Unofficial Britain
Journeys Through Unexpected Places
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Elliott & Thompson Limited
Published:8th Jul '21
Should be back in stock very soon
Gareth E. Rees's Unofficial Britain explores the hidden stories within overlooked spaces, revealing the rich narratives that shape modern British life.
In Unofficial Britain, Gareth E. Rees takes readers on an insightful journey through the often overlooked spaces of the British landscape. This exploration focuses on the places that exist outside the traditional narratives found in guidebooks and official histories. By delving into the margins of urban life, Rees uncovers the rich tapestry of stories that reside in the cracks of modernity, highlighting how these seemingly mundane locations contribute to the essence of contemporary British identity.
The narrative weaves through industrial estates, motorways, and housing developments, revealing a world where human experiences unfold in unexpected ways. The author captures the vibrant life that thrives in these overlooked areas, where tales of love, fear, and artistic expression coexist with the everyday hustle and bustle. As readers navigate through these spaces, they encounter ghost sightings, first kisses, and the struggles of the marginalized, all of which paint a vivid picture of life beyond the postcard-perfect tourist destinations.
Unofficial Britain ultimately challenges the perception of what constitutes a significant place in the geography of our nation. Rees invites us to reconsider the importance of these neglected sites, suggesting that they hold as much power and influence in our lives and imaginations as any celebrated landmark. This journey into the heart of Britain's built environment reveals the stories that shape our understanding of the world around us.
"The mythical and the municipal collide in a weirdly compelling tour of Britain's built environment" - The Financial Times
"Rees finds soul in these soulless locations, charting stories and encounters as rich as those found among rolling hills and chocolate box villages. A delight." - The New European
"Terrific... Britain's urban landscape is just as freighted with myth and mystery as its castles and ancient monuments and [Rees] proves it by unearthing a treasure trove of riveting stories." - Sunday Times, Best Books of the Year, 2020
"Should be required reading in every motorway service station coffee shop up and down this land" - The Psychogeographic Review
"A wonderful ramble through the Brexit Britain of today - warts and all." - Elsewhere: A Journal of Place
"Essential reading if you are interested in the urban wyrd and how folklore is mutating and developing in modern times." - Folk Horror Revival
"Unofficial Britain was my book of 2020" - Paul Cheney, Half Man Half Book
"Effortlessly combining urban folklore and personal memoir, history and psychogeography, road-trip narrative and gonzo journalism." - Ends of the World
"Unexpected and fascinating" - Melissa Harrison, author of The Stubborn Light of Things
"A fascinating and sometimes unnerving book" - Shiny New Books
"Dry and often very funny" - Bookmunch
"[...] harnesses the personal and philosophical, offering thoughts that are penetrating yet always entertaining [...] A fresh take on vistas some may too readily dismiss." - Never Imitate
"You should read this book. It will make you stay up too late, laugh out loud, and then freak yourself out looking out of the window at the haunted-looking binbag blowing past Carpet Right in the dead of night." - Michael Smith, author of Unreal City
"An appreciation of quotidian, overlooked and sometimes grotty landscapes; part memoir, part 'hauntology', and a stiff dose of nearness and weirdness to counter the tweeness that afflicts some topographical writing." - Will Wiles, author of Care of Wooden Floors
- Long-listed for RSL ONDAATJE PRIZE 2021 (UK)
ISBN: 9781783965960
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
304 pages
2nd New edition