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NEW INSIGHTS ON ENGLANDWhether You are Planning a Trip to England or Just
Imagining One, Insight Guides Can Help "This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this
England." ~William Shakespeare Anyone planning a trip to England had 'bloody well'
better consult three new Insight Guides -- Insight
Guide: England, Insight Guide: Oxford, and Insight Pocket Guide: London.
Insight Guide: England and Insight
Guide: Oxford, like all guides in the 400 title series, immerse the reader
in the history and culture of the destination, through their exquisite pictures
by world-class photographers, and beautifully written text by local authors and
experts. A travel series unlike any other, Insight Guides go beyond the sights
and delve into the 'insights.' Their photojournalistic approach captures the
uniqueness of each locale, bringing their traditions, their cities and
landscapes, their arts, their history, their culture, and their people into
intense focus. Insight Guides will tell you which attractions to visit,
but they'll also give you the insider's perspective you need to experience the
essence of any destination. Insight
Guide: England provides incisive commentary and background on English
attractions; from the Tower of London to the mystical Stonehenge; from the art
galleries of Birmingham to the curative waters and Georgian elegance of Bath;
from the ancient castles, picturesque villages, and lush river valleys of the
Cotswalds to the gardens of Kent. And more. The book offers provocative
photographs and evocative essays on topics such as the English character,
theatre, festivals, music, landscape painters, food and country pubs. Readers
get the inside scoop on English gardens, stately homes, writers, the sport of
cricket, and more. Most importantly, Insight
Guide: England offers not just sights, but insights: "Everybody has
their own idea of England, and the country is cliché-ridden…Visitors will have
fun finding out which of their preconceptions are true, and which false… Some
might be surprised to find that there is no longer smog in London, that it
doesn't rain as much as they had heard, that strict queueing is no longer
expected at bus stops, that Indian restaurants far outnumber fish-and-chip
shops, and that the English cricket team is constantly being beaten by the
nations it taught how to play the game." Insight
Guide: Oxford provides keen examinations of Oxford attractions, from
the hub of the university to Christ Church and beyond. From the medieval town
walls and ghosts around New College to the High. From the publishing heritage
Northwest of the Centre to the rivers, locks, meadows and abbeys. The book also
travels into Oxford's outskirts, and beyond to the Cotswolds, riverside towns,
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, and stately homes. The book offers discerning
essays and sidebars on topics such as academic life, the who's who of Oxford
Colleges, pub culture, canal life, festivals and events, women at Oxford,
Oxford University Press, Blackwell's, Oxford architecture, gardens, and more. This title also offers more than the sights. It offers
insights: "There is also a sort of etiquette attached to certain street
names, which can cause confusion among the uninitiated. The High Street, for
example, is widely abbreviated to "the High," while very few people
add "Street" to "Cornmarket." Pronunciation is also more a
matter of usage than logic. Cherwell is pronounced "charwell," while
Magdalen should sound like "maudlin." What readers notice first about Insight Guides is their
color photography. Four-color photographs appear on virtually every page,
making every book ideal for both envisioning a trip ahead of time, and as a
souvenir. Throughout each title in the series, the reader will find
stylish—and, at times, irreverent—sidebars as well as detailed, cross-referenced
maps with all the sites clearly highlighted and numbered in relation to the
text. Insight Guides provide helpful, practical travel tips and details, as
well as listings for hotels, restaurants, cultural activities, and essential
phone numbers. Insight
Pocket Guide: London provides travelers with a native Londoner's point
of view. This portable guide answers questions you'd ask a friend from London:
Which places are really worth seeing? What are the best places to stop to eat?
Ideal for travelers with limited time, Insight
Pocket Guide: London, written by natives, is filled with practical tips,
full- and half-day itineraries, out-of-town excursions, and a plethora of
personal recommendations. Insight
Pocket Guide: London begins with background on the city's history and
culture. It then provides the traveler with six full-day and seven half-day,
tailor-made itineraries that link all the essential sights in central London.
Going beyond the city center, the guide takes you on four excursions: east to the
Millennium Dome and Greenwich, west to Kew Gardens and Hampton Court, and north
to Hampstead. Insight
Pocket Guide: London comes with a corresponding pullout map with an
overview of the tours and can be used independently. This guide provides a
calendar of events, hotel and restaurant listings, emergency and other
essential phone numbers, and stunning four-color photographs. Redesigned for
2000, all Insight Pocket Guides feature a new leisure activity section,
color-coded bars for quick reference, more practical information, and a new
cover design. For further information, contact: Langenscheidt Publishing Group, 46-35 54th Road,
Maspeth, NY 11378, or call (718) 784-0055. Edited
by Kerry Cohen |
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TM