Croatia Looks Perfect, but…

Croatia Looks Perfect, but…

Croatia has one of the most spectacular coastlines in Europe, with mountains plunging into the sea, countless islands, and Dubrovnik: the ancient port city that features in the epic TV series Game of Thrones.  If you’re mega rich, or connected...
My Time in East Berlin

My Time in East Berlin

East Berlin was controlled by the Russians until 1989. It no longer exists. I spent some time there many years ago, on my way to Asia. This is how I described it in my first travel book, 9 Months in...
If I was Napoleon

If I was Napoleon

If I was planning to invade Russia with a massive land army (Napoleon went in with 635,000 men and emerged with about 20,000) I would set off in the middle of winter. “But zat is madness your Highness,” they would …
Philip Pullman’s storytelling system

Philip Pullman’s storytelling system

Writing about a book of essays is hard because each essay is a complex entity unto itself; each one has a brilliant idea that I’d like to write about – but then I read the next one and I forget …