Maldives: Kingdom of a Thousand Isles, First Edition (Odyssey Illustrated Guide) [Paperback]

Andrew Forbes (Author), Kevin Bishop (Author)

Book Description

Series: Odyssey Guides Maldives | Publication Date: February 16, 2004

An idyllic marine retreat brought to life through sumptuous color photography and crisp, knowledgeable text. Sometimes known as "The Paradise Isles, " the Maldives are made up of hundreds of idyllic islands that are famed for their tropical beaches, coral reefs and marine life. To these can be added some of the best island-style hotels in the world. This guide has a superb introduction and covers local geography, history and culture, with special sections on art, food and marine life. There is a comprehensive survey of the luxurious resorts available, and advice on diving and how to organize a boat cruise. It is an excellent book for anyone preparing to visit the Maldives, will make a great companion during the trip, and provide a treasured keepsake after the event.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Andrew Forbes graduated in Chinese Studies at the University of Leeds before going on to complete an MA in Islamic Studies and a Ph.D. in Central Asian History. He first visited the Maldives in 1976 and has traveled extensively throughout the archipelago, including a four-month period collecting traditional artifacts for the Museum of Mankind in London. Forbes has written about the Maldives for numerous academic journals such as South Asia, Archipel, The Geographical Magazine and the Encyclopaedia of Islam, as well as for the Guardian, Far Eastern Economic Review, Asian Wall Street Journal and Hemispheres. He is currently editor of Crescent Press Agency and a Senior Associate Member of St Anthony's College, Oxford.

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Odyssey Pubns; 1 edition (February 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9622177107
• ISBN-13: 978-9622177109
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,601,425 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > Travel > Asia > Maldives

More About the Author

Andrew Forbes / Andrew D. W. Forbes graduated in Chinese Studies from the University of Leeds before completing an MA in Islamic Studies and a Ph.D. in Central Asian History. He lectured in East African History at the University of Khartoum (1977-78) and in Islamic Studies at the University of Aberdeen (1982-88). In 1983-4 he was Leverhulme Fellow at the British Institute in Southeast Asia, Thailand, and in 1988-89 he was a Senior Associate Member of St Antony's College, Oxford. He has traveled extensively in Asia and Africa, and is currently editor of Crescent Press Agency (www.cpamedia.com); Pictures From History, an online image library specialising in historical images of Asia (www.picturesfromhistory.com); and Cognoscenti Books (www.cognoscentibooks.com)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Rich and informative collection of essays on a little known country, September 24, 2011

By 

Carno Polo "adventure traveler" (Rome, Italy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Maldives: Kingdom of a Thousand Isles, First Edition (Odyssey Illustrated Guide) (Paperback)

Precious little is written on the Maldives besides guide books on posh resorts. This book goes a long way toward filling that gap. The author is well read on the subject and has spent considerable time travelling around the archipelago. He provides fairly exhaustive historical and cultural analyses. He is a bit weaker on the political and economic aspects. In addition to the main body of the book, he reprints a series of essays he has previously published in many journals and newspapers over the years. These are usually interesting and relevant, and do add to the book. However they are collated in a sometimes haphazard fashion. The reader is sometimes thrown off balance as he moves from one topic to another. I would say this book is more of a reference work, to go back to for detailed information, with a good index and bibliography with suggested further reading, than a book to be read from cover to cover.

Many good pictures add a lot to the book, which is printed in sturdy heavy paper and bound for durability.