The Apollo 11 Mission to the Moon

Author: Gareth Brereton
Date: 8 July 2009

The 20th of July marks the 40th anniversary of one of the greatest journeys in human history - the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon. It all started on the 25th of May 1961, when President John F Kennedy announced the goal of sending astronauts to the Moon before the end of the decade, and culminated in one of humanities greatest technological achievements...

Seven Pillars of Wisdom - T E Lawrence

Author: Peter Whitfield
Date: 6 May 2009

"The dead men looked wonderfully beautiful. The night was shining gently down, softening them into new ivory. Turks were white-skinned on their clothed parts, much whiter than the Arabs; and these soldiers...

Principles of Geology - Charles Lyell

Author: Peter Whitfield
Date: 4 February 2009

In 1650 and 1654 the great biblical scholar James Ussher published two Latin treatises on the chronology of the Old and New Testaments. By analysing and linking the various genealogies recorded in the Bible, Ussher arrived back with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden...

What Stephen Fry did and saw in America

Author: Stephen Fry
Date: 24 September 2008

Stephen Fry, the much-loved comedian, actor and writer, embarked on an epic journey across America for his latest TV series and book - Stephen Fry in America. Here is his list of some of the things he got up to in every state of the USA

Stephen Fry in America - the introduction

Author: Stephen Fry
Date: 24 September 2008

Here, Stephen Fry gives us an entertaining introduction to the motives behind his exploration of America for his latest TV series and book - Stephen Fry in America: "I was so nearly an American. It was that close..."

A Passage to India - E M Forster

Author: Peter Whitfield
Date: 10 March 2008

Here, in an excerpt from his A Universe of Books, Dr Peter Whitfield provides an intriguing insight as to why A Passage to India was to be the last novel written by the tormented British author, E M Forster…

Marco Polo: Journey to China

Author: Peter Whitfield
Date: 3 January 2008

In a fascinating excerpt from his book, A Universe of Books, Peter Whitfield looks at Marco Polo’s intrepid travels that, in the 13th century, introduced the West to the delights of the East...

The Ramblers' Association

Date: 26 February 2007

Leisure walking goes back a long time in Britain and the Ramblers' Association, founded in 1935 but with roots in the 19th century, has played a fundamental part in the fight for the freedom to roam...

Ten Years of Wanderlust

Author: Lyn Hughes
Date: 1 September 2003

Ten years ago a new travel magazine called Wanderlust was born, written specifically for people who were passionate about travel. Now, sixty editions later, Lyn Hughes, the magazine's editor tells us how it all began.

An Everest Anniversary - Searching for Ghosts

Author: Alex Stewart
Date: 1 September 2003

Fifty years ago, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were about to achieve what no other man had yet achieved: reach the summit of the highest mountain on earth. Before this, many tried with no luck.