In 80 books around the world

When Haus published its first Armchair Traveller in 2005 we chose a very special location for the launch: commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of Jules Verne who lets Phileas Fogg place his bet, that it is possible to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days, in the Reform Club we decided to do the same. In the glorious library of that London club I promised the assembled crowd that we would publish 80 books which would enable everybody to travel around the world without living the comfort of their armchair. 

I am pleased to say that we are almost there: we have published 29 of these very distinctive (almost) square books so far, we have added a few paperbacks (easier to carry) and some beautifully linen-bound gift books to the mix and let our authors take us up rivers, across oceans, over mountains and along some seriously dusty paths. We have searched for Eden, went on the Hajj and reached the end of the earth. And it was always them, our authors, who had to do the hard work: they got sea-sick, stung by the mosquitoes or had to nurse their blisters along the way. Their descriptions made it possible that we could smell the spices, taste fish and hear the muezzin  as if we had been there ourselves. As one of them put it: read journeys are often more vivid and always less dusty.

And in order to speed us along the way around the world I have enlisted the help of some publishing friends: first came the American University in Cairo Press, who added world-class literature from the Arab world to the mix. And then Barnaby Rogerson introduced me to his wonderful series 'Poetry of Place'. When our friends from Arris Publishing let us have some of their marvelous Traveller's History books I decided to rearrange the bookHaus and group the books on the shelves by country. And by continents, of course, if we count Antarctica and the Liquid Continent as Nicholas Woodsworth called the Mediterranean. Don't forget the oceans, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 

If you are going away - you lucky devil! - I think I will have a book on your destination to slip into your travel bag. If you have just returned from the trip of a lifetime you might enjoy reminiscing with a book about your dream destination. Or alternatively, if you have decided to stay at home, mindful of your carbon footprint, then do come to the bookHaus, sit in the Armchair which inspired the series, have an espresso on the Haus (pardon the pun) and let your eyes do the traveling. In 80 books around the world!