In Cross Country photographer and author Peter Ashley unleashes his passion for Blighty. He takes us on an enlightening jaunt that encompasses England′s most loved regions. This spans the Cotswolds, the Lake District, the North Cornwall coast and many other picturesque locations around England. The author and photographer travels deep into the country he cares about. His observations and photos illustrate local topography with a fresh pair of eyes, focusing in on many different highlights from country houses, local railway stations, teashops to classic inns.
Cross Country
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‘ Happily, his rich, descriptive writing, peppered with personal reminiscences and anecdotes, is every bit as evocative as his pictures.’ (Eastern Daily Press, March 2011). ‘…so lavishly illustrated with his marvellously atmospheric images that its text could almost be described as one long picture caption.’ (The Independent, April 2011). ‘ His [Peter’s] many anecdotes help to enrich a book which is a happy blend of both familiar and unfamiliar, past and present.’ (Leicester Mercury, April 2011). ‘A warm, witty and intriguing view of the England we all love.’ (Countryside Voice, Spring 2011). ′Such a lovely book…a joy to read.’ (Shropshire Star, May 2011).
From the Back Cover
In Cross Country photographer and author Peter Ashley unleashes his passion for Blighty. He takes us on an enlightening jaunt that encompasses many of England’s most loved regions. His love of buildings and landscape extends far beyond architecture in picturesque surroundings. By combining personal reminiscence and an ear for intriguing anecdote, he shows us with wit, and sometimes irreverent comment, just how richly varied the fabric of England is: abandoned Cornish tin mines above tide–washed caves; Norfolk boat sheds leaning on salt marches; Romney Marsh shepherd’s houses disappearing behind roadside willows; and hedges looked over in Wiltshire. Local details are found in both Essex estuaries and Cumbrian sand dunes; and long abandoned railway lines are once again pressed into service to take us around his beloved High Leicestershire. Ashley never misses the curious and neglected – be it a sheep wash in the Cotswolds or a disused petrol pump in Herefordshire. He travels deep into t eh countryside he cares about. His wry observations allow us to rediscover and delight in what many of us might previously have deemed familiar territory.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By readaholic
Format:Hardcover
If you love exploring Blighty, would like to learn more about England's lesser known hidden gems or are a fan of naturalistic writing and beautiful photography - buy this book! The author's passion for detail and the places he discovers on his cross country jaunt echo Betjeman's love of both the rural landscape, manmade obscurities and a sense of Englishness. Ashley's book isn't a travel guide as such but more of what the author sees and how he reacts to his surroundings. The result is a fantastic compilation of photographs of both the bigger picture (coast and countryside) and finer details (a sign post or a village shop display), along with his personal anecdotes, observations and knowledge of England. This book has inspired me to re-discover the England I thought I knew - and to take a better look next time at the detail which may have previously passed me by.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Tour Southwest Cumbria, Herefordshire & Shropshire, North Norfolk, Romney Marsh & Dungeness, North Cotswolds, Essex Estuaries, Wiltshire-Dorset Borders, North Cornwall Coast and High Leicestershire from the comfort of your armchair - or deckchair - at a fraction of the cost. Beautiful views, fascinating histories. I hope that Mr Ashley will write another book soon, because for those of us who are unable for whatever reason to make the journey ourselves, Mr Ashley's travel writings are surely the next best thing. If you are reading this, Mr Ashley, thank you so much for reminding us, yet again, what a beautiful country we live in! Hope there is a sequel - with Northumberland in it, because there's another place I'd dearly love to visit...
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
In the same way that a coal fire can provide comforting warmth whilst appearing relaxed, flames plump and generous but unhurried as opposed the sharp, pointy, roaring flame of a well draughted bonfire - Peter Ashley's Cross Country adventures heap nostalgia, warmth and a sense of being right in the picture with him on the reader at every turn of the corner/page. Deliberately written at a pace that carries us along with him in the sure knowledge that he knows where he's going (a masterful deception), I found reading these tales comforting in the way one feels as a passenger, absolved of the responsibilities of decision making - left, right, to the sea, back to the hills ? Don't care really - very happy to be ushered along and have his observations and great references to poetry, literature, history and architectural background inform me. In typical Ashley fashion he answers exactly the question I was about to ask - who? why here? died of what? what beer?
I think it is the pace of the book that I find so engaging - I picked it up for a glance, to marvel at the stunning photographs and found myself closing the back cover 4 or 5 hours later feeling that I'd been on nine idyllic holidays. The beauty here is that a clever observationist has written my post-cards and filled out my diary for me.
I think it is the pace of the book that I find so engaging - I picked it up for a glance, to marvel at the stunning photographs and found myself closing the back cover 4 or 5 hours later feeling that I'd been on nine idyllic holidays. The beauty here is that a clever observationist has written my post-cards and filled out my diary for me.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Secret Spi
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
In his introduction to this gorgeous book, the author remarks how the term "Anglophile" is usually applied to people not actually from England. And perhaps you have to be, in the usual course of things, someone from another country or at least someone who's been away from England for some time to fully appreciate what this country has to offer. But Peter Ashley is one exception.
When I was very young, a typical Sunday afternoon family activity was "going for a drive." It seems odd in these days of exorbitant petrol prices, carbon footprints and M25 jams that anyone would voluntarily get into their car and drive off, semi-aimlessly, just for the fun of it. This book is like being taken on nine such drives through different English counties on routes that the tour buses haven't yet cottoned on to. These are tours of discovery - of landscapes, buildings, towns and natural features, and their stories.
The photos range from breathtaking vistas to curious close-ups, from haunting derelict buildings to details of signs and shop windows, all taken with an eye for unusual beauty. The text is a lovely mix of history, local tales, literary and film references and the author's own personal reminiscences, all seamlessly woven together into a compelling whole.
I have one tiny quibble which it seems almost churlish to mention given the overall quality of the book, but I did find the very small print of the photo captions a little difficult to read. However, this didn't detract from my overall enjoyment - 5 stars from Germany!
When I was very young, a typical Sunday afternoon family activity was "going for a drive." It seems odd in these days of exorbitant petrol prices, carbon footprints and M25 jams that anyone would voluntarily get into their car and drive off, semi-aimlessly, just for the fun of it. This book is like being taken on nine such drives through different English counties on routes that the tour buses haven't yet cottoned on to. These are tours of discovery - of landscapes, buildings, towns and natural features, and their stories.
The photos range from breathtaking vistas to curious close-ups, from haunting derelict buildings to details of signs and shop windows, all taken with an eye for unusual beauty. The text is a lovely mix of history, local tales, literary and film references and the author's own personal reminiscences, all seamlessly woven together into a compelling whole.
I have one tiny quibble which it seems almost churlish to mention given the overall quality of the book, but I did find the very small print of the photo captions a little difficult to read. However, this didn't detract from my overall enjoyment - 5 stars from Germany!
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Excellent book, Heard the review of this book on BBC Essex radio and was impressed,
Decided to order it from Amazon, Very pleased with it, If you love England you will love this book, Well written and great photographs, The Author takes you around England to a lot of quirky little places as well as the better known ones and uncovers some lovely little gems, It has inspired me to visit a lot of these lovely places and will be doing so this next year or so, Wonderful stuff !
Decided to order it from Amazon, Very pleased with it, If you love England you will love this book, Well written and great photographs, The Author takes you around England to a lot of quirky little places as well as the better known ones and uncovers some lovely little gems, It has inspired me to visit a lot of these lovely places and will be doing so this next year or so, Wonderful stuff !
By Medderman
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Bought as a present for someone who really enjoys Peter Ashley and this didn't disappoint. Nicely produced and written and will be passed around!
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
'Cross Country' is an exceptionally well presented and well written book, with an outstanding collection of photographs and interesting observations. We often fail to notice the many fascinating and beautiful aspects of our own country. The author reminds us of the variety of riches to be found and entices us to explore our country further. A wonderful book not to be overlooked!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cross country English Buildings and Landscape from Country to Coast
If you are interested in where you live and the rustic side of life this is for you I doubt if there is not somewhere or something of interest I was specifically interested in... Read more
Published on 2 May 2011 by boots
5.0 out of 5 stars
dont miss this one
Another absolute gem from Peter Ashley!. Get this and get all of his books if you are at all interested in what makes England such a fascinating place to live. Read more
Published on 21 Mar 2011 by nomoreofthis
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