Broke Through Britain: One Man's Penniless Odyssey
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| |||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
During the summer of 1998, Peter Mortimer set off on the 500-mile journey from Plymouth to Edinburgh, accompanied only by his King Charles spaniel. He took no money and had no transport or pre-arranged accommodation. Bereft of the basics necessary for human existence, such as food and shelter, he was dependent for his survival on his own wits, the generosity of others and good fortune.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book has made me think. What would I have done, not in Peter Mortimer's shoes, but in the shoes of the door-openers, and the door closers, and the "peeping through a crack in the door - sleep in the garage" -ers. I found I was wanting to know more about some of his benefactors, to extend the conversations beyond just the one (or sometimes two) nights. I was amazed at his needy embracing of lifestyles which, in other circumstances, were completely alien - if not unacceptable - and then his philosophical open-mindedness despite (I felt) strong-held beliefs. Those who helped Peter Mortimer on his way were displaying that same open-mindedness, in a way.
I am also amazed that a reviewer has chosen to criticise Peter Mortimer's regional credentials ("he is a bit out of the Southern English/London mainstream") as if you can only be taken seriously if you are from this so-called mainstream... plus, "Milton Keynes even has a 'writer and poet in residence'!" - is writing and poetry only permitted in Southern England and London???
If you believe in your pilgrimage, whether a penniless walk or anything else which takes you out of your daily predictable routine, this book will inspire you.
I am also amazed that a reviewer has chosen to criticise Peter Mortimer's regional credentials ("he is a bit out of the Southern English/London mainstream") as if you can only be taken seriously if you are from this so-called mainstream... plus, "Milton Keynes even has a 'writer and poet in residence'!" - is writing and poetry only permitted in Southern England and London???
If you believe in your pilgrimage, whether a penniless walk or anything else which takes you out of your daily predictable routine, this book will inspire you.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is one of my favourite books of the last few years . It is Peter Mortimer's account of his walk from Plymouth, England to Edinburgh, Scotland with no more than a back-pack and a King Charles Spaniel. Is it possible to treck the length of Britain with no money to spend? On his journey he is welcomed into the lives of surprising array of people including a curate, a couple from a housing estate and a fox hunting community! It gives a fascinating insight into the response of people to the unexpected arrival of a penniless traveller.
There haven't been many travel books which I couldn't put down. But this was one. Each day builds up to its dramatic climax. Will he find a bed for the night? Will he be turned away? Will he make it through the night to a new day when it will all start again.
It is well written, witty, empathetic and never dull. Read it.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A very good read. The author takes you on a journey as though you were accompanying him along the way. His constant uncertainty regarding food and the search for accommodation proved too good to put down ... it was very enjoyable.
On the down side .... I think the author succumbed to too many offers of lifts.
Notwithstanding the tremendous distance he did cover on foot, i feel that he didnt really experience any real hardship throughout his journey. I recall that he only slept rough once (in a deserted cafe)and most people he did encounter and manage to scrounge food and accommodation off were very respectable members of the public.
There are indeed gracious people in this country however, It did beg the question as to his choice of chosen route and i did wonder from time to time if this route had not been meticuously planned out for this purpose.
There were periods, although i have to say not many, where several of his saviours recognised him from Media and Radio and i couldn't help but feel a little cheated. Perhaps people would not have been so obliging if this had not been the case and he had been a genuine traveler. That said it is a most enjoyable book, easily read with the right amount of humour. A passing thought however ............ it would have been nice to have SAM reunited with the author even if just for the photograph
On the down side .... I think the author succumbed to too many offers of lifts.
Notwithstanding the tremendous distance he did cover on foot, i feel that he didnt really experience any real hardship throughout his journey. I recall that he only slept rough once (in a deserted cafe)and most people he did encounter and manage to scrounge food and accommodation off were very respectable members of the public.
There are indeed gracious people in this country however, It did beg the question as to his choice of chosen route and i did wonder from time to time if this route had not been meticuously planned out for this purpose.
There were periods, although i have to say not many, where several of his saviours recognised him from Media and Radio and i couldn't help but feel a little cheated. Perhaps people would not have been so obliging if this had not been the case and he had been a genuine traveler. That said it is a most enjoyable book, easily read with the right amount of humour. A passing thought however ............ it would have been nice to have SAM reunited with the author even if just for the photograph
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A very good book
I enjoyed this book a lot.
I have read a lot about people travelling the world and how they have been received as guests in different countries. Read more
I have read a lot about people travelling the world and how they have been received as guests in different countries. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Brian Jackson
An excellent book
Facing the unknown in between Plymouth & Edinburgh doesn't sound right, does it? Peter Mortimer's odyssey is however captivating, humble and honest. Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2010 by Papalamour
Awalkersview
This book really irritated me, although it is generally well written. The irritation arises from the authors general presumption that the world owes him something, in this case... Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2010 by I'm a person not a consumer
Mad, brave or just on a journey of discovery?
I think Peter Mortimer is all of these. I loved this book and strongly recommended it. In this age of the car, busy roads and armchair travel through the media of television it is... Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2009 by Fin
Broke Through Britain
This guy writes so well, he is a national treasure. Join him on this journey and you will want to read his other books, especially his writing on the group of actors who stroll... Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2008 by Colin D.
A journey of discovery and courage
Back in the summer of 1998 Peter Mortimer decided to take a trip from Plymouth to Edinburgh a journey of well over 500 miles. Read more
Published on 23 Nov 2008 by Daniel Storey
walking with a king charles spannel
i found this a most uplifting book and had the utmost respect for the gutsy little dog the last caninedit for long distance walking among dogs.
Published on 27 Jan 2007 by S. Wise
top of the pile
With the ever increasing amount of books that appear in the travelsection's of bookshop's , i'm just glad that i found this one. Read more
Published on 10 Nov 2002 by Roger J. Markham
found by accident enjoyed throughout
i am not a fast reader by any means but when a work mate passed on this book i started and it seemed to be over in no time and having been so enthraled i missed the small funnys... Read more
Published on 10 Jun 2001 by "dcbxrb"
Superb, captivating, charming, should be a best-seller,
Bought by chance, I found this book captivating. An autobiographical journey from one end of Britian to the another, the little-known Mr Mortimer embarks on a (some may say)... Read more
Published on 27 Jan 2001 by andyskraga@hotmail.com
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
