The Green Road Into The Trees

Description

From the very centre of England - literally, as his village is furthest from the sea - he travels to its outermost edges. "The Green Road into the Trees" is a journey made rich by the characters he meets along the way. And the ways he takes are the old ways, the drover-paths and tracks, the paths and ditches half covered by bramble and tunnelled by alder, beech and oak: the trails that can still be traced by those who know where to look. Just as in his acclaimed book about Peru, "The White Rock", Hugh shows how older, half-forgotten cultures lie much closer to the surface than we may think. In recent years, archaeologists have uncovered remarkable findings about the Celts, Saxons and Vikings that have often yet to reach the wider public. Travelling along the Icknield Way, Hugh passes the great prehistoric monuments of Maiden Castle, Stonehenge and Avebury, before ending at the Wash near Seahenge. By taking a 400 mile journey from coast to coast, through both the sacred and profane landscapes of ancient England, Hugh casts unexpected light - and humour - on the way we live now.

Promotion info

Award-winning British travel writer Hugh Thomson explores the most exotic and foreign country of them all - his own.

Reviews

"He is an illuminating companion.frequently comic, his voice is original and engaging; proof that it is the walker, not the path, that counts." Independent "An immensely enjoyable book: curious, articulate, intellectually playful and savagely candid." The Spectator "He records more than impressions: there are fascinating excursions into neglected areas of British history, and conversations with hippies, travellers and farmers, which makes Mr Thomson's journey a joy to follow." Country Life "Often funny and always enlightening" -- Candida Lycett Green Countryfile "I would love to walk with Thomson" -- John Sutherland Financial Times

Author description

Hugh Thomson is the author of five previous travel books, the most recent of which, Tequila Oil: Getting Lost in Mexico, was serialised by BBC Radio 4. He has led many research expeditions to Peru and is a leading explorer of Inca settlements. He has also taken filming expeditions to Mount Kilimanjaro, Bhutan, Afghanistan and the Mexican Sierra Madre. 'Everywhere Thomson goes, he finds good tales to tell...' New York Times Book Review www.thewhiterock.co.uk