Iain Gately Bücher

The author, recovering from an operation to fit him with a titanium hip joint, sets out to catch a tube. This is no London Underground train, but rather that evanescent space, inside the unfolding wave, of which the surfer's dreams are made. The ultimate experience for the surfer is to ride inside a tube as it closes behind them. Most rides last between five and fifteen seconds; the record is thirty. In twelve years of surfing, Iain Gately has never caught a tube, but, before he gets old, he yearns to do so. The Secret Surfer is an alternative travel book; an exploration of an activity that attracts loners, obsessives and eccentrics; a lyrical evocation of places in Cornwall, Galicia, Portugal, Andalucía, Morocco and Ireland; and a rousing call to all of us not to give up too soon. Gately's quest, whether it ends in triumph or in failure, will offer a similar mixture of introspection and adventure, of a search for self-knowledge and of physical endeavour.

Tobacco was cultivated by indigenous peoples of the Americas for medicinal, religious, and social purposes long before Columbus. With European colonization, it evolved into a symbol of pleasure and success, becoming a coveted commodity that transformed the global economy. Iain Gately's narrative traces the journey of this remarkable plant from its ancient origins to its current contentious status. He argues that the tobacco trade was pivotal in the growth of American colonies, the establishment of the Dutch trading empire, the African slave trade, and even the financial foundation for the American Revolution. Gately's informed and engaging writing offers a vivid exploration of tobacco's complex history. Critics praise the work as a rich and engaging account, highlighting Gately's wit and perceptive insights. The book documents how people across various classes, religions, races, and continents have engaged with this controversial plant, showcasing its profound impact on history.