London to Loweswater: A Journey Through England at the End of the Twentieth Century (Hardcover)

His inspiration is J B Priestley's classic 1934 book "English Journey" in which Priestley identified his different Englands: Tourist England, 19th-century England and New England. Davies looks at Heritage and Lottery England. He writes from an equally privileged, establishment perspective and cheerfully admits his connections. Indeed the names he drops throughout the book read as a who's who of the London elite. Yet what breathes life into his voyage are the interviews with people he meets on his travels--the seemingly ordinary souls who prove to be much more fascinating and revealing than the guests at Tony Blair's party which he attends at the start of his journey. He is adept at finding quirky originality in the homogenous high streets of England.

Davies's style is almost that of stream of consciousness, interjecting his opinions and anecdotes as he travels on his journey. He passes through the old towns of Britain--Derby and Tring--and more recent outcrops of Englishness--Milton Keynes (where every new house is connected to cable TV) and the regenerated Salford Docks. His reminiscences of the Beatles when visiting Liverpool are particularly interesting.

What his journey reveals is the clash between urban and city life, embodied in Davies himself (he divides his time between London and rural Loweswater in the Lake District). Whilst never the twain shall meet, in Davies' rosy and entertaining portrayal of England, both communities are moving towards the future with optimism. --Anna Hornsey.

Product Description
Following in the footsteps of J.B. Priestley, whose book "English Journey" told the tale of his 1934 voyage, Hunter Davies embarks upon an epic journey at the end of the century. He spends a year travelling from London to the Lake District, observing the people and places of England today and noting the mood of the English nation at the end of the millennium. It is also a journey into his own life, as he recalls incidents and people from his past. Davies is impressed by a sense of light and optimism encouraged by the many Lottery projects nearing completion, such as the Lowry Centre in Salford and the 2500 miles of public pathways being created by Sustrans. He visits two stately homes - Chatsworth and Althorp, as well as Paul McCartney's former more modern and humble council house in Liverpool. His journey takes him from a private party with Tony Blair in London to the Loweswater Show in the far north-western corner of Cumbria. This is where he and his wife spend half of each year, the clash between urban and rural life forming the heart of the book.

• Books > Travel & Holiday > Atlases & Maps > Countries A-Z > United Kingdom > Cities & Towns > London
• Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > United Kingdom > Regions > South & South East England > London, Greater London
• Books > Travel & Holiday > Travel Writing

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