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Portugal Books

Books on Portugal: Travel

Walking in Portugal: 40 graded short and multi-day walks throughout the country

Walking in Portugal by Andrew Mok & Simon Whitmarsh: order this book from Amazon.

by Andrew Mok & Simon Whitmarsh

(Cicerone)

ISBN: 1852848898
Paperback; 264pp

You know some travel guide books are going to be good as soon as you open them and skim through a few pages. Walking in Portugal: 40 graded short and multi-day walks throughout the country by keen world hikers Andrew Mok and Simon Whitmarsh is one of those books. For any travel guide to be a success, especially a walking guide, it needs to answer certain questions. Among these are: does the book have easy to understand and follow maps? Walking in Portugal certainly does. Is the book well organized into sections by area? Check. Do the photographs add to the understanding of the text? Check. Are there sections on what to take and where to purchase maps of the walks? Check again. In addition the first part of the book is full of useful information on what to expect and how to prepare to walk and hike one of Europe's most beautiful countries. There is useful information on Portugal's geology, flora and fauna, weather, food and drink and where to stay. The appendix also has a summary of the 40 walks covered in the book and listed at the beginning. These walks range from mountain hikes in the Peneda-Gerês National Park in the north of the country to walks in the Algarve region in the south. There is also a list of useful contacts (airlines, maps, accommodation) and a short language section.
The description of the walks themselves is, of course, mostly directions, (very, very detailed directions) and this book is meant to be taken out into the field. It is thus small enough to fit snugly in a pocket or rucksack. However, the text is enlivened by the authors' asides on the history, plants, animals and legends walkers following in their footsteps will be thrilled to discover. Portugal is well-known to visitors for its historic cities and glorious beaches. This excellent book opens up another side of the country and makes it accessible: Portugal's rich and diverse landscapes, the empty spaces and wonderful scenery.

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The Camino Portugues: From Lisbon and Porto to Santiago - Central, Coastal and Spiritual caminos (International Walking)

The Camino Portugues: order this book from Amazon.

by Kat Davis

(Cicerone, 2018)

ISBN: 1852849320
Paperback; 336pp

Since the year 1211, pilgrims have been walking the Camino Portugues, a 620-kilometer (385.3 mile) trek from Lisbon, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, site of the cathedral believed by many to be the burial site of Saint James the Great, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ.
Some say the Camino Portugues is the world's second-most traveled pilgrimage. Those undertaking this trip will find that Kat Davis' book is all you need, and sometimes more, about how to manage their trip. The trek is broken down into 25 stages (one day each) along the main path, and within each stage a list of the start and stop points, the total distance you'll be walking, the elevation climb and descent, level of difficulty (easy, medium or, very rarely, hard), the time required to walk and a shortlist of cafes and accommodations to choose from. There are two variant routes, a coastal route, and a spiritual route. Routes linking these alternative routes are also covered. The routes listed will take you via ancient Roman roads across ancient bridges and through quaint villages, farmlands and forests, and in some cases large cities. Also dealt with are trip preparation, for example, the level of fitness required (surprisingly not very high), the best time to go (April to October), what to take, a calendar of annual festivals and events, an English-Portuguese-Spanish glossary and a "getting there and away" section covering air, rail, and bus. In addition to many nice pictures, there are maps for every day of each of the branches of the trip. Even if the book fails you somehow, there are markers along the roads to point you to your ultimate goal. Should you get lost, the book says friendly Portuguese are more than willing to help you find your way.
There are four UNESCO sites along the way; Tomar's Convent of Christ built by the Knights Templar, Coimbra University (one of Europe's oldest universities), and the old towns of Porto and Santiago (in Spain). There are numerous other historical and religious sites you will run across as well. The reader can't help but learn a number of interesting historical tidbits while reading through descriptions of the cities; for example, how port wine was first made in the city of, of course, Porto.
The level of detail in this book might surprise the reader at times. For example, in one of the variant routes, it becomes necessary to take a ferry. If the main ferries are closed for whatever reasons, the book suggests going to the local tourist office and having them find a local willing to take you. Failing that, the book lists the phone number of a local man who is willing to take tourists in his private boat!
Curiously, the book doesn't have an index, which would have been handy if you wanted to find, for example, a list of museums on the trip.
Anybody concerned with the logistical problems of taking this pilgrimage will probably rest assured after they get this book. That is a sign of a good travel book.

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Frommer's Portugal

Frommer's Portugal: order this book from Amazon.

by Darwin Porter & Danforth Prince

(John Wiley & Sons)

ISBN: 0470181869
448pp

Frommer's Portugal offers a comprehensive, jaunty, cosmopolitan commentary on the how-tos and attractions of Portugal in an accessible format. Frommer's forte is its practicality, typified by a standard approach to information delivery that makes for almost instant familiarity with the layout. Also, it has scattered through it 'Tips', 'Finds' and 'Did You Knows?' of the kind that can make all the difference to the traveler at the time. It is especially strong on accommodation and dining, suiting those who can afford to travel well; although the clear hierarchy of pricing it offers is useful for those on a budget too. Notwithstanding an excellent 'Portugal in Depth' appendix, this is the one for those with the means to travel well, and who value their pleasures as much as their edification.

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The Rough Guide to Portugal

Rough Guide to Portugal: order this book from Amazon.

by Mark Ellingham, John Fisher, Graham Kenyon

(Rough Guides),

ISBN: 1858288770
632pp

The Rough Guide to Portugal - far from being rough - is printed on good paper, has some excellent photos, and plentiful maps. With its erudite, more wordy style - not to mention its smaller font - it requires a more scholastic take. Unlike the Frommer's, this one is more for plane and hotel room planning sessions than it is for the road. But for those who prefer a guide that takes the time to engage you in some detailed narrative and comes with a turn of phrase, as opposed to just bytes, the Rough Guide will take you conscientiously through the height and breadth of the country, body and soul, leaving few stones unturned.

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The Pocket Rough Guide to Lisbon

Pocket Rough Guide to Lisbon: order this book from Amazon.

by Matthew Hancock

(Rough Guides),

ISBN: 0241009715
338pp

If your journey to Portugal is confined to Lisbon and its immediate environs this handy pocket guide could be the answer. The guide covers the city's main sites with interesting listings on Lisbon's nightlife, entertainment and sports scenes. Lisbon is covered by district with each area color-coded with information on places to see, restaurants, shops, live music venues, gay clubs, cafes, bars, hotel accommodation as well as a useful kids' section for those traveling as a family group. In addition to history and language chapters, there are some good color maps and a pull-out map at the end of the book plus details on day-trip destinations: Sintra, Estoril and Cascais. Recommended and the book easily slides into a pocket or bag for easy use.

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The Insight Guide Portugal

Insight Guide to Portugal: order this book from Amazon.

by Pam Barrett et al

(Apa Publications; Insight Guides)

ISBN: 9812587144
394pp

Insight Guides' formula of quality photography and in-depth essays are ideal for pre-trip planning, a relaxing read in your hotel or as a memento of your journey when you return home. The Portugal guide has some expert and very readable essays on a variety of topics including detailed explorations of Portuguese wine, food and history. The book is handily color-coded to ease the reader's navigation through the regional travel sections, essays and useful info. Though aimed at a more upmarket traveller, the 'Travel Tips' section at the end of the book is a practical bank of information for travellers on any budget. Recommended for the stunning photography alone.

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The Insight Pocket Guide Lisbon

Insight Pocket Guide to Portugal: order this book from Amazon.

by Marion Kaplan

(Apa Publications; Insight Guides)

ISBN: 0887298923
92pp

Well written by Marion Kaplan, author of The Portuguese: The Land and Its People, Insight's updated Pocket Guide stands out for its interesting approach of suggested itineraries for the Lisbon visitor: three full-day tours of the city's main attractions and nine more specialized half-day walk-abouts covering the rather less mainstream sights such as Queluz, the city's gardens and the south bank of the Tejo. There also useful sections on history and culture, excursions, shopping, festivals and practical info, supported as always by excellent photos and a detachable city map in the back cover. Recommended.

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Let's Go Spain & Portugal

Let's Go Spain & Portugal: order this book from Amazon.

by Andrew M. Torres, Editor

(Let's Go Travel)

ISBN: 0312305958
832pp

This is Let's Go's latest on the Iberian Peninsula, which also includes a section on Morocco. At over 800 pages, this is a comprehensive guide tailored for the backpacker. It is written and edited by and for college students. It is very strong in its sections on how to prepare prior to departure, where to stay, health, and in articles on areas of interest (eg, Pedro Almodovar, bullfighting, etc.). Good maps and up to date telephone numbers and listings make this a practical addition to anyone's travel kit.
In places, the guide has a gee-whiz quality that some might find irritating.

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Lonely Planet Portugal

Lonely Planet Portugal: order this book from Amazon.

by Robert Landon

(Lonely Planet)

ISBN: 1742200524
488 pp

Lonely Planet has done an excellent job. The first 100-plus pages of this guide are devoted to Facts About Portugal and Facts for the Visitor. This reviewer had never given a thought to, for example, Portugal's Architecture but it made for a great read. There are highly detailed sections on, among others, transportation and dining. The guide is then broken into regional sections, with the longest and perhaps best on Lisbon. The LP has a good selection of color photographs to whet the appetite and passable grey maps (not easily read at night!).
Highly recommended.

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Lonely Planet Pocket Lisbon

Lonely Planet Pocket Lisbon: order this book from Amazon.

by Regis St Louis; Kevin Raub

Lonely Planet; 4th Edition (2019)

ISBN: 1786572877
224pp

Who doesn't love Lisbon? Who isn't dying to get there? Well, for the many of you in that club, here is the perfect (and tiny!) guidebook to help you navigate the great metropolis.
The Lonely Planet's Pocket Lisbon is a treasure. It introduces relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see - and what to avoid. From monasteries to trams, from the Castelo de Sao Jorge to the heart of Lisbon - this guide will get you there and back.
Inside Lonely Planet's Pocket Lisbon are color maps, gorgeous photos, suggested itineraries, what and where to avoid, essential information, reviews (restaurants, sites, bars, etc.), freebies, and more.
It also includes: Alfama, Castelo, Baixa, Rossio, Bairro Alto, Chiado, Marques de Pombal, Rato, Saldanha, Estrela, Lapa, Alcantara, Parque das Nacoes, and more.
This is the perfect guide for all budgets.

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Portugal with Madeira & the Azores

Portugal with Madeira & the Azores: order this book from Amazon.

by Martin Symington

(Dorling Kindersley, 2012)

ISBN: 0756684331
480 pp

Dorling Kindersley's lavish Portugal with Madeira & the Azores confines everything typically 'practical' to a 75-page appendix. While the information included in it is indeed ruthlessly practical (accommodation, dining, using phones, breakdown services, rail info, photos of police, etc.) the overwhelming thrust of the book is to present the country's cultural, historical and natural attractions in as comprehensive yet easily digestible a form as possible. Glossy and jam-packed with photos, this is the tourist brochure cum mini-encyclopedia of Portugal guide books, providing such intensive pictorial coverage of the country's traditions and treasures that it arguably takes the element of surprise out of it. A little lacking in written detail, this is for the intelligent traveler who nevertheless prefers to wield the camera than write up the notes. Great for those on a tour, especially if also headed for Madeira and the Azores.

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Walking in the Algarve

Walking in the Algarve: order this book from Amazon.

by Jacint Mig

(Cicerone)

ISBN: 978-1852849948
Paperback; 189pp

This pocket-sized guidebook introduces thirty-three walks in the Algarve, a beautiful region of southern Portugal. The Algarve is a short distance from Lisbon and, across the border, Seville. Blessed with year-round good weather, fabulous scenery, and awesome hiking trails, it is a perfect spot for a walking holiday. The Algarve is, of course, best known for its draw-droppingly gorgeous coastline. This guide, therefore, features multiple trails for taking in beaches, cliffs, and views of the ocean. In addition, there are trails inland, the forested slopes of Monchique, and the peaceful countryside that lie between the mountains and coast. The hiking trails range from 3.5 to 17 km (2 - 10 miles) and include the southern coast, the more rugged Vicentina Coast, the Monchique mountains, and villages of the eastern Algarve. Some of these routes are accessible by Portugal's public transportation. For those trails that are not accessible by train or bus, rental car or taxi is an option.
Each route comes with the following at the beginning of its description: start/finish (usually a village or building), distance, total ascent/descent, grade (1 = easy/short, 2 a bit harder, 3 the most demanding), time, refreshments, and access. For those with more time and energy, the recently completed Via Algarviana (300 km; 186 miles) takes in much of the Algarve. There are of course hills, but the highest mountain in the region is just 900 meters (2900 feet). That means that most of the walking is fairly easy going.
Last, the introduction to the guide includes a primer on geology, flora and fauna, regional history, and basics for what to prepare for your hike. In addition, there are many beautiful color photos. The hikes are generally quite easy. Visitors of all ages and fitness levels will be able to find more than one to suit their interests and ability.

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Portugal's Rota Vicentina: The Historical Way and Fishermen's Trail

Portugal's Rota Vicentina: The Historical Way and Fishermen's Trail: order this book from Amazon.

by Gillian Price

(Cicerone)

ISBN: 978-1852849603
Paperback; 192pp

The Rota Vicentina is one of Europe's most beautiful long-distance hiking trails. It follows the west coast of Portugal winding between the Atlantic Ocean and jagged inland cliffs.
This hiking trail is nearly 400 km (248 miles) along one of the most beautiful and well-preserved coastal areas of Europe. The walk is made up of two main trails and eight circular routes so there is much to choose from and something for all walkers.
This guide highlights the "Historical Way" (Caminho Histórico), which at 230 km is the longest of the routes, and "Fisherman's Trail" (Trilho dos Pescadores). The former goes directly from Santiago do Cacém to the Cape of São Vicentina. 12 stages take you through forest tracks, small towns, and quaint villages. The latter and shorter trail (125 km, 77 miles) mainly follows a cliff top path from Porto Covo to Odeceixe.
The guide is broken into 12 sections - one for each stage of the Historical Way - and then four more for the Fisherman's Trail. A typical day has you walking from 15 - 25 km (9 - 15 miles). The longest day will take about 6 hours.
Each route comes with the following at the beginning of its description: start/finish (usually a village or building), distance, total ascent/descent, grade (1 = easy/short, 2 a bit harder, 3 the most demanding), time, refreshments, and access.
Finally, the introduction to the guide includes a primer on geology, flora and fauna, regional history, and basics for what to prepare for your hike. In addition, there are many beautiful color photos. The walks are generally quite easy. Visitors of all ages and fitness levels will be able to find more than one to suit their interests and ability.
This small guide is all you need for a wonderful walking vacation.

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Walking on the Azores

Walking on the Azores: order this book from Amazon.

by Paddy Dillon

(Cicerone)

ISBN-13: 978-1852849085
Paperback; 287pp

The Azores Islands are a lush archipelago that consists of nine islands floating in the North Atlantic. The islands are Portuguese territory and a whopping 1,450 km (900 miles) from Lisbon. Thus, they are literally in the middle of nowhere. Thanks to commercial air travel though they are easily reached; from Lisbon, for example, a flight takes less than two hours. From London, direct flights last just under 4 hours.
This comprehensive guide introduces 70 walking routes from the three island groups: the Eastern Group (São Miguel and Santa Maria), Central Group (Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico and Faial), and Western Group (Flores and Corvo).
The hikes range anywhere from hour-long strolls to a full-day out. Most follow a network of official waymarked trails on the islands. One of the highlights is a route that climbs Mount Pico (Montanha do Pico), which at 2,351 meters (7,713 feet) is the highest mountain on Portuguese territory.
In addition, the guidebook gives offers much practical information on travel to the Azores from the European mainland and between the different islands themselves. Moreover, there is ample information on getting around by public transportation. Full route descriptions are accompanied by 1:50,000 map extracts, with notes on eating and drinking spots, and local points of interest. The routes boast verdant green landscapes and fantastic volcanic landforms. Along the way, you will enjoy forests, rocky slopes, cliff coast, and waterfalls as well as a rich man-made heritage that includes churches, forts, windmills, and harbors.
The climate of the Azores is mild, and therefore ideal for trekking year-round.
Each route comes with the following at the beginning of its description: start/finish (usually a village or building), distance, total ascent/descent, grade (1 = easy/short, 2 a bit harder, 3 the most demanding), time, refreshments, and access.
Finally, the introduction to the guide includes a primer on geology, flora and fauna, regional history, and basics for what to prepare for your hike. In addition, there are many beautiful color photos. The walks are generally quite easy. Visitors of all ages and fitness levels will be able to find more than one to suit their interests and ability.

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Fiction

Journey to Portugal

Journey to Portugal by Jose Saramago: order this book from Amazon.

by Jose Saramago

(Harvest)

ISBN: 0156007134
452pp

Jose Saramago came to the attention of the world as a giant of Portuguese writing when he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998. His novels, while brilliantly imaginative, are pessimistic in tone, and find their major themes in the importance of memory and communion with the past. Journal to Portugal is written in the same vein, as its subtitle: 'In Pursuit of Portugal's History and Culture' suggests. This is emphatically not a book for those wishing to prepare themselves for a trip to Portugal. It demands total surrender to the ego of the 'the traveler', and a corresponding commitment to the minutiae of his rueful trudge across country from village to village, church to church (to church!) and museum to museum. Think gray whimsy - over 400 pages of it. For die hard fans of the great man only.

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Food

Lonely Planet
World Food
Guide Portugal

Lonely Planet World Food Guide Portugal: order this book from Amazon.

by Lynelle Scott-Aitken, Clara de Macedo Vitorino

(Lonely Planet)

ISBN: 1864501111
286 pp

If there's one thing that a travel cum gastronomy guide book should do, it is make you want to go there and eat, and Lonely Planet's "World Food Guide - Portugal" does that with gusto. It makes all the essential distinctions and provides plenty of background information on history and culture as well as current trends and curiosities. Drawing you into a world of long-unchanged culinary traditions, it leaves you begging to be transported there in time for the lunchtime special.
Though this guide will offer little comfort to vegetarians or weight watchers, Portugal comes across as a treasure trove for those willing to avoid tourist restaurants and investigate working-class haunts. Bold flavours and big helpings are served up in unpretentious surroundings from the social melting pot of the taberna to rustic smokehouses hung with whole hams - just don't ask for a salad.
With a special section devoted to regional differences, complete with maps, this book will be of special interest to the traveller who wants to explore the provinces, where great local ingredients fuse with methods handed down through the ages. Wine producing regions too get a look in but the focus is very much on the food. With the aid of a large selection of photographs, the Lonely Planet guide paints a colourful picture of what it is to appreciate, understand and enjoy the culture behind Portuguese cuisine.
An ample glossary of useful phrases will help gastronomic adventurers find what they are looking for and a scattering of tantalizing recipes are provided as inspiration for budding chefs. What this guide does not contain however, are the names and addresses of particular eateries. What you get is a basic tour of the kinds of establishments you are likely to come across and plenty of encouragement to delve in.

Will Yong

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Language

Portuguese Phrasebook

Lonely Planet Portuguese Phrasebook: order this book from Amazon.

by Robert Landon

(Lonely Planet Phrasebooks)

ISBN: 1740592131
256pp

With brief language and vocabulary sections devoted to most situations the casual Portugal traveller might encounter, the Lonely Planet Portuguese Phrasebook is a handy edition to your luggage or pocket. There are set phrases for travellers of all descriptions: campers, clubbers, cyclists, the disabled, drinkers, gays, internet surfers, job-seekers, shoppers, even vegetarians. There is also a football section of use to visitors who take in a bit of football with their holidays at the soccer hotbeds in Lisbon and Porto, they can pick up such gems as 'O árbitro estava comprado' ('The ref was bought') and less usefully 'Vamos sazer a onda' ('Let's do the Mexican wave'). Although English is increasingly spoken in most places visitors may need assistance, picking up a few phrases of the local language always helps to make your stay more enjoyable and increases the "feel-good factor" enormously.

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Portuguese Dictionary Phrasebook

Portuguese Dictionary Phrasebook: order this book from Amazon.

by Lexus with Norma de Oliviera Tait

(Rough Guides Phrasebooks)

ISBN: 1843536315
272pp

Rough Guide's neatly designed and easily portable Dictionary Phrasebook opens which some very useful introductory grammar sections and then splits into the main English-Portuguese and the shorter Portuguese-English dictionary.
The English-Portuguese section features brief situational dialogs such as 'getting on a train' and 'having a film developed' as well as feature boxes with useful tourist and cultural information connected with particular words and phrases, which will be familiar to Rough Guide readers. The imitated pronunciation guide is well done and certainly helps, for this reviewer at least, with Portuguese's devilish pronunciation.

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Art

Portuguese 20th Century Artists: A Biographical Dictionary

Portuguese 20th Century artists by Michael Tannock: order this book from Amazon.

by Michael Tannock

(Phillimore)

ISBN: 0850333121
352pp

When one thinks of 20th century art, the countries Spain, France, USA, England, even Germany and Holland will probably come to mind. Portugal is unlikely to be thought of. In fact you may be hard-pressed to think of even one modern Portuguese artist, which is a shame, as there is a lot of vibrant art being produced there. Part of the problem is that there is little in the way of books on Portuguese modern Art. This book is the exception. It covers more than 2,000 artists in the period 1900 to 1974, and is organized as a biographical dictionary. As a reference work on modern Portuguese art, this book has no competitors. The information on each artist is factual, avoiding opinion and value judgment. Half the book is given over to photos of the works, including almost 100 superb color plates. Modern art came late to Portugal, and when it did it was, as in other countries, influenced by artists returning from studying in Paris, perhaps the most important being Amadeu de Souza-Cardosa. In sculpture the most significant on the direction Portuguese sculpture was to take was Francisco Franco, who also studied in Paris. As in the rest of Europe, the period after World War 2 saw an explosion of new styles, but figurative painting dominated for a while, typified by the work of Joao Hogan and Julio Resende. In the 60's there was another upsurge of diversity, but this time the influence was more by Portuguese artists studying in England, such as the sculptor Joao Cutileiro. If you are planning on visiting any galleries on your trip to Portugal, this book will be most valuable, as it includes a list of galleries by town, or if you simply want to explore a little known area of modern art, I would highly recommend it.

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History

Conquerors: How Portugal Forged The First Global Empire

Conquerors by Roger Crowley: order this book from Amazon.

by Roger Crowley

(Faber & Faber)

ISBN: B01K92Z36Y
Paperback 412pp

The Age of Discoveries still remains Portugal's proudest epoch. A time when small vessels from Portugal, the "Prow of Europe," set sail down the west coast of Africa, "discovered" Brazil almost by accident to the west in 1500, rounded the Cape of Good Hope, then burst in to the Indian Ocean and sailed east to Goa (1498). From there Portuguese seafarers made it further east to Malacca, Macau (1513) and were the first Westerners to reach Japan (1543). The efforts of these fearless men, backed by their enterprising monarch, King Manuel I in Lisbon, were to establish the world's first global, maritime empire, bringing untold riches back to their tiny corner of Europe and setting a base for the global economy.
However, it was the seizure of Ceuta on the North African coast back in 1415 that was to ignite Portugal's drive to empire. This was coupled with a desire to destroy Muslim control of the Oriental trade between China, India and the West which at the time was controlled in Europe by the cities of Venice and Genoa. Renown historian Roger Crowley, who has written extensively on this period of maritime history in his other works Empires of the Sea and City of Fortune, tells the remarkable story. What a story it is too, much of the book reads like an historical novel as the Portuguese explorers slowly edge their way down the coast of Africa gaining more knowledge of the winds and geography with each subsequent voyage. It is Vasco da Gama who finally reaches India in 1498. Gama was to return twice more to India, his voyages and one by the "discoverer" of Brazil, Pedro Cabral becoming more violent each time as the Portuguese often attacked Muslim and Hindu shipping off the coasts of Africa and India slaughtering the crews. However, even more fearsome characters dominate the majority of the tale, Francisco de Almeida and Afonso de Albuquerque, both titled viceroys or governors of India. These men were to establish Portuguese possessions on the west coast of India and to spread fear of the Europeans along that coast. They also made or laid the foundations for later Portuguese voyages to present-day Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Malaysia from where other Portuguese adventurers would go on to Macau and Japan. The onset of the decline of Portuguese hegemony in India was to come with the deaths of Albuquerque ("The Lion of the Sea") and King Manuel. However it is the actions of the Portuguese adventurers who were to sow the first seeds of a globalized world bringing people in the far corners of the world into contact with each other through trade. In the epilogue the author quotes the fitting words of the 'poet laureate' of the Age of Discoveries, Luiz de Camoes: "Had there been more of the world [the Portuguese] would have discovered it."

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Others

Cork Boat

Cork Boat: order this book from Amazon.

by John Pollack

Pantheon Books

ISBN: 0375422579
291pp

Former Washington speech writer John Pollock - burned out on the hypocrisy and hyperbole of Beltway blather - took a year's sabbatical from his job with Representative David Bonior to fulfill a childhood dream. That dream was to build a boat completely from wine corks, a whole lot of wine corks, and then sail it down Portugal's Douro River: the home of cork. This "creative sabbatical" from the very real world of politics would be, according to the author, the "antithesis of everything Washington."
Thus, at age 33, Pollack set out on a quixotic adventure to realize a dream that he had nurtured since childhood. He began collecting corks from an early age. Raised in a home where expectations not rules held sway, his parents cultivated a sense of adventure in their children. This was done mainly through their work in Michigan politics and in family travels around the world. On one such trip, in India, tragedy struck on a river. Pollack lost his sister when she fell into and was swept down the rapids never to be found. Part of Pollack's obsession clearly dates to this incident, which occurred when he was eleven.
In order to build the boat, he went around to Washington restaurants to collect their used corks to add to his twenty-year collection. Large donations - of both used corks and new rubber bands - made it possible to complete the cork boat. Made up of 165,321 corks, and built with his childhood best friend, the boat was shipped to Portugal in 2002. There, Pollack and friends and family spent 17 days navigating the Douro River. The book is a lovely read that combines purpose, the overcoming of great obstacles, and a sense of what is possible. In a cynical age, this is a refreshing and even inspiring work. It includes asides on President Clinton; for whom Pollack worked; the writer's family; Portugal; cork; rubber bands; and more. Beautifully written.

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Birds of the Atlantic Islands

A Field Guide to the Birds of the Atlantic Islands: Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, Cape Verde: order this book from Amazon.

by Tony Clark, Chris Orgill (Illustrator), Tony Disley (Illustrator)

Christopher Helm Publishers Ltd

ISBN: 0713660236
368pp

This must for bird-watchers introduces the birds of the Atlantic Islands: Canary Islands (Spain), Madeira (Portugal), Azores (Portugal), and Cape Verde. Fully illustrated by Chris Orgill and Tony Disley with 69 color plates, and over 100 black and white illustrations. All birds, both resident and vagrant in the Macaronesian Islands are covered. The informative, accompanying text details identification, song, and range of the birds. The Atlantic Islands shelter a remarkable diversity of birds, many endangered with small and vulnerable ranges. This book is recommended for bird-watchers and visitors to the islands alike.

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