and fall of the greatest of empires - from Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee to the death of Winston Churchill in 1965.

The opening volume of Morris’s “Pax Britannica Trilogy,” this richly detailed work traces the rise of the British Empire, from the accession of Queen Victoria to the throne in 1837 to the celebration of her Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Index. A Helen and Kurt Wolff Book

The British Empire was one of the most astonishing phenomena of modern history: a quarter of the earth's landmass (almost 11 million square miles) under the suzerainty of a small island off the Atlantic coast of Europe. The empire has been acquired almost by accident, an island here, a port there, but by the end of the nineteenth century it dominated the lives of over 372 million people. The English language, British ideals, British notions of justice and civilization, British taste in art and architecture could be found in every corner of the world, in Europe, Africa, America, Asia, Australasia and on what the Colonial Office list as 'nearly all the isolated islands and rocks in the ocean'.

A richly illustrated pictorial celebration of London's churches and cathedrals within Greater London.

This centerpiece of the trilogy captures the British at the height of their vigor and self-satisfaction, imposing their traditions and tastes, their idealists and rascals, on diverse peoples of the world.

From Calcutta to the Himalayas, Patrick French's biography explores the life of Francis Younghusband, a figure who encapsulates the romance and folly of Britain's imperial past. Younghusband's journey began as a military adventurer and evolved into that of a radical visionary advocating free love. French chronicles the unpredictable life of this maverick, who led the 1904 British invasion of Tibet, discovered a new route from China to India, and organized early expeditions up Mount Everest, all while attempting to establish a new world religion. Critics have praised the narrative as "full of excitement and insight, humour and curiosity" (Michael Holroyd) and "breathtakingly accomplished" (Observer). The writing is described as "beautifully written, wise, balanced, fair, funny, and extremely original" (William Dalrymple), and the work has been called "dazzling" (Niall Ferguson). The Independent on Sunday noted the book as a "rare gem" that sets new standards for historical biography. Patrick French is an acclaimed author, having received multiple awards for his works, including the Somerset Maugham Award and the Royal Society of Literature W. H. Heinemann Prize, among others.

Spectacular aerial photography of the new Europe.

A history of the city derived from its architecture from Manchu days through to the exciting 90s. Hong Kong's ever changing cityscape is breathtaking, not only for its nocturnal glitter as seen from the heights of Victoria Peak but for the architectural diversity of its shimmering towers of commerce. This remarkable sweep of history is captured in stunning photography, and supported with a lively and evocative essay by historian and travel writer Jan Morris.

"Glass Houses explores daring and dynamic glass homes all over the world, plus examples of glass as an element of interior design. The first chapter, Pioneers, discusses the work of the architects of the last century who embraced the potential of glass, including Mies van der Rohe, Richard Neutra, John Lautner and Richard Rogers. Glass Structures looks at innovative contemporary homes where glass plays a significant role in the construction. Landscape Houses and Urban Houses explore homes where glass has been used to marry the interior and exterior through a dramatic use of windows and walls of glass. Finally, Glass Features considers the increasingly popular use of glass as an element of interior design. This is essential reading for all those wanting to learn more about contemporary architecture, keen to build a house where glass plays a major role or to introduce striking glass elements to an existing home."--Publisher's description

Jan Morris has given us a brilliant and thoroughly enjoyable exploration the history, architecture, geography, and culture of one of England's most historic, beautiful, enigmatic and visited cities - Oxford. This is the perfect guide for local historians, visitors to the city, and prospective students of the famous university. schovat popis

Europe has been widely acclaimed as among the finest achievements of 'one of our greatest living writers' (The Times). A personal appreciation, fuelled by five decades of journeying, this is Jan Morris at her best - at once magisterial and particular, whimsical and profound. It is a matchless portrait of a continent.

See-Through Houses explores daring and dynamic glass homes all over the world, plus examples of glass as an exciting new element of interior design. The first part of the book, Pioneers, discusses the work of the architects over the last century who embraced the potential of glass, including Mies van der Rohe, Richard Neutra, John Lautner and Richard Rogers. Glass Structures looks at a range of highly innovative contemporary homes where glass plays a significant role in the construction of a building. Landscape Houses and Urban Houses explore homes where glass has been used to marry the interior and the exterior through a dramatic use of windows and walls of glass. Finally, Glass Features considers the increasingly popular employment of glass as an element of interior design - from screens to stairs and baths to basins. This is essential reading for all those wanting to learn more about contemporary architecture and the cutting edge of interior design, or keen to build a house where glass plays a major role - or simply use some striking glass elements in their existing home.

Often hailed as one of the best travel books ever written, Venice is neither a guide nor a history book, but a beautifully written immersion in Venetian life and character, set against the background of the city's past. Analysing the particular temperament of Venetians, as well as its waterways, its architecture, its bridges, its tourists, its curiosities, its smells, sounds, lights and colours, there is scarcely a corner of Venice that Jan Morris has not investigated and brought vividly to life. Jan Morris first visited the city of Venice as young James Morris, during World War II. As she writes in the introduction, 'it is Venice seen through a particular pair of eyes at a particular moment - young eyes at that, responsive above all to the stimuli of youth.' Venice is an impassioned work on this magnificent but often maddening city. Jan Morris's collection of travel writing and reportage spans over five decades and includes such titles as Sydney, Coronation Everest, Hong Kong, Spain and Manhattan '45. Since its first publication, Venice has appeared in many editions, won the W.H. Heinemann award and become an international bestseller. 'The best book about Venice ever written' Sunday Times 'No sensible visitor should visit the place without it . . . Venice stands alone as the essential introduction, and as a work of literature in its own right.' Observer

Here at last is a collection of the best work of Jan Morris, considered by many the preeminent travel writer of our age. Reviewing her most recent book, The matter of Wales, the Christian Science Monitor wrote, "With this book, Morris joins the immortals. The splendors of the prose are like Homer's sea, simply everywhere. She is an absolute master of the sentence." Included are 37 separate pieces drawn from earlier books that span Morris's entire career as well as pieces origninally written for this book. Whether taking us back to Berlin and Beirut of the 1950's or to Houston and Sydney of the 1980s, Morris depicts each place with elegance, passion and wit. She captures and conveys its complex personality and makes us see the familiar in a new light or introduces us to places off the beaten track, taking us around the globe from Sri Lanka and Cashmir to Trouville and Cozco to Wyoming and Bath.About the Jan Morris is the author of such books as the Pax Britannica trilogy, Spain, Destinations, and, most recently, Journeys and The Matter of Wales.

In this entertaining and lively anthology, Jan Morris traces the history of the university from it foundation in the Middle Ages through to 1945, combining extracts from contemporary observers with her own linking commentary. Important events in the history of the University are described and explained ( development of the college system, Magdalen's defiance of James II, Newman and the Oxford Movement), and its life and times are exalted or derided by writers ranging from Anthony Wood to Evelyn Waugh. Unworldly scholars and eccentric dons walk these pages: characters like Benjamin Jowett, Sir Maurice Bowra and William Spooner, who ordered an undergraduate to leave by the town drain', and coined Spoonerism.

Shows stickers issued by hotels around the world to identify the luggage of their guests.

Our world is changing at a dizzying our physical environment, our communities and our cultures, how we communicate and the speed with which we adapt to new ways of experiencing and living in the world. Caught in the midst of decline and regeneration, what are we losing and what are we gaining? And how do we decide what's worth saving and what should be thrown away? In this issue, we travel to places on the cusp of staggering change, talk to people who have seen and done it all and rescue a few choice items from the recycling bin. From Ireland's Catholic priests - once exported around the world and now under threat even in their own country - to the hitherto obscure music saved from extinction via the vast exchange mart of the Internet, "Granta 105" captures moments of both disappearance and rebirth in all their complexity and strangeness.

Necrophilia is not one of my failings, but I do like graveyards and memorial stones and such... Following the publication In My Mind's Eye, her acclaimed first volume of diaries, a Radio 4 Book of the Week in 2018, Jan Morris continued to write her daily musings.

Originally published by Viking in 1988 and now available in paperback, a portrait of Britain's last great imperial colony, which discusses the energy and attraction of Hong Kong, and considers the uncertainty of its future under the government of China.

A unique and stimulating combination of travel journal, fully researched biography, and insightful history, from a respected travel writer, features an exploration of the many facets of the Lincoln legend including the myths, the man's wit, and his many tragedies.

Jan Morris (then James) first visited Trieste as a soldier at the end of WWII. Since then, the city has come to represent her own life, with all its hopes, disillusionments, loves and memories. This book records her thoughts on a host of subjects inspired by the presence of Trieste.

War is one of the greatest human evils. It has ruined livelihoods, provoked unspeakable atrocities and left countless millions dead. It has caused economic chaos and widespread deprivation. And the misery it causes poisons foreign policy for future generations. But, argues bestselling historian Ian Morris, in the very long term, war has in fact been a good thing. In his trademark style combining inter-disciplinary insights, scientific methods and fascinating stories, Morris shows that, paradoxically, war is the only human invention that has allowed us to construct peaceful societies. Without war, we would never have built the huge nation-states which now keep us relatively safe from random acts of violence, and which have given us previously unimaginable wealth. It is thanks to war that we live longer and more comfortable lives than ever before.And yet, if we continue waging war with ever-more deadly weaponry, we will destroy everything we have achieved; so our struggles to manage warfare make the coming decades the most decisive in the history of our civilisation. In War: What Is It Good For? Morris brilliantly dissects humanity's history of warfare to draw startling conclusions about our future.

A timely collection of 26 inspiring tales, The Kindness of Strangers explores the unexpected human connections that so often transfigure and transform the experience of travel, and celebrates the gift of kindness around the world. Featuring stories by Jan Morris, Tim Cahill, Simon Winchester and Dave Eggers.

'Almost nothing in life is only what it seems.'Soldier, journalist, historian, author of forty books, Jan Morris led an extraordinary life, witnessing such seminal moments as the first ascent of Everest, the Suez Canal Crisis, the Eichmann Trial, The Cuban Revolution and so much more.

'I have never before in my life kept a diary of my thoughts, and here at the start of my ninth decade, having for the moment nothing much else to write, I am having a go at it. Good luck to me.' So begins this extraordinary book, a collection of diary pieces that Jan Morris wrote for the Financial Times over the course of 2017. A former soldier and journalist, and one of the great chroniclers of the world for over half a century, she writes here in her characteristically intimate voice - funny, perceptive, wise, touching, wicked, scabrous, and above all, kind - about her thoughts on the world, and her own place in it as she turns ninety. From cats to cars, travel to home, music to writing, it's a cornucopia of delights from a unique literary figure.

This portrait of Sydney describes a city surrounded by myth. The author outlines Sydney's development from penal colony to metropolis, the precarious sense of economic uncertainty, the underlying crime and bigotry and other changes in Sydney society.

English (translation)Original Welsh

Four world cities seen through the eyes of Jan Morris.Jan Morris's books include works of history, travel, autobiography and fiction. Here she is represented by essays about four of the world's great cities - Delhi, Manhattan, Sydney and Vienna - each from a different continent, each described in a different mood and with a different technique. They are taken from her collection Among the Cities, also published in Penguin.

In this hilarious anthology 50 top travel writers, novelists and journalists, including Isabel Allende, Jan Morris, Barbara Kingsolver, Paul Theroux, Mary Morris, Dominique Lapierre, Eric Hansen, Rick Steves, Tony Wheeler and Helen Gurley Brown, tell the stories of their greatest travel disasters. Most of the writers of these original essays are contributing their royalties to Oxfam America, the international relief organization. Guaranteed to whet your appetite or make you cancel your reservations.

In Turkish Reflections , Mary Settle offers us an intimate portrait of a Turkey rarely seen.Settle explores an enchanting and historic land where the cutting of a tree is a crime, where goats are sacrificed to launch state-of-the-art ships, and where whole towns emerge at dusk to stroll in the streets.

Following the simplest suggestions and rules found in this book can make you a truly outstanding conversationalist - and bring you popularity and success with people that you never thought possible!

* Jan Morris on her favorite artist and her favorite city. An enchanting text, richly illustrated "After a good dinner one evening, with excellent company and a bottle of wine, I settled by my fire with a volume of paintings by the 15th century Venetian painter Vittore Carpaccio. For much of my life I have been under the spell of this artist. I am no connoisseur, cultural scholar or art historian. I know nothing about painterly techniques, chromatic gradations or artistic affinities, and my infatuation with him is largely affectionate fancy. I feel I know him personally, and I often sense that I am directly in touch with him across the centuries, across the continents, as one might be in touch with a living friend..." So starts Jan Morris's latest book, which she has said will also be her last: a genial, witty, and touching journey through the endlessly evocative art of Carpaccio. Saluting the painter whose pictures remain some of the most enchanting ever made of Venice, Jan Morris makes her own last journey to a city she has written about like no other. Richly illustrated with complete paintings and eye-catching details, this book is a fitting swansong by a great writer to her favorite painter.

The book explores the journey of a Christian's growth, beginning with the awareness of guilt before God and culminating in spiritual maturity in Christ, as articulated by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul. It also examines the unchanging nature of God's promises to Israel, illustrating their significance in affirming the reliability of God's commitments. Additionally, the text connects these theological insights to practical applications in daily Christian life, emphasizing the transformative power of faith and divine promises.

This reprint preserves the essence of a classic originally published in 1857, offering readers a chance to explore its historical context and enduring themes. The book presents a narrative that reflects the societal norms and challenges of its time, providing insights into the characters and their development. Its timeless relevance continues to resonate, making it a valuable addition to any literary collection.

A series of heartfelt essays and full-color photographs comprise a striking treasury of Ireland's rolling farmland, rocky sea cliffs, and majestic mountains, along with narrative text that discusses everything from Ireland's ancient roots, religious convictions, and prized authors to the country's obvious and more subtle changes with modern times. Reflects upon Ireland old and new, with a focus on the delicate task of preserving Ireland's rich and important heritage. There are haunting, moody images as well as colorful vistas and remote corners of Ireland, including photographs of the Kerry Coast; Garnish Bay in County Cork; Connemara in County Galway; Ballyness Bay in County Donegal; Inisheer, the Aran Islands; and many more locations.

Shows and describes Scotland's people, coastline, islands, highlands, lochs, rivers, waterfalls, and farmlands.

Located on Venice's Calle Vallaresso, Harry's Bar has been a legendary meeting place for artists, writers, royalty, and celebrities for over fifty years. Patrons have included the Windsors, Onassises, and literary icons like Ernest Hemingway and Joan Crawford, all drawn by the exceptional food, fine drinks, and unique ambiance. Arrigo Cipriani shares favorite stories and treasured recipes from this iconic establishment, revealing the secrets behind its most popular dishes. As a bar, Harry's is renowned for its distinctive mixed drinks, originally crafted by founder Giuseppe Cipriani. Here, readers will find detailed instructions for making the world-famous Bellini, a delightful blend of peach elixir and Prosecco, and the Montgomery martini, celebrated by Hemingway as the driest and most delicious. The bar is also famous for its mouth-watering sandwiches, including unique egg sandwiches with anchovies and the legendary club sandwich, which is a knife-and-fork delight. House specialties include risottos and various pasta dishes like ravioli and tagliolini, alongside elegantly prepared country fare such as polenta and squid. Cipriani also introduces his iconic inventions, carpaccio and risotto alla primavera, both of which have inspired countless imitations worldwide. With lavish photographs by Christopher Baker, this book is more than just a cookbook; it is an enduring experience to be savored and enjoyed.

Historische, politieke en culurele sfeerimpressie van de Noord-Italiaanse stad.

Recounts the author's 1933 journey down the Danube to Budapest and then across the Hungarian Plain into Transylvania

Die Schriftstellerin Jan Morris lebt in Wales. In einem Haus. In einem walisischen Haus. Im Haus einer walisischen Schriftstellerin. Die minimalen Unterschiede zwischen den Formulierungen sind bedeutsam, zeugen sie doch jeweils von einem anderen Blickwinkel. Einerseits. Andererseits ist aber auch bei Jan Morris nichts so ernst zu nehmen, dass man es nicht auch anders sehen könnte. Mit einer typisch britischen Kombination aus Humor und profundem historischen Wissen, Stilbewusstsein und Selbstironie führt sie, ganz liebenswürdige Gastgeberin, den Besucher durch ihr Haus und durch ihr Wales. In einer Sprache, die geprägt ist von einem unnachahmlichen Rhythmus, erzählt sie von Sitten und Unsitten ihres Volkes, vom keltischen Erbe, von der typischen walisischen Gastfreundschaft, oder davon, wie sie aus Protest gegen die Traumhochzeit des angeblichen Prince of Wales stattdessen mit Gesinnungsgenossen einen viel wichtigeren Anlass begeht, nämlich die 900. Wiederkehr der Schlacht zwischen den Fürsten Trahaearn ap Caradog und Rhys ap Tewdwr auf dem Berg Mynydd Carn. So wird zum einen das Land Wales und zum anderen das Haus der Autorin zu einem völlig unsentimentalen, wenngleich liebevoll mit Bedeutung aufgeladenen Sinnbild für Heimat.

JAMES MORRIS Visa pour Venise James Morris a vécu deux ans à Venise. Il en parle ici comme d'une ville, presque d'une personne, qu'il a passionnément aimée, et dont le charme, à distance, avec le recul pourtant, continue d'opérer. Tour à tour lyrique, débraillé, érudit, superstitieux, goguenard, toujours lucide, il est le plus versatile et le plus constant des amants de Venise. La Cité de Carpaccio et du Titien, la séductrice de Byron et de Thomas Mann, la ville touristique et la ville réelle, d'aujourd'hui, où les femmes avancent avec des grâces de navire... James Morris évoque toutes les facettes de Venise, ranime son odeur de vase, d'encens, de crasse et de velours, le doux clapotement de ses canaux, la mélancolie de la vaste lagune qui l'entoure. Ranime Venise, l'Inoubliable.

»Ich war drei oder vielleicht vier Jahre alt, als mir aufging, dass ich in den falschen Körper geboren worden war und in Wirklichkeit eigentlich ein Mädchen sein sollte. Ich erinnere mich an diesen Augenblick genau, es ist meine früheste Erinnerung.«Als James Morris geboren, zeichnete er sich im britischen Militär aus, wurde ein erfolgreicher und mutiger Reporter, erklomm Berge und durchquerte Wüsten. Er war glücklich verheiratet, hatte vier Kinder und war allem Anschein nach das, was man als einen männlichen Mann bezeichnet. Bis er sich zu einer Geschlechtsumwandlung entschloss. In »Rätsel« erzählt Jan Morris offen darüber. Es ist einer der frühesten und schonungslosesten Berichte.

Le sculpteur français Auguste Bartholdi fait une tournée spectaculaire aux États-Unis pour lever des fonds qui lui permettront d'achever la future Statue de la liberté. Mais plusieurs incidents visent la statue et même directement Bartholdi. Lucky Luke est missionné pour escorter le Français, et ce, jusqu'à Paris. C'est un choc culturel pour le cow-boy qui, non content de traverser l'Atlantique pour la première fois, découvre la splendeur de la ville lumière, et le mode de vie de ses autochtones, les parisiens.

Istanbul is a shimmering evocation, by turns intimate and panoramic, of one of the world's great cities, by its foremost writer. Orhan Pamuk, winner of the Nobel Prize in 2006, was born in Istanbul, in the family apartment building where his mother first held him in her arms. His portrait of his city is thus also a self-portrait, refracted by memory and the melancholy-or hüzün- that all Istanbullus share: the sadness that comes of living amid the ruins of a lost Ottoman Empire. As he companionably guides us across the Bosphorus, through Istanbul's historical monuments and lost paradises, its dilapidated Ottoman villas, back streets and waterways, he also introduces us to the city's writers, artists and murderers. Like the Dublin of Joyce and Jan Morris' Venice, Pamuk's Istanbul is a triumphant encounter of place and sensibility, beautifully written and immensely moving.