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Pies and Prejudice: In Search of the North
 
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Pies and Prejudice: In Search of the North (Paperback)

by Stuart Maconie (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
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Product details

  • Paperback: 354 pages
  • Publisher: Ebury Press (7 Feb 2008)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0091910234
  • ISBN-13: 978-0091910235
  • Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.6 x 2.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 663 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #1 in  Books > Poetry, Drama & Criticism > Essays, Journals & Letters
    #1 in  Books > Humour > Essays
    #7 in  Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > United Kingdom

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Product Description

Product Description
A Northerner in exile, Stuart Maconie goes on a journey in search of the North, attempting to discover where the cliches end and the truth begins. He travels from Wigan Pier to Blackpool Tower and Newcastle's Bigg Market to the Lake District to find his own Northern Soul, encountering along the way an exotic cast of chippy Scousers, pie-eating woollybacks, topless Geordies, mad-for-it Mancs, Yorkshire nationalists and brothers in southern exile.

About the Author
Stuart Maconie is a journalist and writer, and is familiar to millions as a TV and radio presenter. He is the host of Stuart Maconie's Critical List on BBC Radio 2 and Freak Zone on Radio 6, and has written and presented dozens of other shows on BBC Radio. He presents the DVD Collection on BBC Four and has made regular appearances on Never Mind the Buzzcocks on BBC2. As well as popping up in Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights, he is a favourite on hit nostalgia TV series such as the BBC's I Love the 1970s. His other books include the acclaimed official biographies of both Blur and James as well as his bestselling musical odyssey Cider With Roadies, published by Ebury. He can name GQ Man of the Year and Sony Awards Radio Broadcaster of the Year amongst his accolades. He lives in the West Midlands and is happiest when fell-walking with his dog, Muffin.

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Customer Reviews

74 Reviews
5 star:
 (24)
4 star:
 (26)
3 star:
 (12)
2 star:
 (7)
1 star:
 (5)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.8 out of 5 stars (74 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it - and I live in Surrey!, 26 May 2007
By Dr. George L. Sik (Epsom, Surrey) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Pies and Prejudice: In Search of the North (Paperback)
I happened to buy Stuart Maconie's excellent guide to the North - part Bill Brysonesque comic travel guide, part a genuinely heartfelt portrait of everything he loves about the area - just before going on an extensive driving tour for my work, incorporating many of the cities described. Not only was it an excellent companion on my travels, but I found out so much I didn't know, even though I have spent a great deal of time in the North over the years.

What is so engaging about Maconie's prose is that he is fully aware of the prejudices that exist about the North and about specific cities and nods to them jokily while leaving no one in any doubt that stereotypes and oversimplifications are just that.

His passion for music and history come out on almost every page but it is the humour that sells it - showing once again how a light touch can make some very serious social and political observations. I challenge anyone - Southerners included - not to enjoy this and learn from it.

Even when Maconie makes little mistakes (it's LOUIS Tussaud's in Blackpool and he seems to have merged two separate Viz characters into one) he's easily forgiven because he passes on such a wealth of fascinating and frequently laugh-out-loud material (a passing reference to how people mispronounce 'Clitheroe' being a case in point!)

I guarantee it'll change your perception of Wigan at the very least.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Characterisations and nicknames, 13 April 2007
By Helen Simpson (Leeds, England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Pies and Prejudice: In Search of the North (Paperback)
A witty and interesting book which was more than just a search for 't'north' ...after all I don't really care exactly where it is...I just know I live there!!
The social history of some of our much loved northern towns and cities was indeed warmly told from the bands of Liverpool and Manchester to the shipyards on Wearside and plenty in between.

Maconie adds his own style of wry humour to his tour of the north and yes, he does have a bias towards the north, but doesn't really slag off the south...just made me chuckle at the differences. After all just because Sunderland folks think it's a heatwave at the same temperature southerners are "...togged up in car coats and parkas..." is more amusing observation than a flattering description. But then I'm from Yorkshire so prone to exaggeration! ;-)
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34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Caught In-between, 15 Mar 2007
By J. Grundy "Jim Grundy" (Hucknall, Nottinghamshire) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)      
This review is from: Pies and Prejudice: In Search of the North (Paperback)
As I live in the East Midlands, I am one of those caught between stereo-types. To Southerners, well, we're in the North but we're not about to be accepted as true Northerners by the average Lancastrian or Yorkshireman (not to mention that neither are 'proper' Northerners according to Geordies or so it seems!). As such, people who live around here have a little insight into both camps as we're a minor melting pot. For example, one lad at my school had the proverbial ripped out of him when he referred to his midday meal as 'lunch' and not dinner as all right-thinking people do! Yes, some around here are confused too.

Personally speaking, as a son of a miner and a textile worker I regard myself as a dyed-in-the wool 'Northerner' in the kind of spirit that Stuart Maconie discusses at the end of his excellent book. But am doubtlessly wholly suspect due to the lack of a strong identifiable regional accent - we have one but I doubt many outside of this part of the country would recognise it. Alan Sillitoe when he wrote 'Saturday Night, Sunday Morning' - rightly identified as a great film in this book - was conscious that the accents in the film were totally wrong but if they'd been accurate no-one would have understood a word!

Nevermind all that, this book is an extremely well-written tour around parts of the North of England. It had the effect of making me want to visit some of the places mentioned and revisit others. I last went to Durham 20 years ago and want to go back. The author's dead right when he says that if the city was in the South it would receive much, much more attention.

With that example alone, I think Mr. Maconie makes his point. There is a Southern if not 'bias' but perspective in much of our media. As he says at the outset, the BBC doesn't have 'South of England' correspondent. Nuff said.

Cheers, Stuart, I'll look up your other books.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Does a disservice to its subject
I don't know if Maconie aimed to write a Brysonesque book or a celebration of Northern-ness. The title suggests he sought to correct southern prejudices. Read more
Published 4 days ago by W. G. J. Shepherd

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
I really enjoyed this booked, it is a light read but has a bit of substance, he has broad interests so you often learn things. Read more
Published 12 days ago by K. Hanson

5.0 out of 5 stars A eulogy for northern England
I really enjoyed Pies and Prejudice, Stuart Maconie's homage to northern England. Throughout this entertaining book he writes with real insight and passion. Read more
Published 23 days ago by J A C Corbett

4.0 out of 5 stars Northern lad needs North, Northern lad moves from North, Northern lad finds North
I warmed to Maconie on TV (Style on Trial, Pop On Trial) as he seems genuinely interested in what his interviewees have to say, and comes across as likeable. Read more
Published 27 days ago by titaniamoth

3.0 out of 5 stars No Bill Bryson, but not bad.
Im a big fan of Maconies radio shows and find him a witty entertaining broadcaster which transfers well to print. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Michael

5.0 out of 5 stars A different perspective?
Well, it's interesting to see the different responses to Stuart Maconie's paen to his region of the country. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Binro The Heretic

5.0 out of 5 stars Pies and Prejudice
For soemone who originated from the North West and now living in Surrey this book is a very funny but real read.
Published 2 months ago by Mr. Philip Stubbs

5.0 out of 5 stars A very enjoyable read that will have true northerners smiling
I have listened to Stuart Maconie on Radio2 [mainly when he filled in for Chris Evans] and I really like his funny and sometimes very sharp, but in my opinion never offensive... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Andre 2500

3.0 out of 5 stars Spot on and very funny
Yes, there is a bias towards some towns over others, but it really doesn't matter. It's wonderfully funny about the places which ARE included. Read more
Published 3 months ago by emma_scriptwriter

4.0 out of 5 stars Spoiled only by the errors.
A hugely enjoyable read. Whether you're from the North or South,if you have a sense of humour,you'll enjoy it. Read more
Published 3 months ago by tatsyrup

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