That scarcity also means reading has become aspirational. Being able to take time to read, not scroll, has become almost performative, reaching a frenzy at holiday times. Book-Tok booms during the “summer reading” season, garnering over 80 million global video posts for the hashtag, according to the TikTok Newsroom.

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Публикация от Steffi Crivellaro London (@steffi_daydreamer)

Feeding into the reading flex, consumers increasingly prefer to spend leisure time “improving themselves.” As Travel Tomorrow recently reported, skill-based holiday activities that involve learning are growing in popularity – and reading is an essential part of that.

17^th century influencers

But the “holiday read” is not a new phenomenon. As far back as the 17^th century, when young European aristocrats began completing the rite of passage that was a Grand Tour of Europe, reading along the way provided an essential bridge between their classical education and newly lived experience.

With the Industrial Revolution, the rise of the railways, and eventual gains in workers’ rights to time off, even more travellers enjoyed newfound comfort and time on their hands to read. The UK National Railway Museum details how well-known bookstore WHSmith pioneered travel retail in 1848 by opening the world’s first platform bookstall at London’s Euston Station, leading to a nationwide network of book concessions at transport hubs.

Bookstores and books designed travellers

Reading products were then designed to appeal to those on the go, as a WHSmith blog explains. For commuters, publishers created “Yellowbacks.” These were inexpensive, mass-market paperbacks with bright illustrated covers, easier to carry and costing nowhere near as much as hardbacks, meaning they were not too precious to bear the indignities of travel.

The airport bookshop and its titles became a direct descendant of that market. Publishers such as Hudson Group, officially founded a hundred years ago in 1926, survived the ups and downs of late 20^th-century publishing by tapping into the trend. They opened dedicated travel-hub stores, starting at New York City’s LaGuardia Airport, transforming transit news kiosks into the dominant book-selling environments still recognised today.

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In that airport bookstore habitat, the products tend to be organised in a way that is very helpful to people browsing in a rush, despite sometimes limited space. Newspapers and magazines are clearly grouped, while entire walls are dedicated to top ten countdowns of best reads and international best sellers. As the Penguin blog article on airport bookshops notes: “They narrow your selection for you, sometimes forcing you to pick up something you might not otherwise ­– especially if you happen to finish your packed books before you’re set to fly home.”

Airport editions of books often appear different to those elsewhere too. As best-selling author Richard Osman recently explained on The Rest is Entertainment, due to tax rules, airports can sell “trade paperbacks”, which are the attractive, larger size of hardbacks but have a soft cover and so are less heavy and unwieldy.

The psychology of the holiday read

Given the pressures on hand luggage, though, and the proliferation of devices that rival books for our attention, why has our love of reading on journeys endured so well? After all, it’s arguably counterintuitive to have one’s head buried in a book when one has the chance to be immersed instead in new scenery and surroundings—and indeed has taken time and savings to do just that?

Psychology Today explains that reading allows adults to set up a “guilt-free boundary to claim small pockets of solitude.” Like wearing a pair of earphones or buds, a book establishes a zone of privacy around the reader—which can provide important relief from the stresses of transit, being in new surroundings, and being surrounded by strangers.

What’s more, the act of reading itself provides a cognitive interlude away from daily stresses, stimulating what psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls a “flow state,” which promotes optimal focus and reduces anxiety. Surely a helpful mindset for better enjoying any journey?

Reading feeds travel, and travel feeds reading

I would argue the opposite is also true: I read better when I’m away. As a reader, some of my most unforgettable books were consumed on a memorable vacation. I read Stieg Larsson in Namibia, Donna Tartt’s The Secret History in the Pyrenees, and Milan Kundera in Sydney, and I know that my special love for these books (and many others) comes from the different type of attention I brought to them because I was away from home. Likewise, as a novelist and travel writer, I often find my books take root when I’m in a new place, and I am trying to capture the feeling that location inspires.

A similar interplay is at work in the data around how, if reading is encouraged by travel, travel today is also driven by reading. Hilton has named reading among its 2026 travel trends, and Morning Consult reports 53% of US travellers are interested in a dedicated reading retreat (55% of men and 49% of women), while a whopping 67% of millennial Americans expressed a desire to attend one.

Trips inspired by literary locations, from short breaks in Shakespearean cottages to Harry Potter experiences in Shanghai, are increasingly popular. A Tokyo book district was chosen as Time Out’s coolest neighbourhood for 2025, and Future Market Insights says literary tourism generated $2.4 billion last year and is predicted to grow to $3.3 billion by 2034.

Ultimately, as well as being good business, travel and books both provide escapism and ways of resetting the nervous system, and when the two activities combine, the power and resonance of that escape can last a lifetime.

L’article Why we love holiday reading: The history of airport bookshops and vacation books est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Known as the Manifesto Library, the collection is housed inside the historic Livraria Lello, one of Portugal’s best-known bookshops. It opened as part of the inaugural BABELL – City of Books international literary festival and brings together around 100 books that have been banned, censored or challenged for addressing issues such as race, sexuality, identity and political power. 

The project was created through a partnership between Livraria Lello and Lipa’s Service95 Book Club, which the singer launched to encourage readers to discover global voices through monthly book recommendations and an accompanying podcast, where she interviews the authors. 

In a statement announcing the opening, Lipa described the new space as “a dream partnership” that builds on the mission she has pursued since founding the book club.

“When I founded the Service95 Book Club, my ambition was for it to become a home for writers and readers, wherever they are and whatever their circumstances,” she said. “Reading the world brings us closer – but sadly, not everyone is in favour of that.” 

She added that the collection includes “one hundred books that ask questions, or have been questioned,” noting that “some districts have banned some for themes of race or sexuality. Others, written for LGBTQIA+ readers, have been restricted from display. In some cases, the author has paid for their words with their life.”

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Lipa also described the Manifesto Library as “a shrine to books that have disappeared, to authors whose courage unmasks structures of power and control, and to readers who refuse to be told what book they are allowed to read.” Inviting visitors to explore the collection for themselves, she concluded: “Because sometimes the most subversive thing you can do is read a book and then talk about it.” 

The library’s collection is organised around four themes: power, control, voice and memory. Featured titles include The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, Felon by Reginald Dwayne Betts, as well as works by Salman Rushdie and Olga Tokarczuk. Nearly all have faced censorship, restrictions or controversy in different parts of the world. 

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Francisca Pedro Pinto, Head of Brand at Livraria Lello, said the initiative reflects the bookshop’s long-standing belief in literature as a force for freedom.

“For 120 years, Livraria Lello has been built on a simple conviction: the book is a technology of freedom. The Manifesto Library grows from that belief,” she said. “Because what is at stake is not only the future of reading, but a society’s ability to imagine, interpret and build its own future.” 

The opening marks another step in Dua Lipa’s growing involvement in the literary world. Beyond her music career, she has become an active advocate for reading through Service95 and is also set to curate the London Literature Festival at Southbank Centre later this year.

L’article Dua Lipa opens library for banned books at historic Porto bookshop est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

1. Bizarre Belgium: 50 places for a weird day out

Whether you’ve been living in Belgium for years or you’re just planning a weekend visit, Bizarre Belgium: 50 places for a weird day out will be the ideal tool to make your Belgian wanderings more interesting. While most of us will already be acquainted with Belgium’s most famous sights, including Manneke Pis and the Atomium, authors Karen François and Kamiel de Bruyne specifically went looking for something else, something more, something weirder.

Through 50 sights in Belgium, they take the reader on a weird exploration around the country. Whether you’re most interested by an anus-shaped hotel room or Europe’s very first UFO memorial: they’ve covered it all. Perfect for a staycation or to give your Blitz visit to Brussels an extra dimension.

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2. Go West: London to the Welsh Coast

Cycling holidays have become increasingly popular over the past few years, as tourists are looking for slower and more eco-friendly travel alternatives. Steve Silk, author of best seller The Great North Road, takes us on a new adventure, leading from London all the way to the Welsh Coast.

In Go West: London to the Welsh Coast, Silk cycles readers through a eight days and 300 miles long journey, passing by numerous backroads, castles, and other forgotten sights along the way. While riding through towns such as Oxford, Gloucester, Monmouth, and Carmarthen, he shows how easy it is to leave London by bike for an unforgettable cycling adventure.

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3. Fiesta: a journey through festivity

What happens when you mix topics such as anthropology, history, psychology, and folklore? In Daniel Stables’ Fiesta; a journey through festivity, festivals around the globe are highlighted and analysed from different points of view, leading to an interesting overview of an eclectic collection of festivities.

From drunken pilgrimages to sacrificial funerals, national days to neo-pagan necromancy, the author covers it all. Through his work as a travel journalist, Stables was able to experience the festivals in person and to identify global links between the most particular of events. Whether you read this purely out of interest or to define your next travel destination, it is undoubtedly an interesting pageturner.

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Uma publicação partilhada por Daniel Stables | Travel Writer (@danstabs)

4. Women Travel Solo: 30 Inspiring Stories of Adventure, Curiosity and the Power of Self-Discovery

Solo travel is one of the most enriching journeys one can experience but it can also be a daunting thing to do. In Lonely Planet’s Women Travel Solo: 30 Inspiring Stories of Adventure, Curiosity and the Power of Self-Discovery, 30 inspirational stories from solo travelling women show how beautiful and empowering of an experience solo travel can be.

Through first-person accounts, women talk about hiking the Huemul Circuit in Patagonia, meeting the Reindeer Herders of Mongolia, hitchhiking in Mesopotamia, and more. They share their best tips for embarking on your own solo adventure, from successfully eating out on your own to staying safe in unknown territory.

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Uma publicação partilhada por Justine (@justines_books)

5. The Sound of Many Waters: A Journey Along the River Tay

While you might not have heard of the River Tay before, it has the widest catchment area of any river in Britain. A large network of lochs, water bodies and smaller streams all come together in the mighty river, meandering through its surroundings as a common thread.

In The Sound of Many Waters: A Journey Along the River Tay, Robin Crawford takes us on a personal and a historical journey with the River Tay as a central theme. From the gold-panners on the river Cononish to Beatrix Potter’s holiday home near Dunkeld, all are connected through the same waters.

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Extra: Dear New York

While this book is only scheduled to appear in October, we could not not include Brandon Stanton’s newest title in this list. Stanton, also known as the man behind the now famous Humans of New York Facebook page and book, once again dives into New York’s soul and secrets in Dear New York.

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With over 500 full-color pages of portraits and stories from every corner of the city, 75% of which have never seen the light of day before, Stanton takes his readers on a surprising, moving, and more-meaningful-than-ever journey through New York. One to pre-order as soon as possible.

L’article 5 new travel books to start exploring this summer est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

1. The Dirty Duck, Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK

Stratford-Upon-Avon is Shakespeare’s birthplace and where his family lived while he was away putting on plays in London. The home of the Royal Shakespeare Company, the town has built a raging tourist industry around the Bard. All Shakespeare fans should probably make the trip here at least once – and with the river Avon running through it, it’s an attractive place in its own right, where you might well bump into a well-known actor or two down the pub. And the pub you should head for? The Black Swan, or as it is also known, The Dirty Duck, where (trivial link alert) I once had a pint sitting next to Derek Jacobi.

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2. The Globe Theatre, London, UK

Shakespeare’s original Globe Theatre was destroyed in 1613 when – in a health and safety nightmare – a shot from a cannon during a performance of Henry VIII ignited a fire that burned the place to the ground. It was rebuilt, only to be closed and destroyed again by the Puritan government in the mid-1600s. The theatre’s foundations were discovered under a car park in 1989, complete with nutshells discarded by hungry audiences. The discovery prompted The Globe to be reconstructed nearby and it was re-opened in 1997. Let’s hope cannons and Puritans are kept well away. And if you can’t make it to The Globe, why not make a celebratory cake (like this amazing one a friend made for me) instead?

3. Verona, Italy

Can any city in the world compete with the romantic credentials of Verona, with its medieval old town the setting for Romeo and Juliet’s star-crossed love affair? Shakespeare’s play about the rival Montague and Capulet families has many inspirations. Dante was the first person to write about a dispute in Verona between two families called Montecci and Cappelletti. These days the Casa de Giuletta, the Cappelletti family home since the 13^th century, is a place of pilgrimage for lovers from all over the world. It boasts a balcony and a statue of Juliet whose right breast has been polished to a patina by visitors who like to feel her up. Hmm, perhaps there are more romantic destinations after all?

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4. Elgin, Scotland

Poor old Macbeth. He was the rightful Lord of Moray, who defeated invading King Duncan thereby inheriting the Scottish throne. He went on to rule peacefully and mostly unopposed for 17 years. Yet Shakespeare portrayed him as the bloodthirsty and ambitious Thane of Cawdor, a merciless killer and failed monarch. If you’re in the neighbourhood of Inverness, Scotland, you won’t be far from Cawdor Castle, a beautiful 14^th century fortress with woodland trails and gardens, that sadly has no historical connection to the real Macbeth. For a more authentic experience, head east to Elgin. I fell in love with this town when I was researching my novel, Sea of Bones. Elgin’s atmospheric ruined cathedral is known as the Lantern of the North. And just to the north east is the site of Macbeth’s victory over invading King Duncan.

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5. Kronborg Castle, Helsingor, Denmark

Guarding the Oresund, a narrow stretch of water between Denmark and Sweden, sits Kronborg Castle. Its guns pointed at the water, the fortress just north of Helsingor (or Elsinore in English), was famous in the late 1500s for collecting taxes from passing ships and controlling the entrance to the Baltic. It was in this notorious spot that Shakespeare chose to set Hamlet, his adaptation of the Norse legend of Amleth, about a young Prince whose evil uncle murdered his father and married his mother. In Kronborg in 1816, on the 200^th anniversary of the Bard’s death, the play was performed with a cast of soldiers from the castle garrison.

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6. Harfleur, France

After a series of outrageous demands and failed negotiations to rival Brexit, Henry V of England invaded France in the summer of 1415 and laid a month-long siege to the town of Harfleur. His troops were ravaged by dysentery, but they held their siege of the town’s defences. Shakespeare portrays King Henry as, let’s say, searching for his leadership style. In a rousing speech, Henry urges his troops to keep going with their attempt to take Harfleur through a gap, or ‘breach’ in its walls: ‘Once more unto the breach my friends,’ he cries.

A visit to Harfleur today reveals an attractive coastal town with a historic castle on the north lip of the mouth of the river Seine as it spills into the Channel. Breach the Seine and you’ll find Honfleur on the south side of the estuary, known for a harbour that has captivated many artists.

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7. Sicily, Italy

Heading further south again, much further, into the Mediterranean, we reach Sicily, where much of the key action of A Winter’s Tale takes place. In the play, the King of Bohemia visits his childhood friend, the King of Sicily, and finds himself accused of having an affair with his friend’s wife. Tragedy strikes as a result and the rather sassy Sicilian Queen seems to collapse and die. It takes an intervention from the Oracle to set the record straight, and, in one of the strangest episodes in Shakespeare, the Queen re-appears years later as an uncannily realistic statue – which comes back to life. Sicily is ram-packed with ancient ruins of castles and imperial villas where you can wander imagining you are a visitor to the King’s court. And for the full ‘Winter’s Tale’ experience, you must visit the paleontological site Grotta San Teodoro in Acquedolci (Messina). A 13,000-year-old female skeleton was found here, perfectly preserved in clay, in the 1940s.

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8. Cleopatra’s Palace, Egypt

Shakespeare’s Cleopatra is one of his most memorable female roles, a powerful and mesmerisingly beautiful Egyptian ruler who captured the heart and mind of Rome’s Marc Anthony. Experienced and novice divers alike can make the descent into the Royal Quarter of the Eastern Harbour of Alexandria to glimpse ancient underwater relics belonging to Cleopatra’s palace. Swim among large sphinxes and red-granite columns that were sunk by an earthquake and tsunami in around the 4^th century AD and astonishingly not rediscovered until the 1990s.

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9. Oregon Shakespeare Festival, USA

Founded in 1935, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival runs from February to October, offering 850 matinée and evening performances across at least three theatre spaces, including a reconstructed Globe. Nearby lakes, woodland, white water and mountain scenery offer a different type of spectacle if you tire of watching people treading the boards.

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10. Anywhere wild pansies grow, Eurasia and North America

Of course, this year you probably won’t be able to travel far to pay homage to Shakespeare. So why not simply take a walk and see if you can spot a wild pansy? This delicate flower gets a famous mention in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It grows everywhere – from grasslands to wastelands, coasts and inland. Also known as heartsease and love-in-idleness, it is the flower Oberon instructs his fairy servant Puck to find so its juices can be applied to Titania’s eyelids, making her fall in love with the next thing she sees.

L’article Celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday with these 10 travel ideas est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

For this edition, the organisers chose to explore a more metaphysical dimension of the theme, moving beyond Edgar Allan Poe’s ghostly motifs. Together, authors from around the world pushed the boundaries of space and time, uncovering the hidden depths of history and contemplating uncertain visions of the future. Each book, each narrative, summoned echoes of the past, revealing the innermost thoughts of the writers and illuminating the shadows of the future.

With 70 different events across the city centre of Brussels, Passa Porta welcomed 10,000 visitors, who had the chance to engage with more than 100 writers and artists. The festival allowed story lovers to experience the richness of literature in three different languages: French, Dutch, and English. Literary enthusiasts could also explore events of various nature, including writing workshops, readings, interviews, panel discussions, and performances. 

The festival introduced to the audience Tine Høeg, who presented her latest novel Memorial, 29 June following the story of the main character who was invited to a memorial. As the story unfolds, the novel delves into the hidden secrets from the protagonist’s past, examining how she grapples with the ghosts of her history and her relationship with them.

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Публикация от Tine Høeg (@tinehoeg)

Additionally, Høeg is the author of the novel Sult which in English translates to Hunger. Earlier in 2025, the novel came to life on Netflix, in the form of A Copenhagen Love Story. “It was a completely new work, but it still captured the nerve of my novel. Even though it wasn’t the same, I still think they kept the essence of the book,” said Høeg.

Høeg also explained that she wasn’t involved in the movie, adding that according to her somebody with more experience should have been doing it. “I was helping a little. And it is a big gift as a writer to see your novels being translated to different languages but also transformed into a different world,” concluded the author.

Another standout moment was a discussion on war, explored through the perspectives of writers Karim Kattan and Andriy Lyubka. They spoke on topics such as love, war, and borders. Lyubka discussed his 2015 novel Carbide, describing it as “funny and full of absurdity”. He emphasised the role of humour in Ukrainian culture, citing the influence of Voltaire’s satire. In contrast, Kattan spoke about his novel L’Éden à l’aube, a “passionate love story” between Gabriel and Isaac. The Palestinian author explained his choice of a non-human narrator – the sky – which allowed him to creatively explore character dynamics.

Thanks to Passa Porta, audiences were also introduced to emerging voices from Eastern Europe, including Iulian Bocai from Romania, Marta Hermanowicz from Poland, and Myroslav Lauik from Ukraine. These authors were joined by their Dutch translators, with whom they had formed close bonds, according to programme manager Piet Joostens. Each author read excerpts from their books in their native language, accompanied by Dutch translations.

This exchange is part of a larger effort to bridge literary cultures. “We are members of CELA (Connecting Emerging Literary Artists), and this is a fantastic four-year programme designed to connect writers, literary translators, literary organizations, and literary professionals from Spain to Ukraine, especially for languages that are not very connected to literary markets yet,’ said Joostens opening the discussion.

Hermanowicz, for instance, discussed her book Koniec (The End) which explores the impact of war through the lens of intergenerational memory. “It is a metaphysical journey where the timelines blur and dreams are intertwined with reality,” said Hermanowicz. The story follows a sensitive child who begins experiencing her grandmother’s dreams filled with memories of pre-war Poland, the outbreak of World War II, and the subsequent deportations to Siberia. “What’s even more important is that the past and the dreams are mirroring the reality of the main character and very similar situations start to happen in her real life,” explained the author.

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Beyond the panels and interviews, literary enthusiasts could visit the free programme that included the literary oracle, a queer writing workshop, a zine publishing workshop as well as a Drink & Draw, all revolving around the topics of ghosts. Additionally, in collaboration with different partners, the festival also brought art projects and open mics to a wide audience. The Literary Oracle gave people the opportunity to speak in the future and see what life has in store for them as skilled oracles gave card readings and analysis. Those interested could stop by Hotel Continental and get a glimpse of what ghosts would haunt their future.

The festival drew to a close on Sunday, 30 March, at the Brussels City Hall, where the unveiling of the new Poet of Belgium marked the end of the eerie weekend. A two-part, bilingual performance by Lisette Lombé and her successor Ruth Lasters, was the culmination of a weekend full of literary intricacies. 

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Публикация от Haus für Poesie (@hausfuerpoesie)

“The success of the 10^th edition of the Passa Porta festival proves the need for new stories and ideas in these times,” said Hendrik Tratsaert, director of Passa Porta in a press release. 

This is one of the reasons why ghost stories are so fascinating. They are not always about poltergeists, but really about how people perceive the world we live in and how we overcome complex matters such as war, loss, and the past.

L’article Passa Porta 2025, where ghosts came to life est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The conference featured a wide array of events, including the keynote speech delivered by acclaimed author and cultural critic Roxane Gay. Her exploration of modern feminism and social criticism set an inspiring tone for the conference. With 375 in-person events, over 50 hours of virtual programming, and more than 500 exhibitors, AWP25 offered visitors unique opportunities to connect with the literary community.

This year’s edition held special significance as Los Angeles continued to recover from the devastating fires that spread over the region earlier this year. In the wake of the devastating damages, the state’s tourism agency Visit California called for support from tourists around the world to help communities there rebuild. “We are all still processing the devastation wrought by the Los Angeles wildfires and the impact they had on the people and communities of LA, and those that love them,” Visit California President & CEO Caroline Beteta said in a statement.

“We are truly moved by the outpouring of support seen throughout this tragedy,” the tourism agency said. “From Angelenos volunteering their time and local restaurants opening their doors with free meals to the state’s tourism industry organizing donations and hotel discounts for evacuees. When the going gets tough, Californians rally together. Now we’re counting on you.”

In that context, AWP incorporated several initiatives aimed at supporting recovery efforts. On 26 March, the AWP Awards Reception & Benefit for LA Fire Recovery was hosted by author and actress Amber Tamblyn. The reception supported ‘Arts for LA’, a nonprofit advocacy organisation dedicated to promoting equitable and vibrant communities through the arts. Attendees had the opportunity to contribute directly to wildfire relief efforts, demonstrating the literary community’s commitment to helping those affected.

“We’ve brought our literary community together to celebrate and support the city amidst these challenging times,” said Interim Executive Director Michelle Aielli. “With a dynamic lineup of programming and featured events, we offered a meaningful and memorable experience for all attendees.”

The Bookfair, a central component of the conference, showcased hundreds of exhibitors, including independent presses, literary journals, and creative writing programmes. This marketplace not only provided a platform for literary organisations but also stimulated local businesses and tourism, as attendees explored the diverse cultural offerings of Los Angeles.

AWP’s mission is to amplify the voices of writers and the institutions that support them, while championing diversity and excellence in creative writing. The annual conference is the largest literary event in the US, welcoming approximately 10,000 attendees. Hosting the AWP Conference in Los Angeles during this period underscored the vital role of the arts in healing and rebuilding communities. The influx of visitors provided a boost to local businesses, hotels, and restaurants, contributing to the revitalisation of the local economy.

L’article Los Angeles’ resilience flies high by hosting largest literary event in the US est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Since the publication of the first Asterix comic in 1959, the Gaul and his trusty friend have embarked on many adventures. However, the team behind the series has evolved over time. Asterix in Lusitania will be the second album written by Fabrice Caro (aka Fabcaro), following his work on Asterix and the White Iris in 2023. Meanwhile, cartoonist Didier Conrad will bring the story to life with his illustrations for the seventh consecutive time.

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Keeping in touch with its origins

To maintain a connection with its roots, the new album will feature a callback to The Mansions of the Gods, a story originally created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. Few details have been shared so far, but according to Fabcaro, a Lusitanian slave will seek help from Asterix and Obelix in 44 BC.

“I wanted a country with sunshine, where Asterix has never been,” said Fabcaro in an interview with The Associated Press (AP).

The temporary cover of the album has already been revealed, along with its official publication date: 23 October 2025. The comic will initially be printed in 5 million copies and will be available in French and 18 other languages.

Cap sur la Lusitanie !

Astérix et Obélix iront au Portugal dans le prochain album https://t.co/VnnL73tDcX

— Hachette France (@Hachette_France) March 17, 2025

Lusitania: : The ancient land of Portugal

On the cover, Asterix, Obelix, and their smallest companion, Dogmatix, can be seen standing on one of Lisbon’s famous paved sidewalks. According to Didier Conrad, choosing Portugal as the setting for the new album was an obvious decision. Although it will be the first time Asterix and Obelix visit the country, the comic series has always been translated from French into Portuguese first, making it a natural choice. Fabcaro noted that while it is easy to lean into clichés when depicting a foreign country, the team has approached them with kindness.

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Lusitania was an ancient Iberian Roman province, covering much of present-day Portugal (south of the Douro River) and a small section of southwest Spain (including the provinces of Extremadura and Salamanca). The name Lusitania was derived from the Lusitanians, an Indo-European tribe inhabiting the region at the time. The Romans first arrived in Lusitania in the second century BC, shaping its culture and history in ways that still resonate today.

Asterix fans worldwide are excited to travel through history once again as the latest instalment arrives in October 2025.

L’article New ‘Asterix in Lusitania’ comic will take place in Portugal est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Imagine yourself dancing at a ball, sitting at her writing desk, strolling through lush green valleys hoping to stumble upon Mr Darcy, playing the pianoforte, or gathering for tea and gossip with your family while crocheting? With a little planning, you can experience the Austen magic beyond the pages of her novels.

The festivities began in January with a grand ball in Bath, capturing the essence of her novels. If you missed it, do not worry, more balls are planned throughout spring and summer, for as Catherine Morland remarked in Northanger Abbey, “Oh! Who can be ever tired of Bath?” or, indeed, of balls. The Jane Austen Festival in Bath, scheduled for September, will feature a Grand Regency Costumed Promenade and theatrical performances.

She began to curl her hair and long for balls.

Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

The real Austen was more of a homebird herself, “Ah! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort.” So, you will want to start your Austen journey by visiting Chawton House, described by Austen to her sister Cassandra, “Everybody is acquainted with Chawton and speaks of it as a remarkably pretty village & everybody knows the House we describe.” Travel by train and discover the emerald-green valleys of the English countryside, the very same landscapes Austen has herself admired during her carriage journeys and vividly described in her writings. The cottage, given by her brother to their mother in 1809, is now the Jane Austen House Museum and will host festivals throughout 2025. Pride and Prejudice has already been honoured, but events celebrating Emma, Sense and Sensibility, and Persuasion are forthcoming.

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Get inspired by Austen’s writing desk, given by her father, which has returned to Southampton for the first time in 200 years. But do hurry, as it will only be on display at God’s House Tower – just a block from her former home – until 21 February 2025. You may combine this visit with an evening at the theatre to see Pride and Prejudice (sort of), an Olivier Award-winning comedy adaptation, which will be playing in June at the Criterion Theatre. Thankfully, not in Southampton’s long-gone theatre, which Austen dismissed in a letter to her sister Cassandra: “Martha ought to see the inside of the Theatre once while she lives in Southampton & I hardly think she will wish to take a second view.”

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Austen wrote her first drafts Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Northanger Abbey while in Steventon. The village will honour her with events including a flower festival and a historical exhibition in the village hall. Her love for nature is reflected in the Overton Jane Austen Trails, echoing Emma’s description: “It was a sweet view – sweet to the eye and the mind. English verdure, English culture, English comfort, seen under a sun bright, without being oppressive.” The Vyne and Willis Museum will host special events.

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Winchester, where Austen spent her final years, will hold theatre performances, tours, and services, including the unveiling of a Jane Austen statue in Winchester Cathedral. The city’s museum will feature a permanent display marking her final days and her house will open to the public from 8 June 2025. Hopefully, the sun will have received its invitation, but if not, Austen’s concluding line of her humorous poem about Winchester Races, written in her final days, will resonate even more: “The curse upon Venta is July in showers.”

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Beyond these major events, themed literary festivals throughout the year will celebrate Austen’s works with readings, performances, and workshops. Whether you are a devoted fan or new to her works, these celebrations offer a chance to step into Austen’s world and experience her genius firsthand.

L’article Best locations to explore in 2025 for Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

1. On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer by Rick Steves

Rick Steves has been a name to remember within the travel industry for years and so one might wonder what sparked his travel urge in the first place. Fans can get a look into his mind with this book, reading journal passages from a young Rick and getting glimpses of his first travels through his very own shots.

“In the 1970s, the ultimate trip for any backpacker was the storied “Hippie Trail” from Istanbul to Kathmandu. A 23-year old Rick Steves made the trek, and like a travel writer in training, he documented everything along the way: jumping off a moving train, making friends in Tehran, getting lost in Lahore, getting high for the first time in Herat, battling leeches in Pokhara, and much more. The experience ignited his love of travel and forever broadened his perspective on the world,” the book’s description says.

2. The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World by William Dalrymple

Even though there’s a difference between travel and history, both domains often collide. Those who are eager to get to know a new destination can’t but learn about the country’s past, giving an insight into its current culture. William Dalrymple dives deep into India’s legacy, opening a whole new world to his readers.

“For a millennium and a half, India was a confident exporter of its diverse civilisation, creating around it a vast empire of ideas. Indian art, religions, technology, astronomy, music, dance, literature, mathematics and mythology blazed a trail across the world, along a Golden Road that stretched from the Red Sea to the Pacific,” the book’s description says.

3. Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane

When a book’s title asks a question, you better answer it as an author. And Robert Macfarlane does so in style. He combines his love for nature with a swift pen, making readers aware of ecological problems while also allowing them a moment of literary joy.

“Is a River Alive? is a joyous exploration into an ancient, urgent idea: that rivers are living beings who should be recognised as such in imagination and law. Macfarlane takes readers on three unforgettable journeys teeming with extraordinary people and places: to the miraculous cloud-forests and mountain streams of Ecuador, to the wounded creeks and lagoons of India, and to the spectacular wild rivers of Canada—imperilled by mining, pollution, and dams. Braiding these journeys is the life story of the fragile chalk stream a mile from Macfarlane’s house, which flows through his own years and days,” the book’s description says.

4. See the World by Train: 80 Unforgettable Railway Adventures Across the Globe by Jean-Baptiste Bonaventure

Most travellers who enjoy a bit of adventure will agree that travelling by train allows you to see the landscape from an entirely different, unique perspective. If you’re still doubting about your next train journey or if you just want to mentally escape reality for a bit, Jean-Baptiste Bonaventure’s newest book is perfect for you.

“From the Orient Express in mainland Europe to the Taurus Express in Turkey, passing by the California Zephyr in the US and the Argentinian Tren a las Nubes, this book takes you on epic adventures across the globe. Divided by continent, each highly readable entry includes a detailed map, anecdotes of the history of the line, and stunning photography of the landscapes met along the way,” the book’s description says.

5. Venezia by Alejandro Merizalde and Luis Pérez-Oramas

Talking about escaping, Venezia is yet another book allowing you to mentally travel to a destination, whether you’ve been there or not. The often gloomy, misty pictures of one of the world’s most famous cities shows you another, lesser-known face of the La Serenissima.

“Alejandro Merizalde began photographing in Venice in 2008. In his early visits he found the city stiflingly overcrowded, but during a brief winter trip a few years later, the overcast skies and foggy atmosphere allowed him to draw out Venice’s legendary beauty without the disruptions of mass tourism. In 2013 he started experimenting with longer exposures to eliminate the distractions of human activity and enable him to concentrate on his architectural compositions. This shift in approach was gradual, but it helped him realise that he was no longer interested in recording iconic features like St Mark’s Basilica, the Bridge of Sighs and the gondola, to name a few. From then on, he dropped the predictable locations and buildings and trained his lens on the Venice lagoon and areas of the city where Venetians actually spend their lives,” the book’s description says.

6. Improbable Islands: An atlas of unlikely places by Alastair Bennett

Islands are a particular thing. Whether they’re natural or man-made, isolated or close to shore: they always are an out-of-the-ordinary place. Bonnett takes us on a journey, discovering 33 different islands, all with their own story and all making us want to travel.

“Dive into a captivating exploration of 33 of the world’s most unique and enigmatic islands, each with its own compelling story. This visually stunning book is divided into four sections, each revealing a different facet of these extraordinary locales: strange, scary, remote, robesons, naturally. Each chapter is a voyage into islands of wonder and mystery, offering a unique perspective on our planet’s most intriguing and lesser-known corners. Whether it’s an exploration of ambitious human endeavours or natural marvels, this book is a visual and narrative feast for the curious traveller,” the book’s description says.

7. An Inconvenience of Penguins by Jamie Lafferty

Penguins might be some of the most extraordinary birds on Earth and many of us are immediately under their charm when seeing them. Yet what do we know about the species? Travel writer Jamie Lafferty takes readers on a journey across the globe, visiting all 18 species of penguins, telling the world’s tale through them.

“From getting stranded in the Galapagos to marching through African guano fields, and leading photography groups in the Antarctic to taking psychedelics on the Falklands, this is a birding quest like no other. Along the way Lafferty relives the experiences of early polar explorers, for who penguins were perplexing mysteries, welcome companions and even occasional meals, and meets the modern penguin lovers trying to save their fragile environments,” the book’s description says.

L’article 7 travel books to look forward to in 2025 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

American business magnate, software developer, philanthropist, and co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates has compiled his top five books to keep us warm during the winter season. Focusing on making sense of the world is a theme in every book on his list, recommending readers to explore pressing concepts and ideas of politics, infrastructure, and AI.

These are the books that Gates has picked to take us through space and time, focusing on past, present, and future as, in his words, “it’s natural to try and wrap your head around things during times of rapid change, like we’re living through now.”

1. The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt

Gates recommends this read for anyone teaching, raising, or working with young people these days. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that has hit many countries at the same time. He also investigates the nature of childhood, including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into competent adults, why social media damages girls more than boys and why boys have been withdrawing from the real world into the virtual world. Gates stated that he appreciated that Haidt “doesn’t just lay out the problem – he offers real solutions that are worth considering.”

2. An Unfinished Love Story, by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Being a fan of Doris’s books, Gates dived into the autobiographical read head-on. The book highlights her life with her late husband Richard Goodwin, who worked as a policy advisor and speechwriter for Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson during a particularly tumultuous period in recent American history. This biography skilfully intertwines her personal love story with the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the Vietnam War.

3. The Coming Wave, by Mustafa Suleyman

Mustafa Suleyman’s deep understanding of scientific history allows him to give an in-depth explanation of artificial intelligence. As Gates noted, “he offers the best explanation I’ve seen yet of how artificial intelligence is poised to reshape every aspect of society.” This book is also a warning of the unprecedented risks that AI and other fast-developing technologies pose to global order. In this read, Suleyman shows how these forces can create both immense prosperity but also threaten the nation-state.

4. Engineering in Plain Sight, by Grady Hillhouse

Engineering in Plain Sight extends the field guide genre from natural phenomena to human-made structures such as cable boxes, transformers, or even cell phones making, them approachable and understandable to non-engineers. It changes readers’ perspectives of the built environment, converting the act of looking at infrastructure from a mundane inevitability into an everyday diversion and joy.

5. Federer, by Doris Henkel

This book is not for everyone. But it is the perfect read for anyone who is a fan of Roger Federer. This is a retrospective of his life and career, giving tennis enthusiasts a better overview of his journey. Gates explained that even though he thought he knew much about Federer, this book allowed him to learn “a ton, especially about his early years.” Moreover, the book is rich of visuals, making it a special treat for tennis fans.

L’article 5 books to read this winter, according to Bill Gates est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.