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Long Road from Jarrow

A journey through Britain then and now

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Long Road from Jarrow

By: Stuart Maconie
Narrated by: Stuart Maconie
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About this listen

Random House presents the unabridged downloadable audiobook edition of Long Road from Jarrow by Stuart Maconie.

In the autumn of 1936, some 200 men from the Tyneside town of Jarrow marched 300 miles to London in protest against the destruction of their towns and industries. Precisely 80 years on, Stuart Maconie walks from north to south, retracing the route of the emblematic Jarrow Crusade. Following history's footsteps, Maconie is in search of what modern Britain is really like today.

Travelling down the country's spine, Maconie moves through a land that is, in some ways, very much the same as the England of the '30s, with its political turbulence, austerity, north/south divide, food banks and, of course, football mania. Yet in other ways, it is completely unrecognisable: highstreets peppered with pound shops and e-cigarette vendors, smoothie bars and Costas on every corner.

Maconie visits the great, established and yet evolving cities of Leeds, Sheffield and London as well as the sleepy hamlets, quiet lanes and roaring motorways. He meets those with stories to tell and whose voices build a funny, complex and entertaining tale of Britain, then and now. Written in Maconie's signature style, this is a fascinating exploration of a modern nation that, though it looks and sounds strangely familiar, has been completely transformed.

©2017 Stuart Maconie (P)2017 Penguin Random House
Adventure Travel Europe Great Britain Travel Writing & Commentary Walking Western Europe England Adventure Funny Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Socialism

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All stars
Most relevant
Loved this thoroughly absorbing story. Very thought provoking and well presented in Stuart's own unique way. Well worth a listen.

Very informative and we'll presented.

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An engaging, thoughtful, funny and somewhat sad journey from Jarrow to London in 2016 which echoes back to the March in 1936

Sign of the times

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Well, listening. If only more people had this consideration when deciding things. If you want to understand not only a major part of recent social history and how it has reflections in our country today, get this!

Should be required reading...

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As per the book's title, Stuart Maconie (the bloke off the radio), walks the same 300 mile route taken by the Jarrow marchers back in 1936. While he's at it, he compares then and now: the people, the poiltics, the food, the religions. Doing so, he comes up with some pretty astute observations on things like Brexit and how the shabby, self-serving behaviour of modern politicians isn't exactly something new. Thankfully, despite this, he remains upbeat and warm and fascinating. Just the kind of bloke you'd love to have round for an evening of curry and chips and a trawl through your record collection.

Should be on the school curriculum

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There were times early on in the book where I lost sight of whether this was a then and now tale of English life with the Jarrow Crusade at the epicentre, interjected with feelings of Brexit. or a Brexit tale, interjected with feelings of the Jarrow Crusade. But looking past all that, Stuart meets some fascinating people, and recounts the story of a historic march. All while giving a detailed and enjoyable listen of how different life has changed over these 80 years, and not just on an obvious way. Overall? I loved it.

Charming and Evocative

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