Synopsis
At the heart of this book is a highway. The A1; The Great North Road. A 400-mile multiplicity of ancient trackway, Roman road, pilgrim path, coach route and motorway that has run like a backbone through Britain for the last 2,000 years.
In this genre-defying and profoundly personal book, Cowen follows this ghost road from beginning to end on a journey through history, place, people and time. Weaving his own histories and memories with the layered landscapes he moves through, this is the story of an age, of coming to terms with time past and time passing, and the roads that lead us to where we find ourselves.
Written in kaleidoscopic prose, The North Road is an unforgettable exploration of Britain’s great highway.
Publisher information
- Publisher: Cornerstone
- ISBN: 9781804941393
- Number of pages: 432
- Dimensions: 197 x 129 x 29 mm
- Weight: 306g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
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A beautiful ode to a road
Like a walk along the titular road this book is sometimes a meander through deep history, a stroll through boundless imagination, a stride through a deep a... READ MORE
The North Road - a marvellous book
The North Road begins with Rob Cowen joining an archaeological dig at Catterick, where the scheme to turn the A1 into motorway has revealed a Roman cemeter... READ MORE
Dazzling
Outstandingly immersive account of not only the Great North Road but of Cowan’s life journey. Deserves all the dazzling praise it’s received.
The North Road
Now, a book about the A1, The Great North Road or one of its many other names may not at first glance seem an appealing prospect. This book, however, is so... READ MORE
A Road Well Travelled.
I was looking forward to reading this book and was not disappointed. Rob Cowen took me on a journey through his own life, the life of his ancestor, and thr... READ MORE