Herb Lester Associates

At the time of his death at the age of 46 from intestinal cancer, the horror fiction writer H. P. Lovecraft (1890-1937) was practically unknown. Nearly a century later, he has millions of readers, bestselling authors including Stephen King sing his praises, and fantasy filmmakers such as Guillermo del Toro echo them. Lovecraft is now a recognised 'classic', a not infrequent destiny for writers whose genius only becomes apparent after their death. In this guide, we document the real worls places that were inspiration for his fictional towns Arkham, Innsmouth, Dunwich and Kingsport; his own residences and his restless wanderings along the Eastern seaboard. As some of his protagonists do, Lovecraft engaged in a kind of time travel, seeking out the remnants of the pre-Revolutionary War, colonial America that he felt was his true homeland.

Few writers are as inextricably linked with a city as Raymond Chandler and Los Angeles. The neon-lit streets, mobbed-up joints and seedy rooming houses portrayed in his fiction were real places, familiar to Angelenos of the time, and in some cases recognisable today. This is a guide to the world of Raymond Chandler and his noble alter-ego, the private detective Philip Marlowe. It mixes locations from the books, the films and Chandler's personal life. There's the crummy dive where Moose Malloy went looking for Velma; the actual lounge where Marlowe and Terry Lennox ordered gimlets; the top-floor suite where oil executive Chandler got his priceless education in how a dirty, sun-drenched city really operated. This is the Los Angeles that Raymond Chandler carried in his heart. And now, you can too.

A return visit to Denmark's capital with this city guide that unfolds to reveal the soul of this vibrant Scandinavian hub. The entries offer a window into Copenhagen's diverse attractions. From the refreshing harbour waters of Bolgen to the historic streets of Istedgade, the guide paints a vivid picture of the city's evolution and current vibrancy. Food enthusiasts will appreciate tips on where to savour traditional smorrebrod, while culture seekers can discover venues such as Vega, a modernist concert hall that's hosted legends like David Bowie and Prince. The guide doesn't shy away from Copenhagen's quirkier side, highlighting spots like Assistens Cemetery, where sunbathers mingle with history. Beyond the city centre, the publication points readers towards must-visit locations like the Louisiana art museum and the energetic Roskilde Festival. It's a comprehensive look at what makes Copenhagen tick, from its world-renowned landmarks to its hidden local gems. Let me Tell You About Copenhagen is more than just a travel guide; it's a journey through a city that effortlessly blends historical charm with contemporary cool. Whether you're planning a first visit or a return, this guide promises to reveal new facets of the Danish capital €" a city of design, food, culture, and unexpected delights, all waiting to be discovered.

This fold-out map invites readers to rediscover the joys of slow travel. It's a celebration of the long-forgotten road trip, where the journey itself is an experience to be savoured, rather than just a means to reach a destination. Across Canada's vast landscapes, from the Pacific shores to the eastern seaboard, this guide highlights quirky, monumental, and endearing attractions that dot the country's highways and byways. This is not your average travel guide. Unhurried Canada evokes nostalgia for an era when travellers embraced the open road, stopping at every odd and intriguing roadside attraction they passed. From colossal sculptures like the World's Largest Paddle in British Columbia to the towering coffee pot in Davidson, Saskatchewan, each stop brings with it a story steeped in local pride and history. The guide is an invitation to slow down, soak in the scenery, and marvel at the roadside wonders that reflect Canada's diverse heritage and playful spirit. The attractions featured are as vast and varied as the country itself. In Alberta, the world's largest dinosaur looms over the Badlands of Drumheller, reminding visitors of the region's prehistoric past. Just a few hours away, you can spot Mac the Moose in Moose Jaw, once locked in a rivalry for the title of the world's tallest moose. In Manitoba, you'll find the 1931 Rolls Royce replica, marking Steinbach's status as the "Automobile City," while in Ontario, Sudbury's Big Nickel pays homage to the city's mining history. Each landmark has its own peculiar charm, from Alberta's giant cowboy boot to the world's largest lumberjack in Ontario. Further east, in New Brunswick, the world's largest lobster looms in Shediac, a testament to the province's maritime culture and thriving lobster fishing industry. Meanwhile, Nova Scotia greets seafarers with a towering 60-foot fiddle on Sydney's waterfront, symbolizing the province's deep connection to music and culture. Crossing Canada's famed Confederation Bridge from New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island, visitors can marvel at the engineering prowess that created the world's longest bridge spanning ice-covered waters. For travellers venturing to Canada's northern reaches, landmarks like the polar bear in Churchill, Manitoba, and the beluga sculptures along the Saguenay Fjord in Quebec offer a glimpse into the country's more remote and awe-inspiring landscapes. There's even an Inukshuk in Rankin Inlet, a symbol of Canada's North and the endurance of its Indigen

This guide explores the Los Angeles of Joan Didion, one of America's most celebrated writers. It traces Didion's time in the city from 1964, when she and husband John Gregory Dunne left New York, to 1988, when they moved back east. The tour highlights over 30 locations significant to Didion's life and work, including homes, workplaces, and settings from her essays and novels. It begins at the couple's first California residence in Rancho Palos Verdes and includes their Franklin Avenue house in Hollywood, where they hosted numerous parties and raised their adopted daughter Quintana Roo. Key sites include Sunset Sound Recorders, where Didion attempted to interview Jim Morrison; the former Herald Examiner building; and Saint John's Hospital, where Didion underwent psychiatric evaluation in 1968. The tour also covers locations related to the Manson Family murders, which Didion wrote about extensively. The guide explores Didion's complex relationship with Los Angeles, from her sharp observations of its social scene to her fear of freeway driving. It includes quotations from her works and anecdotes about her interactions with Hollywood figures like Harrison Ford and Christopher Isherwood. Readers will discover how Didion's experiences in Los Angeles shaped her writing, from her early magazine articles to seminal works like "Slouching Towards Bethlehem" and "The White Album." The tour also touches on her screenwriting career with Dunne and their time living in Malibu. This literary journey offers insight into Didion's perspective on Los Angeles during a turbulent period in the city's history, illuminating the places that influenced one of America's most distinctive literary voices.

A guide to the home city of singer, songwriter and actor Serge Gainsbourg, from birth at L'H tel-Dieu de Paris in April 1928, to his final resting place at Cimiti re du Montparnasse. Along the way, we note residences, bars, studios, nightclubs, along with many scenes of scandal, debauchery and great art. At the time of his death in 1991, Gainsbourg was perhaps best known outside France for the songs "Je t'aime... moi non plus" and "Bonnie And Clyde", and his marriage to Jane Birkin. His influence is perhaps greater now than at any time. Famous fans have done much to bring his work to a wider international audience, notably Air, Jarvis Cocker of Pulp and Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys. Since September 2023, his former home at 5 bis Rue de Verneuil, has been open to the public, along with a museum, bookstore-boutique and caf -piano bar opposite, The Gasinsbarre.

In the latest literary guide from Herb Lester, we chart 42 locations from the life and work of Douglas Adams. Although best known as author of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy "trilogy" of five books, in which much of the action happens several hyperspace jumps from the debris of the earth, his work is peppered with London locations, and the city was his home for decades. From Shepherds Bush to Highgate, we tour streets that Adams knew and cared about, unhappily noting the rampant development of Islington - "Grim concrete monoliths, eyeing the new spaces in Upper Street where they hoped to spawn their horrid progeny" - and the timeless joy of Hyde Park - "Hyde Park is stunning. Everything about it is stunning except for the rubbish on Monday mornings." Using all of his books, biographies and fresh research, this guide offers a glimpse of the city through the eyes of a much-missed author.

This guide explores the world of David Cornwell - better known as spy novelist John Le Carre - alongside that of his most famous creations - George Smiley and his fellow operatives in British Intelligence. The real and fictional frequently overlap in this guide, as a former spy verisimilitude is a feature of Le Carre's work, making it possible to pinpoint locations across the the capital from Call For The Dead, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, The Looking Glass War, The Honourable Schoolboy, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Smiley's People, The Secret Pilgrim and A Legacy Of Spies. This thoroughly researched guide is an essential companion for fans of Le Carre.

A fold-out poster guide to the elements of Ivy League style as interpreted by veteran Japanese illustrator Kazuo Hozumi. Since the 1960s, Kazuo Hozumi has documented the minutiae of Ivy League-style clothing. His cheerful characters are shown wearing button-down shirts, buckle-back chinos, natural shoulder herringbone tweed jackets and the plethora of items that fall within this style. Hozumi's finely observed illustration work has gained a cult for the unerring accuracy with which he depicts menswear and his deceptively simple style, with echoes of both Japanese Kokeshi dolls and American children's author and illustrator Richard Scarry. Illustrated Ivy is the first time Kazuo Hozumi's Ivy illustrations have been available with his accompanying text in English.

Relive the luxury of days long gone with this Wes Anderson's Grand Budapest Hotel. These hotels are out of reach to all, no matter their wealth. They exist only in the imaginations of their creators, and now in these paper pads. * Includes three 50-page Grand Budapest Hotel notepads (150 pages total) * Heavy text-weight paper with cardboard back * Litho-printed in England on sustainably sourced, heavy text-weight paper with cardboard backs * Also Available: The Overlook Hotel (from The Shining), Kellerman's Resort (from Dirty Dancing), Heartbreak Hotel (from Elvis), and Camp Crystal Lake (from Friday the 13th)

After 2000 years of human habitation, it is quite remarkable how much green space remains in this city. This guide charts places all but untouched by human hand: ancient woodland and meadows, marshes and rivers. It also locates those heartening spots where man has lost the battle with nature and wild plants have taken root amid concrete and brick. From the ancient forests of north London to the east's abandoned sewage works, south London's commons and the west's roaming deer, Wild London is your handy guide to finding green among the grey.

Our popular Writing London guide, updated and redesigned. If you have spent any time in a London cafe, you will know this to be a city of writers all of them aspiring, some accomplished and a scant few successful. This guide documents the work and the working habits of the latter group sites of triumph, shame and tragedy and significant locations in their writing. Casting our net over the metropolis and across the centuries, we have George Orwell and H.G. Wells falling out over curry and plum cake in NW8, Julian Barnes at the National Gallery, J.G. Ballard in Docklands, Alan Bennett s harsh but accurate summary of Camden Town s distinctive aroma, and James Boswell s enthusiastic womanising. London is a city full of stories and the people who make them; we hope this guide brings a few to life."