Incredible Journeys: Discovery, Adventure, Danger, Endurance

Levison Wood is a well-known, award-winning writer and his passion and energy for exploring shines through this book from cover to cover. The 20 marvellous expeditions described here are very varied and detailed. We set off with information about our ancestors 60,000 years ago, take in the Egyptians, Alexander the Great, the Silk Road, the Hajj, before looking at Christopher Columbus and Captain James Cook to name a couple of famous explorers. The softback ends with journeys to the Poles, Mount Everest, Space, and finally James Cameron’s Deepsea Challenge Expedition!

One of the many strengths of this volume is the blend of famous names with lesser-known explorers. This keeps readers of all ages keenly interested and the inclusion of plenty of female characters ensures a great balance. Two full pages are given over to Zheng He, the Unknown Traveller (pp.28-29) and I was eager to learn about Nellie Bly, an American journalist who travelled around the world in 1889, reporting on faraway places and communicating her discoveries by telegraph and post. There is something in this book for everyone and the reader is left feeling as though they have been on the voyage with Levison.

The illustrated maps showing the routes of explorers are a key part of the publication and contribute greatly to its success. Colourful illustrations are clearly labelled for the young reader and help to make the stories come alive.

If, like me, you enjoy armchair travelling with lots of excitement then this is the perfect book! However, it is aimed at young people who have lots of their own exploring still to do and will be encouraged here to set off on new adventures far and wide. I would recommend it for ages 9 upwards and hope I have whetted your appetite to get involved in this interesting voyage covering widespread parts of our planet and beyond.