Mark Elliott is an English travel writer best known for books on

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...

, and for unusual map-based route guides for Asia. Though long out of print, Elliott's '' Asia Overland'' co-authored with Wil Klass, garnered something of a cult following among overland travellers during the late 1990s. Elliott's 2003 ''South-East Asia: The Graphic Guide'', also based mostly on schematic maps, remains in considerable demand among travellers with prices for second hand copies reaching absurdly high levels (nearly US$1000 a copy in November 2009). He also contributed to over 50

Lonely Planet Lonely Planet is a travel guide book publisher. Founded in Australia in 1973, the company has printed over 150 million books. History 20th century Lonely Planet was founded by married couple Maureen Wheeler, Maureen and Tony Wheeler. In 19 ...

guides. Having written the first comprehensive English language guide to post-Soviet Azerbaijan in 1999, a book now in its 5th edition, Elliott has since been described by the press in Azerbaijan as the "legendary writer of the definitive English-language guidebook to the country"

Early life

Elliott's father Ian was the chairman of West Sussex County Council, his mother the teacher and poet, Betty Elliott, nee Gedge.Obituary of Betty Elliott
/ref> Mark graduated from

Durham University Durham University (legally the University of Durham) is a collegiate university, collegiate public university, public research university in Durham, England, founded by an Act of Parliament (UK), Act of Parliament in 1832 and incorporated by r ...

where he was President of the

Durham Union Society The Durham Union Society (DUS), commonly referred to as the Durham Union, is a debating society, founded in 1842, by the students at Durham University. It is the largest society associated with the university, with over 3,000 members in resid ...

and worked on the university newspaper '' Palatinate'' at the same time as Tim Burt, Dave Anderson and

Jeremy Vine Jeremy Guy Vine (born 17 May 1965) is an English television and radio presenter and journalist. He is best known as the host of his BBC Radio 2 lunchtime programme which presents news, views, interviews with live guests, consumer issues and popu ...

Bibliography

* ''Asia Overland: A Route and Planning Guide'' (Hindhead, Surrey: Trailblazer Publications, 1998). Joint author: Will Klass. * ''Azerbaijan with Georgia'' (Hindhead, Surrey: Trailblazer Publications, 1999; ''Azerbaijan : with Excursions to Georgia'', 2010). * ''Cultureshock! Belgium'' (London : Kuperard, and Portland, Oregon: Graphics Art Center Publishing, 2003). * ''South-East Asia: The Graphic Guide'' (Hindhead, Surrey: Trailblazer Publications, 2003)

References

External links

Interview with Mark Elliott
- JSNW (Japan Society North West) and JETAA (JET Alumni Association in the UK) Lecture Series 1963 births Living people English travel writers Alumni of Collingwood College, Durham Presidents of the Durham Union {{UK-writer-stub