Historian Colin Jones has managed to distill centuries of French history into just 250 pages, and he leads us through significant sights from the mighty nation's recent past. Then a veteran BBC correspondent recalls turbulent times in 1980s Afghanistan and the hotel that still stands as a symbol of the country's resilient people. And a photographer from Scotland's Hebrides describes his ongoing quest to capture the moods, light, and breathtaking beauty of his homeland.

• Historian Colin Jones, author of "The Shortest History of France" (The Experiment Publishing)
• Journalist Lyse Doucet, author of "The Finest Hotel in Kabul" (Penguin - Allen Lane)
• Nature photographer/tour guide James Macletchie, based in Uist, Scotland

• Colin Jones, CBE specializes in writing about the history of France. He offers a condensed overview in his latest book, "The Shortest History of France." A review in The Standard says the book provides enough French history "to see you through a dinner party."
• Lyse Doucet reports from conflict zones around the world as the Chief international correspondent for BBC News. She's written "The Finest Hotel in Kabul" to profile the people she got to know on the many occasions she stayed at the Kabul InterContinental Hotel while reporting in Afghanistan.
• Lyse Doucet spoke with Afghani citizens in 2021 to hear their hopes for their country, in a ten-part BBC audio podcast series, "A Wish for Afghanistan."
• James Macletchie posts photographs of the Scottish Hebrides on his website.