My favourite travel books 2024/2025
Share
Erika Fatland: The Border
What a fabulous romp through the countries bordering Russia- a mammoth task and undertaking by Fatland who writes and observes people, culture and places with such ease. A mix of history, archeology, current affairs- it’s all thrown in the mix and it makes for a thoroughly enjoyable travel book.
Journey to the other side of the world: David Attenborough
I expected this to be a serious book- academic even- but instead this compendium of three earlier novels was a fascinating narrative about a charming man’s travels in Australasia and the Pacific Islands. The stories felt very real and honest- you felt he was there narrating them to you- and who doesn’t love a good story about the natural world we live in by David Attenborough.
Samarkand- Amin Malouf
Historical fiction written about 11th century Samarkand with poet/ /astronomer Omar Khayyam as the main character in the first part of the book. with the story then moving in the second part to the early 20th century search for Khayyam's Rubaiyat. The writing is beautiful and Malouf spins a wonderful story of intrigue and mystery that involves the founder of the famous sect of assassins, Hassan-I-Sabbah, the grand Vazir Nizam Ul Mulk and Omar’s lover, Jahan.