Paddling to Jerusalem: An Aquatic Tour of Our Small Country

Publisher and industry reviews

Jacket review

'Deeply humane and often hilarious' New Statesman 'Aaronovitch is naturally funny companyperceptive and touching' Independent on Sunday 'A witty, compassionate, honest and ultimately optimistic man whose observations on everything are a delight to read' The Oldie 'Aaronovitch approaches each layer of his book with an irresistible simplicity, directness and humour. I doubt there will be a more intelligent or engaging book written about England - hidden or otherwise - for some time to come' Scotsman

UK Kirkus review

Modern travel books have given rise to crazy competition in the quest for the most outlandish destination or far-flung adventure. Aaronovitch has been impressively brave: he chose a journey not fraught with promise or obvious drama, and travelled in a canoe along the waterways and canals of middle England. From the beginning, this throws him back on his powers of observation, interpretation and evocation to give a picture of contemporary British society at the start of the new millennium. Whilst Aaronovitch does not attempt to prettify his experiences, neither does he dwell on horrors or exaggerate the negative. Nonetheless, the cumulative effect of unfriendly natives, loutish behaviour, urban sprawl, inhospitable hotels, closed or converted churches and the general feel of a country cut off from its roots and history by streams of traffic and the paucity of living culture, is somewhat depressing because it sadly rings true. Part history and part autobiography this account succeeds against the odds in holding both the reader's attention and allegiance. As a picture of contemporary England, if not visionary, it is revealing. (Kirkus UK)