A selection of my writing

My books may seem to be about a bundle of disparate subjects, but I see strong threads between them. They’re all about size: the mighty continent of Africa, the tiny island of Pitcairn, the confined quarters of a cargo ship. They all involved an element of transformation: from young English woman to a seaman called Jella, or, as in Mary Kingsley’s case, from Victorian spinster to lady explorer. All of them have a strong sense of place, whether it’s the South Pacific or Africa. And every book – whether travel narrative, biography or history - is a journey. It has a beginning, middle and end, and a rough route to get you there.

Browse through the book titles, each has an introduction and an excerpt. Some include audio too.