Far and Away: The Essential A.A. Gill

by Adrian Gill

A.A. Gill was an exceptional writer. Savage and compassionate in equal measure, he was always opinionated, always original, often surprising, and his writing illuminated every page.

This second collection of his journalism brings together pieces from near and far. He was ferociously well-travelled and wrote 'abroad is as foreign and funny and strange and shocking as it ever was, and our need to know our neighbours every bit as great'. Far and Away is a book about meeting those neighbours. Wherever he was - with the glitterati in St Tropez or in the ruins of earthquake-stricken Haiti - he had the ability to pin down the heart of a story and render it unforgettable. He was a peerless writer about food, and we also join him at tables all around the globe. A.A. Gill had the gift of making his readers see the world in a different way. And, always, of making them laugh. This collection is an opportunity to marvel at a master at work.

Genres: Travel

Paperback

Published October 14, 2021

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I approached this audiobook with caution. First, because it’s A. A. Gill, and all things A. A. Gill should be approached with caution. Second, because it’s an audiobook and is read by Bill Nighy, who to me seems to be Bill Nighy in pretty much everything he plays and does. Totally wrong! Bill Nighy is the prefect narrator for these vignettes on whatever whimsical or otherwise fancy Gill wishes to talk about at the time. It’s the second book of his journalism and covers a lot of ground: Fishing, Goodwood, Barbecues, Motorways, and The Shipping Forecast come under his microscope and his well-travelled eye roves over Jordan, Kuala Lumpar, Haiti, Japan, Mozambique, Puglia, and even to his, now closed, place of worship, El Bulli. It’s always entertaining and quite brilliant in parts. This is perfect commuter listening - stand-alone commentary with a view – and what a view it often is. If you are no longer commuting much, then just listen to this instead and feel pleased with yourself.

[Marguerite Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a huge fan of AA Gill's restaurant reviews and food writing, but I had no idea he was such a brilliant travel writer. This collection was published after his (too early) death, and is edited by his daughter Flora. It's a fabulous introduction to his wit and powers of observation, and it's also a colourful panorama of short pieces covering the UK, Europe and much further afield. It's the sort of book you dip into while you have a cup of tea, and then you think, I'll just read one more, and then one more again. Touching, laugh out loud funny in places, it makes you want to go there - or to avoid the place at all costs. It makes you want to cook and to eat. And it reminds us of a wonderful, fabulous journalist who was a great loss.

[Ted Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like a book I can get my teeth into. I enjoy the build up of getting to know the characters, learning what it's about and, if it's a good book, enjoying the development of the story. I approached this book then, with some reluctance, not looking forward to many short, disparate pieces. The result was a very special surprise. I enjoyed it immensely, a wonderful, interesting, funny collection of essays from all over the world. Sad that the author is no longer with us. I would be waiting eagerly for the next collection.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Utterly beautiful writing. A mix of writing about domestic travel (UK), international travel and a little food writing. I would have enjoyed a little more of the food writing and a little less of the horrifically sad war-torn country/natural disaster zone articles, but overall the writing was exquisite to read, even if the topics were a little heartbreaking at times.

[Anton Forte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, funny, sad. Worth it alone, for his essay on Japan. Amazing.

[Oliver Everard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant.

[Helen Cummings · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable series of travel essays but by the end of the book I felt that there were just too many of them!