Western Europe

Erstmals erzählt Bestsellerautor Hauke Friederichs die dramatischen Ereignisse des Sommers 1940, als die Schrecken des Krieges den Westen erreichen, anhand der Schicksale ihrer Protagonisten: von Exilantinnen wie Anna Seghers, die in Paris die vorrückende Wehrmacht fürchtet und keinen Verlag für "Das siebte Kreuz" findet, bis zu Jüdinnen wie Anne Frank, die noch nicht wissen können, welch grauenvolles Schicksal durch die Okkupation ihres Landes besiegelt ist.

"Dramatisk fortættede, skæbnesvangre timer, hvor en varig afgørelse fremtvinges på een dag, i een time, ofte i et enkelt minut, er sjældne i en enkeltpersons liv og sjældne i historiens løb." - Fra bogens forord Det er skildringer af den slags øjeblikke, der udgør Stjernestunder, og alle er de fortalt med Stefan Zweigs vid og kunstneriske snilde, der i denne bog på elegant vis forenes med en næsten journalistisk præcision.

In the 1630s, visitors to the prosperous trading cities of the Netherlands couldn't help but notice that thousands of normally sober, hardworking Dutch citizens were caught up in an extraordinary frenzy of buying and selling. The object of this unprecedented speculation was the tulip, a delicate and exotic Eastern import that had bewitched horticulturists, noblemen, and tavern owners alike. For almost a year, rare bulbs changed hands for incredible and ever-increasing sums, until single flowers were being sold for more than the cost of a house. Historians would come to call it tulipomania.

Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920) was zonder twijfel één van de merkwaardigste figuren van de Nederlandse geschiedenis. Kuyper richtte zijn eigen dagblad, partij, universiteit en kerk op, de instrumenten waarmee hij de strijd aanbond tegen ‘de revolutie’, tegen liberalisme, socialisme, evolutieleer, Tachtigerpoëzie, Multatuli, enzovoorts. Terwijl hij voor zijn gereformeerde achterban een nieuwe Mozes leek, was hij voor menig ander een dagelijkse steen des aanstoots. Maar wat men ook van hem vond, feit is dat de invloed van deze ‘geroepene’ op de Nederlandse samenleving aanzienlijk was.

¿Sabía que Cataluña fue una de las regiones más taurinas y donde se recogen los testimonios más antiguos de las corridas de toros en España? ¿O que una de las hijas de El Cid se casó con un conde de Barcelona? ¿Y que soldados catalanes lucharon para el Imperio español desde la Patagonia hasta Alaska? Las historias de los pueblos están llenas de tópicos, falsas leyendas… y olvidos. El Principado de Cataluña no podía ser menos.

Called the brandy of the gods by Victor Hugo, Cognac is a universal symbol of refinement and quality. In the first comprehensive history of this celebrated drink, Kyle Jarrard charts Cognac's birth in the 1500s and its transformation into the world's most coveted brandy. Along the way, he reveals how Cognac distillers weathered vineyard die-offs, the German occupation, and other challenges over the years - and offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at Hennessy, Remy-Martin, Courvoisier, Martell, and other legendary brands.

Cora is about to discover who she truly is. It’s the summer of 1913, and Cora Kensington’s life on the family farm has taken a dark turn. Not only are the crops failing, but someone dear to Cora is failing as well. One fateful afternoon, a stranger comes to call, and Cora discovers a terrible secret about her past… a secret that will radically change her future. Cora is invited to take the “Grand Tour” of Europe, a trip intended to finish a person’s education and solidify an understanding of refinement and ancient culture.

You don’t need to walk across Italy to find meaning. But it sure doesn’t hurt. What started as a long-distance walk along the Via Francigena turned into something more human—mountains crossed, vineyards wandered, and strangers turned friends. This isn’t a guidebook. It’s the story of what happens when you stop rushing: broken sandals, golden hour moments, and a version of Tuscany you won’t find on a postcard. We thought we were just walking. Turns out, we were writing the story of our lives.

In a riveting account of the dark days leading up to France's defeat and occupation, Martin reveals a great and civilized nation committing a kind of suicide in 1938. When the relative calm in the first quarter ends with Germany's invasion of Austria, France is faced with hard questions about its diplomatic and military posture, and the leftist political alliance called the Popular Front makes its last stand.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, French cooks began to claim central roles in defining and enforcing taste, as well as educating their diners to changing standards. Tracing the transformation of culinary trades in France during the Revolutionary era, Jennifer J. Davis argues that the work of cultivating sensibility in food was not simply an elite matter; it was essential to the livelihood of thousands of men and women. Davis interrogates the development of cooking aesthetics and practices by examining the policing of the culinary marketplace in the name of safety and good taste.

An Landschaft und Kultur ist der Camino del Norte entlang der spanischen Nordküste so vielfältig wie kaum ein anderer Weg. Die Pilgertour führt durch Naturschutzgebiete, über kilometerlange Strände und in mittelalterliche Städte. Doch Vorsicht vor den Pilgern! Man lernt Menschen kennen, denen man im realen Leben nie begegnen würde. Die Wanderung beginnt in Begleitung eines belgischen Ex-Soldaten, der als Türsteher eines Swingerclubs arbeitet. Viele spanische Junkies und Chicas sind unterwegs sowie Pilger aus Frankreich, Deutschland und Dänemark.

The author guides us through every corner of this fascinating region, where they have spent much of their time over many years. Catalonia's Costa Brava provides stunning views, as the Mediterranean waves clash with the jagged coastline. Catelonia is marked by breathtaking cliffs, expanses of beaches, and the thriving, hip seaside city of Barcelona. In the Navarre region, men taunt large, dangerous animals for Pamplona's annual Running of the Bulls. Andorra is its own little world, and not just because it's a 290-square-mile independent principality.

Drie koningen uit het Huis Oranje-Nassau regeerden tussen 1813 en 1890 over Nederland: Willem I (1813-1840), Willem II (1840-1849) en Willem III (1849-1890). Hun historische reputaties lopen uiteen. Willem I, als enige van de drie opgenomen in de Historische Canon van Nederland, geldt als een van de grondleggers van onze staat. De Koning-Koopman zou zijn onderdanen hebben opgestoten in de vaart der volkeren; het is wat veel eer. Willem II wordt herinnerd als de Held van Waterloo. In 1848 zou hij zijn conservatieve denkbeelden abrupt hebben ingeruild voor liberale overtuigingen.

With her typically American intrepidness, her thirst for a good story and her power of observation, Hermance closes-in on the Portuguese she encounters along the way, bringing to us a psychological picture of the Portuguese individual and society that you won´t find on expat guides....

Part culinary memoir and part travelogue, Carole Bumpus gathered this compilation of intimate interviews, conversations, stories, and traditional family recipes (cuisine pauvre) in the kitchens of French families as she traveled throughout the countryside. Travel with her through Champagne caves/wineries and historic cathedrals, local farmers’ markets, ancient potters’ guilds, and restaurant kitchens with wood-fire ovens.

Com estimem, els catalans? En l'imaginari col·lectiu han quedat enregistrades un munt de llegendes que en parlen. Històries fantàstiques que narren amors entre gegants i donzelles, dones d'aigua i hereus de masies, pastors i sirenes. Fruit de la passió d'aquests darrers amants nasqué l'Empordà. Sirenes que sovint eren dones desterrades del món aspre dels homes i que trobaren l'amor lliure al mar. No són poques, tampoc, les llegendes d'amor entre dones i pirates, entre sarraïns i cristianes, la qual cosa demostra que l'afecte pot fer superar qualsevol barrera.

After his surrender to the Royal Navy, Napoleon became the object of massive English public interest. He would live out his last years on the island of St. Helena without ever admitting to being a prisoner. This close study of Napoleon in captivity attempts to reconstruct an authentic portrait of the fallen emperor by examining contemporary documents and records of public opinion.

Explore Spain: Ultimate Guide to 10 Stunning Destinations takes you on an unforgettable journey through ten of Spain’s most captivating locations. Each chapter blends rich description, cultural insight, and practical tips so you can immerse yourself fully, whether you’re wandering Barcelona’s modernist streets, savouring tapas in Seville, or gazing at the Alhambra’s intricate arches in Granada.

The clean air, smelling of spruce and moss in the summer and of newly fallen snow in winter, is unforgettable in Sweden. Produced by a native, this audiobook is the definitive guide to a country that's nearly 80 percent mountains, vast forests, lakes, and wilderness. But this book covers all, from cities and villages to the Midnight Sun Coast, and the islands to the Lapland area: art, culture, folklore, shopping, walks, water sports, and more.

The extraordinary novel Pride and Honour is a completely revised and rewritten version of the surprise initial success of the novel Honour and Glory by Nathaniel Burns. The author took many of his listeners‘ tips, reviews, and advice to heart to make his fascinating tale about Charlemagne and the Saxon King Widukind an even better listen. Take this suspenseful, captivating, and exciting journey back into Europe’s Dark Ages to meet the pivotal figure of Charlemagne and one of his greatest adversaries.