Book description
The Sunday Times Bestseller
A glorious insight into Britain over the last 150 years - its history,
landscape and people - from the window of Britain's many and magnificent
railway journeys.
Inspired by George Bradshaw, a 19th-century cartographer who mapped
Britain's railways as they sprung up around him, Charlie Bunce and
Michael Portillo take a journey along nine classic British railway
routes and surround themselves with the history, the charm and the
people at the heart of the railways.
More than just a practical mode of transport, Britain's railways are
richly representative and evocative of British society and how it has
developed over the last 150 years. Symbols of progress and change, they
tell of remarkable breakthroughs in technology, industry and travel.
Iconic in their design they have both made a distinctive impact on
Britain's landscape and opened it up to millions of people who, through
train journeys alone, became acquainted with wonderful new places and
sights. And as fond staples of childhood experiences they evoke deep,
memorable feelings of nostalgia, of holidays and home.
Great British Train Journeys is a passionate, charming and insightful
look at Britain from a window seat: a compelling read for all who look
forward to travelling by train. • 'A glorious insight into Britain
over the last 150 years - its history, landscape and people - from the
window of Britain's many and magnificent railway journeys […] It fills
in the gaps, gives you more insight, takes you further, as it were.
Charlie Bunce's words are the perfect compliment to Portillo's
commentaries, and the entire book is a delight to read. The original
photography is stunning, while the historical photographs are simply
fascinating. All in all, this is a book no serious history student of
this period can afford to be without. It's for armchair travellers, yes
indeed, but it's much more valuable than that.' - Books Monthly's
Nonfiction Choice for February
• A 'delightful pictorial travelogue' - Annabel Ford, Cox & Kings
• 'A colourful insight into Britain over the last 150 years' - National
Geographic Traveller Charlie Bunce has spent his working life in
broadcasting producing many award-winning programmes. He is now Editor
of Factual Programmes at talkbackTHAMES, where he produced Grand Designs
and Great British Railway Journeys.
Michael Portillo was an MP for nearly 20 years and held three
ministerial positions in the cabinet. He now has a regular weekly
television show about politics, and has made documentaries on a range of
subjects, including Great British Railway Journeys.
