Having worked for many years in the publishing industry selling other travel writers’ books, in 2003 Duncan J. D. Smith decided to start writing and illustrating his own. As an ‘Urban Explorer’, travel writer, historian and photographer he has embarked on a lifetime’s adventure, travelling off the beaten track in search of the world’s unusual people and places, from the bunkers of Berlin and the Baroque gardens of Prague to the souks of Damascus and the rock-cut churches of Ethiopia. Explore further...
EXPLORE THE HIDDEN CORNERS OF EUROPE
The ‘Only in‘ guides are a ground breaking series of guidebooks written by ‘Urban Explorer’ Duncan J. D. Smith. Each tells the story of a European city from the standpoint of eighty four hidden, unusual, or unique locations. This enables independent cultural travellers not only to escape the crowds and discover the place forthemselves but also to take home a more indelible and individual memory. The books are extensively illustrated and include opening times and further reading. Explore further...
Duncan J. D. Smith is an accomplished and experienced freelance photographer, taking his camera with him wherever he goes. From the rugged coastline of his Yorkshire homeland, through the storied capitals of Old Europe, and beyond into Africa and the Middle East, he captures colourful and unusual images of the people and places he encounters. Recent clients include Condé Nast Traveler, GQ Magazine, New Holland Globetrotter guides, and the Born Free Foundation. Explore further...
STORIES IN WORDS AND PICTURES
As well as creating his own books, Duncan J. D. Smith is commissioned regularly to write and illustrate articles for magazines and the Internet. The result is a rich and eclectic mix of subject matter, with an emphasis on people and places off the beaten track. Recent commissions include "Subterranean Budapest" for Hidden Europe magazine, "Insider’s Prague" for the Summit Hotel Group, and "Hidden World: Damascus" for Korean Air. Explore further...
AN AUDIO TOUR THROUGH HIDDEN VIENNA
Join ‘Urban Explorer’ Duncan J. D. Smith on a fascinating and idiosyncratic journey through Vienna’s hidden First District, including Roman ruins, secret courtyards, and medieval cellars. Recorded ‘live’ this unique tour offers adventure, history, and excitement, and is based on the bestselling guidebook "Only in Vienna". The tour includes more than twenty locations, each guaranteeing a sense of discovery and a memorable experience. Available on CD and to download. Explore further...
FORGOTTEN TRAVELLERS
Biographies of six forgotten British travellers who abandoned ‘normal’ living to make intrepid journeys during the 1920s and 30s, before the Second World War altered forever the world through which they travelled, and extinguished their memory. To follow in their footsteps one must journey from the scorching deserts of Libya to the icy wastes of Greenland, from war-torn Serbia to the mountains of Kenya, and from the hidden gorges of Tibet to the steamy jungles of the Brazilian Mato Grosso. Explore further...
CURIOUS CITIES: ZURICH
There is much more to Zurich than private banks, clean streets, and a penchant for punctuality. Founded two thousand years ago as a Roman trading post it has long been a haven for emigres, including Lenin, the Dadaists, and James Joyce. Zurich contains many secrets just waiting to be discovered, including ancient walls and secret gardens, curious museums and converted factories, unexpected sanctuaries and shops with a difference. Explore further...
YORKSHIRE IN COLOUR
Yorkshire is the largest and most renowned of English counties, and a great number of books have been written about its history, landscape, people, and traditions. However, it was not until 1995 that the first words-and-pictures colour portrait of the entire county was published. "Yorkshire: A Portrait in Colour" by Duncan J. D. Smith has been in print ever since, and includes not only the Moors and Dales but also the mill towns, ports, great industrial cities and small fishing villages. Explore further...
| Revealing the history of civilisation through journeys off the beaten track
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