Allen, Benedict – The Bell Bookshop

The Nine Times I Nearly Died

Emma — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

An epic collection of true survival stories from real-life explorer Benedict Allen. Perfect for curious readers age 8+, and fans of Bear Grylls, Andy McNab and Anthony Horowitz.

“Gripping! Read this book ? if you DARE!” BEN FOGLE

Benedict Allen decided he wanted to be an explorer aged 10. Since then he has visited parts of the planet that very few others have been to, learning about remote environments and communities – and facing danger at every turn.

In these real-life stories of his expeditions, travel with him as:

– he capsizes his canoe, fleeing through the Amazon rainforest

– he gets separated from his huskies and is lost in an Arctic blizzard

– he is shipwrecked on a shark-infested island without food or water

Discover how the nine life-or-death situations that he found himself in called for him to use all his survival skills, friendships and courage to survive. Plus read Benedict’s tips and life lessons for exploring the world around you.

“Nail-biting stories that will inspire your own adventures.” ALASTAIR HUMPHREYS, adventurer and bestselling author

“Benedict Allen should not be alive to write such exciting books. But I’m very glad he is.” TEDDY KEEN, bestselling author of The Lost Book of Adventure

Explorer

Emma — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

What does it mean to be an explorer in the twenty-first century?

This is the story of what first led Benedict Allen to head for the farthest reaches of our planet – at a time when there were still valleys and ranges known only to the remote communities who inhabited them. It is also the story of why, thirty years later, he is still exploring. Benedict decides to journey back to a clouded mountain in New Guinea to find an old friend called Korsai, and to fulfil a promise they made as young men.

Explorer tells the story of what it means to be ‘lost’ and ‘found’.

Explorer

Emma — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

What does it mean to be an explorer in the twenty-first century?

Explorer is the story of what first led Benedict Allen to head for the farthest reaches of our planet – at a time when there were still valleys and ranges known only to the remote communities who inhabited them. It is also the story of why, thirty years later, he is still exploring. It’s the story of a journey back to a clouded mountain in New Guinea to find a man called Korsai who had once been a friend, and to fulfil a promise made as young men. It is also a story of what it is to be ‘lost’ and ‘found’.

Honest, sensitive and packed with insight, in Explorer Allen considers the lessons he has learnt from his numerous expeditions – most importantly, from the communities he has encountered and that he has spent so much of his life immersed in. ‘To me personally, exploration isn’t about planting flags, conquering Nature, or going somewhere in order to make a mark – it’s about the opposite. It’s about opening yourself up, allowing yourself to be vulnerable, and letting the place and people make their mark on you.’