The Four Men

Think "Three Men In a Boat," except there are four men, they don't know each other, and they're on foot. ;)
But in both cases, there are guys on the move, talking about lots of things and meeting other characters along the way. There are delightful and thought-provoking conversations about poetry, and first love, and food & drink, and horses, and a politician selling his soul.
I enjoyed encountering passages such as: We looked northward to the hill of Mayfield, where St. Dunstan pulled the Devil by the nose; and they keep the tongs wherewith he did it in Mayfield to this day. And: In Sussex , let me tell you, we have but one cheese, the name of which is CHEESE.

I expected something similar to Three Men in a Boat or Mr. Finchley Takes the Road and the premise of four men walking from pub to pub in Sussex with their anecdotes sounded attractive. Unfortunately the narrative is killed stone dead by leaden dialogue and dull characterization. The odd amusing moment, but I reached the end with some relief.

A disappointing read. Recommended by a friend because it had something to do with male bonding. I missed the point, and did not enjoy the read. I do not recommend this.