‘The most recent addition to the Oxygen Books city-picks series is Amsterdam, edited by Heather Reyes (£8.99), which pulls together a decent clutch of extracts from interesting living writers – Ian McEwan, Geoff Dyer and Simon Schama – waxing incidentally, hedonistically and historically on the Dutch city of sin – as well as snippets from even grander dead scribes, including Smollett, Voltaire and Camus. It’s a canny publishing idea, as Oxygen can show off a top-notch set of writers through short extracts. As a sampler the book works very well – and it certainly provides an eclectic and erudite portrait of a city often caricatured for its coffee and knocking shops – but you may feel frustrated that many texts end just when you’re getting interested.’
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June 17, 2010
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- Michael Munday
The brilliant illustrator of city-pick's covers is an artist and designer of renown. Check out Michael Munday's work here. - The Word Travels
The specialists in literary travel, adventure and literary tours - The best books on ... New York, Paris, Berlin, London, Istanbul, Barcelona, Rome and Amsterdam
The best books set in a range of cities chosen by Oxygen Books for Guardian Travel - Petite Anglaise
A young English woman in Paris, full of nice things. - Diamond Geezer
Some real gems from our favourite East Londoner. - The Big Smoke
All human life is there - all the latest on London - Cara Black
Wonderfully atmospheric Paris website - you can feel the wet cobblestones. Murder in the Rue Paradis ... - Love German Books
Lots of lovely stuff about German books, translation issues and life in Berlin - Translated Fiction
Everything and more you'll ever want to know about the best translated fiction. - Rory McLean's Berlin Blog
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city-picks
- 'This sublime and 'literary' travel book operates on so many levels ... some of the greatest writers painting the city in magical word pictures' The Sydney Morning Herald
- 'Another wonderfully atmospheric guide ... if you are going to St Petersburg then this is the book for you.' Hot Brands Cool Places
- 'the latest literary treat from the city-pick series ... as a guide to the atmosphere and spirit of the city, it's unmissable' Lonely Planet Magazine
- 'Superb ... It's like having your own iPad loaded with different tomes, except that this anthology contains only the best passages' The Times
- 'The latest triumph of distillation. There's everything here - you'll read about walking and drinking, being poor and being poetic, new wealth and newcomers, old timers and returning natives' The Good Web Guide
- 'The latest offering in this impressive little series concentrates on the spirit of London as seen through the eyes of an eclectic selection of writers. It's an exciting selection with unexpected gems.' Sunday Telegraph
- 'This wonderful anthology explores what it is really like to be a Berliner by bringing together extracts about the city from a range of genres, including some specially translated' The Guardian
- 'A new breed of city guide ... it makes for some delightful discoveries - even for those of us who think we know this city well' Time Out
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