'Thus fear of danger is ten thousand times more terrifying than danger itself.’

Who has not dreamed of life on an exotic isle, far away from civilisation? Here is the novel which has inspired countless imitations by lesser writers, none of which equal the power and originality of Defoe's famous book. Robinson Crusoe, set ashore on an island after a terrible storm at sea, is forced to make do with only a knife, some tobacco, and a pipe. He learns how to build a canoe, make bread, and endure endless solitude. That is, until, twenty-four years later, when he confronts another human being. First published in 1719, Robinson Crusoe has been praised by such writers as James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, and Samuel Johnson as one of the greatest novels in the English language.

Why Novel North recommends

'Based on the real life Scottish castaway Alexander Selkirk, Robinson Crusoe is rich in detail and believable. It’s both considered and insightful, and reflects the contemplations of those of us who’ve pondered how we would survive marooned on an island. It rightly deserves its consideration as one of the most the famous adventure stories written.'

Author : Daniel Defoe 

Edition : Penguin Clothbound Classic, Hardback, 288 pages

ISBN : 9780141393407

Weight: 403g
Dimensions: 204 x 138 x 29mm

23 Spellbinding Ways to Make Nature More Visible

We're not just losing the wild world. We're forgetting it. We're no longer noticing it. We've lost the habit of looking and seeing and listening and hearing.

But we can make hidden things visible, and this book features 23 spellbinding ways to bring the magic of nature much closer to home.

Mammals you never knew existed will enter your world. Birds hidden in treetops will shed their cloak of anonymity. With a single movement of your hand you can make reptiles appear before you. Butterflies you never saw before will bring joy to every sunny day. Creatures of the darkness will enter your consciousness. And as you take on new techniques and a little new equipment, you will discover new creatures and, with them, new areas of yourself that had gone dormant. Once put to use, they wake up and start working again. You become wilder in your mind and in your heart. Once you know the tricks, the wild world begins to appear before you.

For anyone who wants to get closer to the nature all around them and bring it back into focus, this is the perfect read.

Author : Simon Barnes

Edition : Simon and Schuster, Hardback / Paperback, 208 pages

ISBN : 9781471175404 / 9781471175428

Published : 1st November 2018 / 1st June 2020

Weight: 331g / 191g
Dimensions: 135 x 216 x 19mm / 130 x 198 x 15 mm

Storm Dunlop, a world renowned weather expert shares an introductory guide on how to read the weather, from the everyday to the dramatic. If you’re one for outdoor adventures, this is a great book to have to hand!

Author : Storm Dunlop

Edition : Paperback, 176 pages

ISBN : 9781911358244

Sitting around a campfire sharing tales of adventures with friends, wrapped in a blanket, roasting marshmallows, occasionally looking to the stars as night draws in - sometimes there’s nothing more appealing. And part of that experience is having built the fire yourself.  This wonderful little book is the perfect size to carry with you (until building fires comes naturally).  It illustrates what wood to source, how to store, to choose kindling and how to build a perfect fire. 

Author : Sally Coulthard

Edition : Hardback, 208 pages

ISBN : 9781786696472