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Treasured Island: A Book Lover's Tour of Britain
Inspired by the discovery of his childhood copy of Treasure Island , Frank Barrett embarks on a literary quest around Britain, from Eliot's East Coker to Austen's Bath, Winnie-the-Pooh's Hartfield to Dracula's Whitby. Armed with a lifetime of reading and his National Trust membership, Frank is on a personal odyssey through the Britain that has inspired so many writers to capture it in lines or verse, the homes that they lived in, the museums that remember them. There will be rain, there will be truculent tour guides, there will be satnav misdemeanors, (there may even be tuberculosis), but Frank will carry on regardless. Where? To the lighthouse.
272 pages, Paperback
First published May 28, 2015
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73 people want to read
About the author
Frank Barrett
184 books2 followersFrank Barrett (1848-1926) was a popular British novelist and pottery owner.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 30, 2015
The British Isles has a long and illustrious literary history with some of the best books written in the world emanating from this island of the north of Europe. Discovering by chance a childhood copy of Treasure Island, Barrett wants to discover for himself the places and the people that created these books.
Starting in the West Country, his travels take him to graveyards, across moors, to the end of a cobb, to woods and even to the lighthouse. He visits the many museums that are dedicated to a single author, the author’s homes that are now owned by the National Trust and to stand in the landscapes that inspired them to put pen to paper.
This is not an exceptional book, but it is a delight to read. Barrett writes with a subtle humour, drawing out the stories on each of the authors and locations, and sprinkling the text with facts and anecdotes on the books. His research on each of the places he visits is good, it should be given his journalist background, but it does mean that the writing can be a little clipped and terse at times. The only thing that stopped me giving this four stars was that is was lacking maps of the locations he visited. They needn’t have been detailed, but they do aid the context of where he went.
Good stuff though, one for all lovers of books.
Starting in the West Country, his travels take him to graveyards, across moors, to the end of a cobb, to woods and even to the lighthouse. He visits the many museums that are dedicated to a single author, the author’s homes that are now owned by the National Trust and to stand in the landscapes that inspired them to put pen to paper.
This is not an exceptional book, but it is a delight to read. Barrett writes with a subtle humour, drawing out the stories on each of the authors and locations, and sprinkling the text with facts and anecdotes on the books. His research on each of the places he visits is good, it should be given his journalist background, but it does mean that the writing can be a little clipped and terse at times. The only thing that stopped me giving this four stars was that is was lacking maps of the locations he visited. They needn’t have been detailed, but they do aid the context of where he went.
Good stuff though, one for all lovers of books.
April 1, 2016
I really really wanted to give this 4 stars but there are so many niggley things that take away from the book. A map of his journey would have added so much, it would have been great to follow the route he took and a lot of places I had to look up as I hadn't heard of them before. He is also always complaining about places prohibiting the taking of photos, he still must have taken some but hasn't included any, why complain so much about the photos and then not include any? I also found his humour irritating at times, it makes him come across a grumpy man who whinges about everything. Finally at times it feels rushed at times it feels like "there's a museum, there is a nice walk here.... next!"
Other than all that I really enjoyed this, so much interesting info on British authors, where they were born, lived and died, the things they did, the people they met, who they hated and who p****ed them off. It's almost gossipy at times and that was the best part of the book, I've collected so much info ready for pub quizzes and when Q.I. is on.
I'm not sure this has inspired me to want to visit these places though, maybe if I'm in the area I may visit, at least thanks to this book I'm aware of them.
Other than all that I really enjoyed this, so much interesting info on British authors, where they were born, lived and died, the things they did, the people they met, who they hated and who p****ed them off. It's almost gossipy at times and that was the best part of the book, I've collected so much info ready for pub quizzes and when Q.I. is on.
I'm not sure this has inspired me to want to visit these places though, maybe if I'm in the area I may visit, at least thanks to this book I'm aware of them.
May 6, 2019
Britain has a lot of literary attractions and places you can visit that are connected to writers. Frank Barrett estimates there are more than 100, many maintained by the National Trust, which Barrett believes has "largely replaced the Church of England in the role of caring for the soul of the nation".
In this entertaining and informative book, Barrett - the long-standing travel editor of the Mail on Sunday - sets out to visit as many as he can on a whistle stop tour of Britain that takes him from the West Country and Cornwall (Betjeman, Coleridge, Woolf and William Blake) up to Scotland to see Burns Cottage, Jura (where Orwell wrote 1984; you can rent the very cottage in which he stayed while failing to recuperate from TB), and Unst, the most northerly of the Shetland Islands.
The shape of Unst is believed to have been taken up by Robert Louis Stevenson in his classic Treasure Island. Barrett's title obviously derives from this. His fascination with the book stems from his childhood in which he had a (much condensed) 20-minute EP audio version of Stevenson's work. Hence lines such as "the black spot!" and "them that'll die will be the lucky ones..." became part of his "family parlance". A kindly uncle later gave him a copy of the book.
Barrett's love of British literature takes him on a gentle, meandering tour to see the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth in the Pennines, Jane Austen's home in Chawton in Hampshire, the Charles Dickens museum in Broadstairs in Kent (Dickens is believed to have written parts of Bleak House in the seaside town), Hull (for its Larkin connection), Leeds (for its connection to Keith Waterhouse, whom Barrett knew), London (where he particularly enjoys seeing Samuel Johnson's house off Fleet Street), Laugharne in Wales (where he pops into the Boathouse where Dylan Thomas based himself, while spending much time in the bar of nearby Brown's Hotel)... and many other literary spots.
He does not aim to be comprehensive (there is the excellent Oxford Guide to Literary Britain and Ireland for that). His intention is to offer an account of the various attractions - museums and places rooted in authors' pasts - as he sees them.
This adds charm and there is an honestly about the descriptions - particularly when he is critical of how some attractions are run. I especially enjoyed his bust up with the uptight staff at the Bronte Parsonage, who seem to consider Barrett some kind of security threat because he possesses a camera.
In his concluding chapter Barrett comments: "A few of Britain's literary attractions are run as totalitarian regimes, apparently inspired by Honecker-era Communist East Germany". Which is perhaps over-egging it a bit, but those who have visited such places know what he means. Maybe - given that tourism is just about all that Britain has left in terms of "industry" - it's about time that British holiday spots began to adopt the American "have a nice day" attitude, Barrett muses.
This is a good read with lots of practical ideas for trips and pen portraits of writers and the locales that inspired their works.
In this entertaining and informative book, Barrett - the long-standing travel editor of the Mail on Sunday - sets out to visit as many as he can on a whistle stop tour of Britain that takes him from the West Country and Cornwall (Betjeman, Coleridge, Woolf and William Blake) up to Scotland to see Burns Cottage, Jura (where Orwell wrote 1984; you can rent the very cottage in which he stayed while failing to recuperate from TB), and Unst, the most northerly of the Shetland Islands.
The shape of Unst is believed to have been taken up by Robert Louis Stevenson in his classic Treasure Island. Barrett's title obviously derives from this. His fascination with the book stems from his childhood in which he had a (much condensed) 20-minute EP audio version of Stevenson's work. Hence lines such as "the black spot!" and "them that'll die will be the lucky ones..." became part of his "family parlance". A kindly uncle later gave him a copy of the book.
Barrett's love of British literature takes him on a gentle, meandering tour to see the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth in the Pennines, Jane Austen's home in Chawton in Hampshire, the Charles Dickens museum in Broadstairs in Kent (Dickens is believed to have written parts of Bleak House in the seaside town), Hull (for its Larkin connection), Leeds (for its connection to Keith Waterhouse, whom Barrett knew), London (where he particularly enjoys seeing Samuel Johnson's house off Fleet Street), Laugharne in Wales (where he pops into the Boathouse where Dylan Thomas based himself, while spending much time in the bar of nearby Brown's Hotel)... and many other literary spots.
He does not aim to be comprehensive (there is the excellent Oxford Guide to Literary Britain and Ireland for that). His intention is to offer an account of the various attractions - museums and places rooted in authors' pasts - as he sees them.
This adds charm and there is an honestly about the descriptions - particularly when he is critical of how some attractions are run. I especially enjoyed his bust up with the uptight staff at the Bronte Parsonage, who seem to consider Barrett some kind of security threat because he possesses a camera.
In his concluding chapter Barrett comments: "A few of Britain's literary attractions are run as totalitarian regimes, apparently inspired by Honecker-era Communist East Germany". Which is perhaps over-egging it a bit, but those who have visited such places know what he means. Maybe - given that tourism is just about all that Britain has left in terms of "industry" - it's about time that British holiday spots began to adopt the American "have a nice day" attitude, Barrett muses.
This is a good read with lots of practical ideas for trips and pen portraits of writers and the locales that inspired their works.
November 12, 2020
Frank Barrett goes on a personal odyssey around Britain discovering literary landmarks, houses and museums. On the way, he exposes the quirks and flaws of many of his sites, and a few of his own. It's an amusing and easy read, but his reviews tend to TripAdvisor style - either grumpy or glowing. (He does admit to using reviews websites such as TripAdvisor in his research.) He likes his chosen sites to be quiet, come with attached car parking, and preferably be run by the National Trust. He doesn't like schools, or children, being accommodated when he wants to visit. And, despite checking the publicised opening hours of sites, he still thinks it acceptable to turn up and expect to be given access outside those hours. Having worked in museums, including literary sites, this had me shouting at the book in frustration.
There is a lot to enjoy and Barrett's choice of literary connections and nuggets of information is eclectic. However, for me it would have been improved by a better understanding of the often difficult landscape and woeful financial position of small heritage organisations. As I said, this is a personal odyssey, and that's what we get - the nostalgic views and opinions of one middle aged man who doesn't see why anything should come between him and a literary experience with bonus cream tea and onsite car parking. The book is also spoiled by a few irritating errors and typos.
Weirdly Goodreads won't let me add a star rating but I'm giving this three stars.
There is a lot to enjoy and Barrett's choice of literary connections and nuggets of information is eclectic. However, for me it would have been improved by a better understanding of the often difficult landscape and woeful financial position of small heritage organisations. As I said, this is a personal odyssey, and that's what we get - the nostalgic views and opinions of one middle aged man who doesn't see why anything should come between him and a literary experience with bonus cream tea and onsite car parking. The book is also spoiled by a few irritating errors and typos.
Weirdly Goodreads won't let me add a star rating but I'm giving this three stars.
July 31, 2018
A fairly interesting guide to literary sites in Britain. the author starts his travels in the West Country, and works his way up to Scotland. The author's own tastes inevitably affect his coverage - when he visits Glastonbury for instance he makes no mention of John Cowper Powys, and in Oxford Barbara Pym does not rate a mention, while in Lyme he devotes two pages to John Fowles and the French Lieutenant's Woman, while Jane Austen's Persuasion only merits two sentences. he is a great admirer of Wuthering Heights, which gets a lot of time devoted to it - Emily Bronte is compared favourably to Jane Austen, whom he clearly doesn't rate very highly. he is most unfair to Walter Scott, whom he criticises fiercely for not writing about the Highland Clearances - conveniently ignoring the fact that Scott was an historical novelist who didn't write about contemporary life, so why on earth should he write about the clearances? most tiresome is Barrett's complaints when he arrives at a museum two minutes before closing time and it won't stay open so he can visit it - why should it? likewise he complains when a place that only allows visitors in conducted groups won't let him go in alone - again, why should it? there's some quite interesting stuff in this book if you don't find the author too tiresome - I must admit he was irritating me quite a bit by the end.
July 11, 2024
I really enjoyed this (some of the transitions between locations were a little jarring but otherwise very good)
October 2, 2015
Teasured Island intrigued me greatly because I knew that Barrett had previously written on the topic of literary tourism - and that that title was especially concerned with the locations of children's literature. The charming though problematic Where was Wonderland is a book full of an undoubted affinity for his subject though it's now a title which has now dated substantially.
And so: Treasured Island. It's a splendidly independent-minded, swift tour around a vast host of locations, taking in visits to sites in England, Wales and Scotland. Among others, Barrett visits Jura, Ilkley, Oxford and Bath. The chapters detail each step of these journeys with titles such as "Stoke Poges to Stratford" and "Burns Cottage to Muckle Flugga". There's one chapter which is simply: "London" and another which, more enigmatically, called: "Jane Austen to Jane Austen". Barrett also includes a select bibliography with his references and a selection of readings for those who wish to explore more of the authors he mentions. A lot of this speaks very well of Barrett's knowledge and consideration of his subject, plus the broad approach he takes throughout the novel. Authors covered include those from a diverse range of genres and eras plus a healthy mixture of those who write for adult and children.
Treasured Island is a pacy, quick read and whilst this is both a positive, it's also a downfall. There are moments when I'd welcome more time being taken about the sites itself but the text itself is already moving onto the next site. At times, it feels a little like the work is guilty of 'doing' the sites in question, which is something it does tend to chide tourists for (particularly with locations such as Stratford on Avon and Shakespeare).
I'd also have welcomed less consideration of the carparks at the various attractons visited. There's a lot of talk of the practicalities of parking and of the good or bad welcome Barrett receives from certain locations; and whilst these Bryson-esque touches are occasionally humorous, I don't think the strength of the text lies in these moments. They lie in Barrett's undoubted knowledge and love for his subject and the passionate, heartfelt and quite moving coda set on Jura where his journey reaches an end.
And so: Treasured Island. It's a splendidly independent-minded, swift tour around a vast host of locations, taking in visits to sites in England, Wales and Scotland. Among others, Barrett visits Jura, Ilkley, Oxford and Bath. The chapters detail each step of these journeys with titles such as "Stoke Poges to Stratford" and "Burns Cottage to Muckle Flugga". There's one chapter which is simply: "London" and another which, more enigmatically, called: "Jane Austen to Jane Austen". Barrett also includes a select bibliography with his references and a selection of readings for those who wish to explore more of the authors he mentions. A lot of this speaks very well of Barrett's knowledge and consideration of his subject, plus the broad approach he takes throughout the novel. Authors covered include those from a diverse range of genres and eras plus a healthy mixture of those who write for adult and children.
Treasured Island is a pacy, quick read and whilst this is both a positive, it's also a downfall. There are moments when I'd welcome more time being taken about the sites itself but the text itself is already moving onto the next site. At times, it feels a little like the work is guilty of 'doing' the sites in question, which is something it does tend to chide tourists for (particularly with locations such as Stratford on Avon and Shakespeare).
I'd also have welcomed less consideration of the carparks at the various attractons visited. There's a lot of talk of the practicalities of parking and of the good or bad welcome Barrett receives from certain locations; and whilst these Bryson-esque touches are occasionally humorous, I don't think the strength of the text lies in these moments. They lie in Barrett's undoubted knowledge and love for his subject and the passionate, heartfelt and quite moving coda set on Jura where his journey reaches an end.
March 17, 2017
Pleasant enough fluff about literary homes. He's opinionated and amusing, even if I didn't always share his views. He was clear about his favorites and made sure to mention. I appreciated this comment: "We expect more from writers, however; the best writers can touch our soul and we would prefer that the people who had access to our deepest emotions also have the highest moral credentials." (p.161)
I wish the book had a map or maps. When I read about the publisher, AA, I was even more surprised because they supply guides.
My big quibble is with his repeated complaints that places didn't cater to his need. His point about untrained or untrainable volunteers was measured and fair; however, several times he ignored warnings on websites and then complained when his particular needs couldn't be accommodated. He arrives when a place is closing and is annoyed they won't stay open late. How often does he work overtime for no extra pay? Whose paying the extra for utilities? Whose children should wait on a corner because their parent had to stay longer than expected. Oh, just once, just for Mr. Barrett--well, everyone feels that way. It would be every day because every day there's someone who wishes the world were arranged to suit their desires. One site said to make a reservation. He didn't and then was outraged. "I got up at 6 am and drove 200 miles." Then you should have planned ahead. The other group there did plan ahead. He ended with this rant in conclusion. That's not a laughable curmudgeonly behavior; that's outright selfishness.
I wish the book had a map or maps. When I read about the publisher, AA, I was even more surprised because they supply guides.
My big quibble is with his repeated complaints that places didn't cater to his need. His point about untrained or untrainable volunteers was measured and fair; however, several times he ignored warnings on websites and then complained when his particular needs couldn't be accommodated. He arrives when a place is closing and is annoyed they won't stay open late. How often does he work overtime for no extra pay? Whose paying the extra for utilities? Whose children should wait on a corner because their parent had to stay longer than expected. Oh, just once, just for Mr. Barrett--well, everyone feels that way. It would be every day because every day there's someone who wishes the world were arranged to suit their desires. One site said to make a reservation. He didn't and then was outraged. "I got up at 6 am and drove 200 miles." Then you should have planned ahead. The other group there did plan ahead. He ended with this rant in conclusion. That's not a laughable curmudgeonly behavior; that's outright selfishness.
December 2, 2015
I have to say I didn't really like the first half of this book, I felt the author was trying too hard and hadn't really planned his trip particularly well or done the neccessary research needed for the task he was undertaking. I enjoy writers who take the time to arrange meetings or visits with people connected with their project and this book would have been a prime case for this. I also didn't like how the author spent time talking about car parks in particular amongst other bugbears of his.
However, the latter half of the book was much better in my eyes, he really seemed to write more from the heart and made me want to read the books he was talking about!
This book was a 2 stars for me but the second half bumped it up to 3 :)
However, the latter half of the book was much better in my eyes, he really seemed to write more from the heart and made me want to read the books he was talking about!
This book was a 2 stars for me but the second half bumped it up to 3 :)
September 16, 2022
A delightful guide to the homes and habitats of some of Britain's greatest authors. If you love English literature, you will be greatly entertained by Barretts comical and insightful travel notes. I found myself pulling up photos on the net to accompany his descriptions, which added an extra element of pleasure.
June 9, 2024
Barrett visits some of the places in Britain where writers have lived, have been inspired to write or have based their stories. The choice of writers to be included in a book like this is always very subjective, so you do have to accept that Barrett may include authors you dislike or miss out authors you love.
He writes in a mildly comic, 'grumpy old man' style, but mostly without going over the top. I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second, as I felt the writing style became increasingly hurried toward the end. In fact, during the chapter on Scotland, I was reminded of the joke about overseas tourists: "Where are we? If it's Thursday, it must be Stratford." since we seemed to rush from one place and author to another without really learning anything new. I did find his constant eulogising of the National Trust wore a bit thin by the time I was halfway through the book, and I also got fed up with his arrogance, not bothering to pre-book or turning up to a venue just as it closed and assuming that he'd be allowed in anyway because he is so important! These things prevented the book from having a higher rating than 3 stars, but it's still an interesting read, especially for those who enjoy visiting literary sites.
He writes in a mildly comic, 'grumpy old man' style, but mostly without going over the top. I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second, as I felt the writing style became increasingly hurried toward the end. In fact, during the chapter on Scotland, I was reminded of the joke about overseas tourists: "Where are we? If it's Thursday, it must be Stratford." since we seemed to rush from one place and author to another without really learning anything new. I did find his constant eulogising of the National Trust wore a bit thin by the time I was halfway through the book, and I also got fed up with his arrogance, not bothering to pre-book or turning up to a venue just as it closed and assuming that he'd be allowed in anyway because he is so important! These things prevented the book from having a higher rating than 3 stars, but it's still an interesting read, especially for those who enjoy visiting literary sites.
July 22, 2021
A breezy and enjoyable overview of well known British authors and their associated museums as the author drives about. The selection is individual and eclectic, but most are familiar, although Wales comes in for more specific regional treatment. Museums and writers' homes are assessed with comments on treatment of visitors, parking, operating hours, lighting and general interest. Austen's Chawton scores high. (I've been there and Gilbert White's place in Selborne. Now there is a virtual tour on their website.) Beatrix Potter's home is dark. More could be said about the preserved window at Shakespeare's birth place with the signatures of 19th century authors signed in with diamond rings.
February 12, 2019
No maps! Sadness.
A fact-filled guide to literary Britain. Full of fun tidbits. Enjoyable.
A fact-filled guide to literary Britain. Full of fun tidbits. Enjoyable.
April 2, 2023
Mildly interesting, but written in a flat tone
October 14, 2023
Bibliophiles and anglophiles alike will find this very engaging and fun. Never takes itself too seriously and is often hilarious.
January 1, 2016
A brilliant journey around the UK dipping into many different types of literature and the places where they were written. From Chaucer to Orwell, Jane Austen to Willans & Searle, this journey brings to life the places where writers lived and in some cases, the inspiration for their work. It isn't just prose either - Wordsworth's Lake District, Gray's Country Churchyard, Keats and Shelley all have their place.
If you love books and writers, you'll love this too! A Treasured Island indeed.
If you love books and writers, you'll love this too! A Treasured Island indeed.
October 18, 2015
Entertaining travelogue with lots of little interesting snippets!
June 12, 2016
very good
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews