I've read several books by Simon Winchester who writes about things that interest me - travel, history, natural history, science, culture, geology,cartography, and lexicography - all with much detail and some fascinating tangents. Yet he's not too serious and studious. This is mind candy for people who like to think. I also enjoy his audiobooks since he narrates them himself in his charming English accent.

Outposts is built on the idea of the "sun never sets on the British Empire," still true today albeit stretching its rays to catch the tiny settlements and islands that still fly the British flag. Winchester wrote this book originally in the 1980's in the wake of the Falklands War and reminds me of The Kingdom by the Sea by Paul Theroux which also explores issues of empire except in Britain itself. Things have changed even in the 25 years since the book was written and for the audiobook Winchester drops out the chapter on Hong Kong now that it's been transferred to China.

The places he visits include the islands of Tristan, Gibraltar, Ascension Island, St. Helena, and Pitcairn. The latter oddly enough was in the news recently due to the island's history of child abuse (not mentioned by Winchester). The most interesting part of the book for me was the first chapter when Winchester sailed by yacht into the British Indian Ocean Territory and Diego Garcia, an area restricted by the British and American military forces based in this remote outpost. Winchester relates the shocking story of how over 2000 residents of these islands were forcibly relocated in the 1960's to create the military base and his own adventures trying to penetrate the secrecy and security. The rest of the book is less compelling and seems to get bogged down in less-than-delightful tangents and tales of approaching yet another distant island. There are better books by Winchester out there than this one that I'd recommend you read instead. ( )

2027 The Sun Never Sets: Travels to the Remaining Outposts of the British Empire, by Simon Winchester (read 26 Oct 1986) This is a book about a British journalist's visits to the remaining remnants of the British Empire: 1. British Indian Ocean Territory and Diego Garcia; 2. Tristan; 3. Gibraltar; 4. Ascension Island; 5. St Helena; 6. Hong Kong; 7. Bermuda; 8. The British West Indies [Turks & Caicos Islands; British Virgin Islands; Anguilla; Montserrat; Cayman Islands] 9. The Falkland Islands; 10. Pitcairn. It is an interesting book, and the places are the type which appeal to me. The author of course points out they don't amount to much: e.g., only 200 people live on Tristan, and 44 on Pitcairn. This has been an interesting little book, even though not too profound. ( )

See my review http://jzsbooks.blogspot.com/2008/07/... ( )

This survey of the remnants of the British Empire is well-written, but far too much has happened in the 20 years since its publication for it to be really interesting as anything more than a sociological snapshot. I think it would be a great idea for Winchester to write it all over again, though. ( )

Odyssey ( )