The Inn Crowd
A captivating collection of stylish getaways and the modern innkeepers who crafted themThe Inn Crowd invites readers into more than than 20 unique, stylish independent inns across the Northeastern United States. These charming and gracious properties aren't just places to stay - they are dreams realized, reflecting the innkeepers' creativity, ingenuity, and drive.Ranging from quaint escapes to luxurious retreats, the one-of-a-kind spaces are a testament to the vision and passion of the innkeepers behind them. Featured inns include The George, beauty mogul Bobbi Brown's hotel in a landmarked Georgian Revival building; Glenmere Mansion, a stunning Gilded Age estate restored and transformed into a luxury resort; The Inn at Kenmore Hall, the exceedingly handsome white-columned guesthouse co-owned by Frank Muytjens, former head of menswear at J.Crew; Inns of Aurora, the veritable village of historic properties assembled by Pleasant Rowland, creator of the American Girl doll; and Long Island's Silver Sands, a beloved midcentury motel reinvented as a modern beach club. Lushly illustrated with more than 250 evocative photographs and featuring lively profiles of the innkeepers themselves, The Inn Crowd invites readers to experience firsthand these unforgettable destinations.
Mark Twain's Homes and Literary Tourism
A century after Samuel Clemens's death, Mark Twain thrives. One way fans still celebrate the first true American writer and his work is by visiting any number of Mark Twain destinations. They believe they can learn something unique by visiting the places where he lived. Mark Twain's Homes and Literary Tourism untangles the complicated ways that Clemens's houses, now museums, have come to tell the stories that they do about Twain and, in the process, reminds us that the sites themselves are the products of multiple agendas and, in some cases, unpleasant histories. Hilary Iris Lowe leads us through four Twain homes, beginning at the beginning--Florida, Missouri, where Clemens was born. Today the site is simply a concrete pedestal missing its bust, a plaque, and an otherwise-empty field. Though the original cabin where he was born likely no longer exists, Lowe treats us to an overview of the history of the area and the state park challenged with somehow marking this site. Next, we travel with Lowe to Hannibal, Missouri, Clemens's childhood home, which he saw become a tourist destination in his own lifetime. Today mannequins remind visitors of the man that the boy who lived there became and the literature that grew out of his experiences in the house and little town on the Mississippi. Hartford, Connecticut, boasts one of Clemens's only surviving adulthood homes, the house where he spent his most productive years. Lowe describes the house's construction, its sale when the high cost of living led the family to seek residence abroad, and its transformation into the museum. Lastly, we travel to Elmira, New York, where Clemens spent many summers with his family at Quarry Farm. His study is the only room at this destination open to the public, and yet, tourists follow in the footsteps of literary pilgrim Rudyard Kipling to see this small space. Literary historic sites pin their authority on the promise of exclusive insight into authors and texts through firsthand experience. As tempting as it is to accept the authenticity of Clemens's homes, Mark Twain's Homes and Literary Tourism argues that house museums are not reliable critical texts but are instead carefully constructed spaces designed to satisfy visitors. This volume shows us how these houses' portrayals of Clemens change frequently to accommodate and shape our own expectations of the author and his work.
The Passenger: Thailand
Fully-illustrated, The Passenger collects the best new writing, photography, art and reportage from around the world.  IN THIS VOLUME: Buddhism, the State, and Superpowers by Pitchaya Sudbanthad - The Country of Spirits by Emma Larkin - Monarchy Under Attack by Claudio Sopranzetti - plus: soft power and the working class, the heart of rural Thailand and the separatism of the southern peninsula, the success of Boy Love, the palm oil scandal, and much more...  Thailand's recent history has been marked by political turbulence, with palace coups, intrigue, attempted revolution, restoration, and democratic elections. In this complex democracy, the working class, progressives, and young urban professionals push for reforms, often clashing with landowners and business elites. While Thailand is perceived as permissive and tolerant, it hides a conservative core. Yet, one of its main cultural exports is Boy Love stories, romantic tales featuring male protagonists, whose success epitomises a cultural revolution that is boosting the country's entertainment industry and soft power. Behind Thailand's glittering image, exemplified by Bangkok--the world's most visited city in 2023--lie rural regions like Isaan, far from typical tourist paths. These areas reflect the country's diverse and complex identity and reveal that, despite government efforts to impose cultural uniformity, Thailand's true strength still lies in its ability to embrace diversity and syncretism.
Constantinople and the Scenery of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor
Constantinople and the Scenery of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor
