Eyewitness Travel Portrait of Britain: Landscapes, Treasures, Traditions [Hardcover]

Jane Ewart (Editor)

Book Description

Series: EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE | Publication Date: October 1, 1999

From the vibrant streets of London to the magnificent medieval castles of Wales, and on to the haunting glens of the Scottish Highlands, embark on an unforgettable grand tour of Britain at the dawn of the new millennium. By the creators of the highly successful Eyewitness Travel Guides. Portrait of Britain takes you on a provocative visual journey from bustling cities to windswept mountain ranges, focusing on every aspect of British heritage. It is both a practical travel companion and a superb pictorial souvenir. Britain in color. Portrait of Britain is packed with over 2,000 specially commissioned photographs, many of them reproduced as full--page images, presenting an unforgettable picture of England, Scotland, and Wales on the eve of the 21st century. In--depth features examine Britain's varied landscapes region by region, and highlight British history and culture, including the clans and tartans of Scotland, the role of the aristocracy, and the Industrial Revolution. Information at a glance. This beautifully presented book offers comprehensive information on places of interest throughout Britain, including historic towns, cities, cathedrals, castles, palaces, stately homes, museums, and galleries. It uses dramatic cutaway artwork and aerial drawings to give fascinating 3--D impressions of famous buildings and bird's--eye views of street plans in large--format detail. A visual celebration. From sleepy Cotswold villages to the nightlife of London's West End, from the wilds of the Yorkshire moors to the elegance of Georgian Bath, Portrait of Britain is an invaluable introduction to Britain's countryside and wildlife, architecture and art, customs and culture. Unparalleled in its portrayal of the diversity of sights to be found throughout the country, it contains thousands of ideas for places to visit. And for those who prefer to journey from Land's End to John O'Groats without leaving home, it also serves as a visual celebration of all that Britain has to offer.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

What you notice right off are the maps. They're big and easy to read, colorful, and beautifully made. The opening map reveals England and Scotland as well as the Shetland and Orkney Islands, plus Ireland and the northern coast of France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Turn the page and you come to another outstanding map, this one of Regional Great Britain, color-coded to distinguish between East Anglia, Wessex, Devon, and the Thames Valley, and displaying all the major motorways, roads, railway lines, airports, coach stations, airports, ferry ports, and a mileage chart. Portrait of Britain may be a tad heavy (more than five pounds) to lug along on a trip, but the maps in this coffee-table compendium are well worth packing.

Maps aside, the book is an Anglophile's dream, covering history, regional traditions, architecture, culture, and food. The pictures are of outstanding quality. (The hills of Widecombe-in-the-Moor are as lusciously verdant as the Eton schoolboys are austerely prim and the afternoon tea at Thornbury Castle Hotel is elegant.) Portrait of Britain explains the development of British gardens, the history of the pansy flower, the structure of stately homes, and the construction of the thatched cob cottage. There are essays on flora and fauna, aristocracy, pub draughts, the cheeses of England, tea time, the Spanish armada, and the Chippendale chair. There's also a calendar of oh-so-British happenings, including the Crufts Dog Show in Birmingham, the Oyster Festival in Colchester, and Maundy Thursday when the Queen hands out money to pensioners. Then come the regional sections, providing an extraordinary quantity of information on every segment of Great Britain, from London and Wales to the Midlands and Scotland--detailing gardens, castles, cathedrals, hikes, Museums, shopping, historic streets and suggested routes, all embellished with the kind of pictures that make it hard to plan a sensible itinerary. For inspirational photography and text, you can't beat what DK produces. It's a severe trial to browse Portrait of Britain and not book a flight to Heathrow. --Stephanie Gold

From Library Journal

Weighing in at five pounds and 720 pages, this travel guide is hardly a take-along book. However, like most of DK's lavishly illustrated efforts, this is a gem to be treasured by any Anglophile. Maps of Great Britain serve as an introduction to this island kingdom, and the tour of major roadways is followed by an in-depth look at English life that explores everything from architecture to edibles. Britain's history is delineated with an illustrated time line, which is followed by a list of special events throughout the year. Next comes an intensive tour of London, with exploration of the remainder of Britain by its distinctive regions. There's also a 14-page comprehensive index to make the book useful as a reference. Attractive illustrations and photographs add to the charm of this hefty volume, while sightseeing information makes it eminently practical for planning a trip. It's hard to imagine a more comprehensive guide to Britain's landscapes, treasures, and traditions. Highly recommended.
-Janet N. Ross, Sparks Branch Lib., NV
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 720 pages
• Publisher: DK Travel; First Edition edition (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789446081
• ISBN-13: 978-0789446084
• Product Dimensions: 13.1 x 7.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #778,358 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All you need to know about Great Britan, April 7, 2000

By 

Scott K hang (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eyewitness Travel Portrait of Britain: Landscapes, Treasures, Traditions (Hardcover)

Amazing indepth view of Great Britain in hardback with fantastic glossy pictures which makes you feel as if you were there for real. I'm British living in the US and this book truly takes me back home! A must for anyone who seriously wants a reference book on England, Scotland and Wales or if a trip to my home country is on your horizon. I have used this book to plan road trips back home myself.