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Broke Through Britain: One Man's Penniless Odyssey
 
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Broke Through Britain: One Man's Penniless Odyssey (Paperback)

by Peter Mortimer (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
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Price For All Three: £19.97

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Product details

  • Paperback: 208 pages
  • Publisher: Mainstream Publishing; 1st. Edition edition (22 April 1999)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 184018163X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1840181630
  • Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.8 x 2.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 110,844 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Product Description
During the summer of 1998, Peter Mortimer set off on the 500-mile journey from Plymouth to Edinburgh, with no money, transport or accommodation. This book tells of his experiences on the road, the physical demands placed on him, and the problems of life lived on the fringes of society.

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Customer Reviews

14 Reviews
5 star:
 (7)
4 star:
 (5)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Bit of a gem, 2 Jul 2003
By S. Cornforth "Steve Cornforth" (Liverpool, UK England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
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.

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars An extraordinary and moving journey, 29 Jul 2006
By C. H. Kemp "christinakemp" (Isle of Man) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
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.
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9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars top of the pile, 11 Nov 2002
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. Never having heard of Peter Mortimer before, i found this book refreshing and different from the masses that appear on the shelves, so good infact that i've just re-read it again!It really is a must read and i look forward to his next work.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars 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 4 months ago by Fin

5.0 out of 5 stars 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 7 months ago by Colin D.

4.0 out of 5 stars 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 7 months ago by Daniel Storey

5.0 out of 5 stars 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

4.0 out of 5 stars PENNILESS BUT RECOGNISABLE
A very good read. The author takes you on a journey as though you were accompanying him along the way. Read more
Published on 26 Jul 2006 by Ml Walsh

3.0 out of 5 stars Bored through Britain?
The author has a certain provenance: he lives far from the madding crowd, indeed, one could say far from anywhere, in a hamlet on the NE coast of England. Read more
Published on 14 Feb 2002 by ianrmillard

4.0 out of 5 stars 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 11 Jun 2001 by dcbxrb

5.0 out of 5 stars 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

2.0 out of 5 stars Jumping on the travel band-wagon
There are many great travel books around at the moment. I felt this was just someone jumping on the band wagon trying to make some quick money. Read more
Published on 31 Aug 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Personal pilgrimidge, modern society and sore feet.
An ultimate in living your art. To research this book the author sets off on a penniless journey. A personal pilgrimage in his own country, throwing himself at our, the... Read more
Published on 6 Aug 1999

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