Arguably the world's first novelist, Murasaki Shikibu wrote The Tale of Genji in the 11th century. Liza Dalby's novel is based on existing fragments of Murasaki's diary and poems and is a fictional account of Japan's most famous female writer.

While Jon Ronson attempts to locate the secret room, he is chased by men in dark glasses, and witnesses CEOs and leading politicians undertake a bizarre pagan owl ritual in the forests of Northern California. He also learns some alarming things about the looking-glass world of them and us. Are the extremists right? Or has he become one of them?

This title describes 1000 must-see spots, from beaches to museums to cathedrals to bustling markets, grand hotels to backwater inns, rugged safaris to the most pampering spas. It includes addresses, phone and fax numbers, websites, costs and best times to visit with subject-specific indexes.

Backed up by the usual invaluable selection of maps, road-tested places to stay, and a cutting-edge guide to the best of British cuisine - it's all here. An unmissable travel guide, for Brits and non-Brits.

Lonely Planet .

8 million Britons visited the USA in 2006 - National Statistics. This title contains 129 pages of maps. It includes color sections featuring USA highlights and its beautiful national parks.