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The book tells the story of how its author, a
well-known political journalist, planned and made a voyage round Britain by
canoe. I first came across this project in the planning stage, when David was
seeking advice from the waterways internet group, and I (of course) put in my
two penn’orth. It was through that group that David made contact with the
company who supplied his canoe, thanks to help from the late Ray Dunford, who
will be remembered by many Excalibur readers.
It was with considerable interest, therefore,
that I bought the book on publication. It was not quite what I was expecting,
but an excellent read despite that.
The rivers and canals he travels are the
setting, rather than the subject, of his book. They form the context for his
thoughts about England, Englishness, his own Jewishness and how his family fits
into the history of England.
Don’t buy the book if you’re looking
for a canoeist’s guide to the inland waterways. Do buy it for a good,
thoughtful read. It’s so well written that I had difficulty putting it
down.
Review by Mike Stevens, first published
in Excalibur, February 2001 |
