Travel writer Bill Bryson chronicles the experiences he had and profiles the people and wildlife he encountered while traveling through Australia.

When Jose Saramago decided some twenty years ago to write a book about Portugal, his only desire was that it be unlike any other book on the subject, and in this he certainly has succeeded. Recording the events and observations of a journey across the length and breadth of the country he loves dearly, Saramago brings Portugal to life as only a writer of his brilliance can. Forfeiting sources of information such as tourist guides and road maps, he...

As a teenager, Kate Harris realized that the career she craved--to be an explorer, equal parts swashbuckler and metaphysician--had gone extinct. From what she could tell of the world from small-town Ontario, the likes of Marco Polo and Magellan had mapped the whole earth; there was nothing left to be discovered. Looking beyond this planet, she decided to become a scientist and go to Mars. In between studying at Oxford and MIT, Harris set off by bicycle...

A portrait, by turns intimate and panoramic, of one of the world's great cities, by its foremost man of letters. Blending reminiscence with history; family photographs with portraits of poets and pashas; art criticism, metaphysical musing, and, now and again, a fanciful tale, Pamuk invents an ingenious form to evoke his lifelong home, the city that forged his imagination. He begins with his childhood, his first intimations of the melancholy awareness...

"From lighthouses along the rocky coast to handmade wooden furniture, there's lots to see and do in Maine! Additional features include maps on each spread, state symbols, famous people, fact bubbles, and informative captions that highlight some of the things that make Maine special. A table of contents, sources for further research, a phonetic glossary, and an index support readers and extend learning"--Provided by the publisher.

Steinbeck hits the highways with his French poodle, Charley. In a custom-built camper he named Rosinante after Don Quixote's steed, the two traveled the country--10,000 miles and 34 states. Their varied experiences comprise several slices of small-town back-roads Americana. Steinbeck laments the rise of plastic-covered everything, the vacuousness of "sad souls" he encounters, and the homogenization of local and regional culture. But bright spots...

"Fodor's correspondents highlight the best of Germany, including Berlin's hippest neighborhoods, Munich's famous beer gardens, and great scenic drives and wineries. Our local experts vet every recommendation to ensure you make the most of your time, whether it's your first trip or your fifth. MUST-SEE ATTRACTIONS from Bavaria to the Rhineland ; PERFECT HOTELS for every budget ; BEST RESTAURANTS to satisfy a range of tastes ; GORGEOUS FEATURES on...

Levison Wood's journey was 4,250 miles long, and he walked every step of the way, camping in the wild, foraging for food, and fending for himself against multiple dangers. He passed through rainforest, savannah, swamp, desert, and lush delta oases and crossed seven very different countries. No one had ever made this journey on foot. In this detailed, thoughtful, inspiring and dramatic book is recounted Levison Wood's walk the length of the Nile, during...