Frank Barrett (2) (1953–)

The British Isles has a long and illustrious literary history with some of the best books written in the world emanating from this island of the north of Europe. Discovering by chance a childhood copy of Treasure Island, Barrett wants to discover for himself the places and the people that created these books.

Starting in the West Country, his travels take him to graveyards, across moors, to the end of a cobb, to woods and even to the lighthouse. He visits the many museums that are dedicated to a single author, the author’s homes that are now owned by the National Trust and to stand in the landscapes that inspired them to put pen to paper.

This is not an exceptional book, but it is a delight to read. Barrett writes with a subtle humour, drawing out the stories on each of the authors and locations, and sprinkling the text with facts and anecdotes on the books. His research on each of the places he visits is good, it should be given his journalist background, but it does mean that the writing can be a little clipped and terse at times. The only thing that stopped me giving this four stars was that is was lacking maps of the locations he visited. They needn’t have been detailed, but they do aid the context of where he went.

Good stuff though, one for all lovers of books.… (more)