by Tom King (2001) Paperback. 216x135
mm
224 pages
ISBN 1-874287-45-7
£9.99
Newspaperman Tom King, in the company of 'Essex Dog,' takes a whimsical stroll along the north and south shores of the River Thames, humourously noting people and places.
The hilarious adventures of local newspaper reporter Tom King, as he sets out to blaze a trail round his own backyard. The Thames Estuary has existed for aeons. The earliest known humans in Britain set up home on its shores. Yet until now, nobody seems to have thought of walking round it. As he stumbled round the unfashionable end of the Thames, accompanied by his history-hating dog, the author began to understand just why. There were endless mishaps, often brought about by journalistic nosiness, the search for stories, and the mud. Yet along the way, as he discovered and recalled the people, places, secrets and wild creatures of this unexpected wilderness, something astonishing happened. He fell in love with it.
"A warm, affectionate and very
funny journey along the artery of England." Kevan Furbank,
The Mirror.
"A rare talent ... [King is] funny and penetrating."
Alan Rusbridger, The Guardian.
Contents:
1 ESTUARY BLUES
2 BLAZED ANY GOOD TRAILS LATELY?
3 FOULNESS – MYSTERY ISLAND
4 SHOEBURY – THE NAME OF THE NOSE
5 SOUTHEND – THE TEEMING MUD
6 LEIGH, HADLEIGH – AND LOST
7 THE TILBURY DREAMERS
8 GRAVESEND DISCOVERED
9 DICKENS COUNTRY
10 ALLHALLOWS – THAMES GHOST-TOWN
11 SHEPPEY – WORLD’S END