Backlisted

The Kingdom by the Sea by Paul Theroux


Listen Later

Forty years ago the writer Paul Theroux hoisted his knapsack on his back and set off on a journey on foot around the coast of the United Kingdom; the effects of Thatcherism were being felt in earnest and the Falklands War was in progress. The Kingdom by the Sea, Theroux's grumpy, funny account of this journey, was published the following year (1983) and caused outrage in many of the seaside towns the author had passed through and seemingly written off. In this episode the Backlisted team - Andy, John, Nicky and Tess - revisit the book, and a few books like it, to discuss whatever happened to travel writing; how Britain has changed since 1982; and what Theroux got right - and wrong - about his adopted country. In addition, John enjoys a more recent travelogue, Felicity Cloake's new book Red Sauce Brown Sauce: A British Breakfast Odyssey (Mudlark); while Andy reads two poems from Fiona Benson's stunning new collection Ephemeron (Cape Poetry).


Timings: (may differ due to variable advert length)

08:16 - Fiona Benson. Ephemeron.

15:44 - Felicity Cloake's new book Red Sauce Brown Sauce: A British Breakfast Odyssey.

22:28 - The Kingdom by the Sea by Paul Theroux


* To purchase any of the books mentioned in this episode please visit our bookshop at uk.bookshop.org/shop/backlisted where all profits help to sustain this podcast and UK independent bookshops.

* For information about everything mentioned in this episode visit www.backlisted.fm

*If you'd like to support the show, listen without adverts, receive the show early and with extra bonus fortnightly episodes, become a Patreon at www.patreon.com/backlisted


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

BacklistedBy Backlisted

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

551 ratings


More shows like Backlisted

View all
The Penguin Podcast by Penguin Books UK

The Penguin Podcast

148 Listeners

Arts & Ideas by BBC Radio 4

Arts & Ideas

296 Listeners

World Book Club by BBC World Service

World Book Club

365 Listeners

The LRB Podcast by The London Review of Books

The LRB Podcast

293 Listeners

Bookclub by BBC Radio 4

Bookclub

236 Listeners

London Review Bookshop Podcast by London Review Bookshop

London Review Bookshop Podcast

128 Listeners

The TLS Podcast by The TLS

The TLS Podcast

186 Listeners

The Shakespeare and Company Interview by Shakespeare and Company

The Shakespeare and Company Interview

90 Listeners

The History of Literature by Jacke Wilson / The Podglomerate

The History of Literature

1,101 Listeners

The New Yorker: The Writer's Voice - New Fiction from The New Yorker by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

The New Yorker: The Writer's Voice - New Fiction from The New Yorker

2,115 Listeners

The Book Club by The Spectator

The Book Club

9 Listeners

The Waterstones Podcast by Waterstones

The Waterstones Podcast

36 Listeners

Close Readings by London Review of Books

Close Readings

67 Listeners

Past Present Future by David Runciman

Past Present Future

321 Listeners

A Good Read by BBC Radio 4

A Good Read

13 Listeners