All the Wide Border: Wales, England and the Places Between

The book "All the Wide Border" is a 2023 Waterstones Travel Book of the Year that explores the identity and belonging along the England-Wales border, highlighting the region's beauty and its darkest secrets. The author, Mike Parker, divides his journey into three legs, corresponding with the watersheds of the three great border rivers, and reveals the border to be a border within us all, fraying fast.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 30 March 2023
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

A Waterstones Travel Book of the Year 2023, "All the Wide Border" is a captivating and timely exploration of identity and belonging, taking readers on a scenic journey along the England-Wales border—Britain's most profound faultline. This line, which has been etched, debated, defined, and defended for centuries, represents a line that has been dug, debated, defined, and defended for twenty centuries.

"All the Wide Border" is a personal odyssey through the places, people, and divides of this border, encompassing some of the most breathtaking landscapes and darkest secrets of the region. It is a place of immense wonder and interest, as it holds the deepest roots and thorniest paradoxes of Britishness. The border between these countries, even as a concept, is ragged, jagged, and multi-layered, reflecting the complex and multifaceted nature of the region.

Author Mike Parker has a deep affection and fascination for these places, having grown up in England but settling in Wales. He embodies the typical experience of many individuals who are drawn in both directions, straddling the border between England and Wales. His journey is structured into three legs, corresponding with the watersheds of the three great border rivers: the Dee in the north, the Severn in the center, and the Wye in the south.

What emerges from Parker's exploration is a borderland that defies categorization—the March. Neither fully England nor Wales, this fuzzy borderland is a distinct entity, a country within itself. Parker delves into the many notions and clichés associated with Englishness, Welshness, and indeed Britishness, playfully challenging our assumptions and perceptions. Through his lens, the England-Wales frontier is revealed to be a border within us all, fraying rapidly due to the forces of change and globalization.

"All the Wide Border" is a thought-provoking and immersive journey that invites readers to explore the complexities of identity, belonging, and the ever-evolving nature of borders. It sheds light on the historical, cultural, and political factors that have shaped this region, while also offering a poignant reflection on the human experience of crossing boundaries. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history, culture, and politics of the United Kingdom, as well as for those who seek to understand the deeper dimensions of human identity and the complexities of our interconnected world.

Weight: 476g
Dimension: 160 x 243 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780008499181