Downstream

Across England in a Punt

By: Tom Fort

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Paperback | 15 March 2009 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
336 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
19.7 x 13.0 x 2.5

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One man and his boat take a trip up the river Trent

Downstream is a celebration of rivers- an exploration of what they mean to us and an account of what we owe to them. Tom Fort followed the course of our third largest, and one of our least known rivers from source to the sea -- the River Trent. Travelling partly on foot and bicycle, but chiefly in a plywood fifteen foot punt, Fort journeyed through the unsung heart of Middle England, showing him the unseen face of his own country. His journey taught him about the land and moving water, its mysteries and magic.

Rivers are special to us and the landscape we inhabit. They shape and define our world. They give us power and nourishment. They were the first highways, routes for conquest and flight. They acted as barriers and connections. they stir the imagination and reach into our souls.

This is an exploration into the historical, geographical, social, cultural and industrial aspects of a river filled with the curiosities, forgotten characters and departed ways.

Industry Reviews

In Downstream, Fort sets out by punt to explore what he describes, in a characteristically lovely phrase. as 'the concealed dimension' of water. Fort is a quintessentially English guide. A pleasingly unstructured ramble through the history of the Midlands. * Observer *
For the river-lover, who likes to pause and look over bridges to see what is going on beneath (and alongside), and who likes to think of the past and the present continually flowing into the future, this book will be a delight. * The Spectator *
The story of the river that bubbles up throughout the narrative is told with the quiet authority of one who knows about the hidden flow beneath the riverbed. Well-referenced scholarship lies behind Fort's lively accounts of the history of this part of Middle England. Erudition with a light touch, cleverly interwoven with stories of pints downed, clean sheets and greasy breakfasts appreciated and characters met; what fun it all is and how impressive is the learning that lies behind it. * TLS *
Sitting contentedly in a backwater with a glass of Rioja or a fishing line, Fort bestows an almost lyrical beauty on rivers both actual and archetypal, whether explaining the carved intricacies of the watercourse of simply peering deep into its "flickering being". * Daily Telegraph *
It is difficult not to like Fort, if not simply for his encyclopaedic knowledge of all things fluvial then for his wit and irony too. Once engaged it is difficult to escape. He has stirred a latent fondness for oxbow lakes and wandering streams. * Literary Review *

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Earth Sciences, Geography, Environment, Planning Earth Sciences Hydrology & The Hydrosphere Limnology & Freshwater Nature & The Natural World The Earth & Natural History in General Travel & Holidays Travel Writing Geography

Map	p. 1
'I go on for ever'	p. 7
Out of the Ground	p. 14
Childish Things	p. 27
The Magnificence of Cities	p. 38
North of South	p. 48
Holding Their Noses	p. 53
Recreating the Spirits	p. 66
Rocking Past Rugeley	p. 83
The Ale of England	p. 97
Crossing the Waters	p. 116
The Jolly Miller	p. 132
'I constrained the mighty river'	p. 147
Poets and Cannibals	p. 162
First Love	p. 178
Poor Lame Boy	p. 194
The Impostor	p. 209
Inns, Castles and Salmon Tails	p. 218
The Church by the Stream	p. 234
Redeeming Mr. Sweetapple	p. 245
The Mark of Cornelius Vermuyden	p. 260
A River's a River	p. 282
Brown Cod	p. 294
Notes	p. 303
Index	p. 311
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.

Downstream

Across England in a Punt

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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