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The Marches
- A Borderland Journey Between England and Scotland
- Narrated by: Rory Stewart
- Length: 12 hrs and 43 mins
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The Marches
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Summary
Ten years after the walk across Central Asia and Afghanistan that he memorialized in his best-selling The Places in Between, Rory Stewart set out on a new journey, traversing a thousand miles between England and Scotland.
Stewart was raised along the border of the two countries, the frontier taking on poignant significance in his understanding of what it means to be both Scottish and English, of his relationship with his father, who's lived on this land his whole life, and of his ties to the rich history and culture of the region. Now representing this borderland as a Member of Parliament, Stewart's march begins as his father turns 90, Scotland is about to vote on independence, and Britain may disappear forever. At times alone and at times joined by his father, Stewart melds the story of his journey with an intimate portrait of the changing social and political landscape of the region.
Stewart has written for the New York Times Magazine, Granta, and the London Review of Books.
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What listeners say about The Marches
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Lorna
- 09-06-23
Beautifully written, moving and fascinating
Fascinating account of Border history. Eloquent, poetic prose. Moving homage to a clearly much loved father.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Normal Norman
- 05-09-24
More than just a travelogue
I'm a big fan of Rory Stewarts work and this book is much more than just a travelogue of a walk along the border of England and Scotland. It's a tribute to a father who was born in a different world from his son's and the story of how they bridged the gap from Empire to the present.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- AF
- 17-12-17
The Marches
Delightful journey alongside Hadrian’s Wall and meanderings back through the Borderland Marches. Plenty of fascinating facts, impressions and opinions. Anyone who enjoys delving into the history of the Scottish/English border, its languages, landscape will love this book. Relationship with his somewhat eccentric but highly intelligent father is obviously very close. Very touching section on his father’s end. It is a delight to hear the author read his book with such clarity and feeling.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Leo
- 15-04-23
Splendid
So interesting, and what a man Rory’s father must have been. Also makes me want to visit Crieff again, and see the borderlands as a walker.
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1 person found this helpful
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- The Chairman
- 13-06-23
Absolutely fancinating!!
A remarkable account of a remarkable journey. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it to others.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 21-05-17
The chronicle of a father and son coming to a fuller understanding.
I loved this book.
It was a very articulate yet understated expression of a son's affection for and devotion to his delightful and singular father who loved him as devotedly, though their directions and attitudes to life were quite distinct.
Lots of very descriptive chapters about the borders between Scotland and England and what they signify today in a historical context. Also he is tangibly disappointed by the diminishing of historical reference points and their importance or lack of it in modern times for the people he met. His conclusions were far removed from what he had expected but honestly worked through and arrived at with a refusal to try and romanticise, and an acceptance of the motives of many "champions" of places or events he encountered as alien to those he had hoped for. These were often unrelated to historical truth and more to trying to make a profit or lure visitors into a managed experience far removed from what was real. Some of these modified expectations chimed with those he experienced in the planned father and son expeditions but the latter were illuminated by new insights and knowledge of his father's life and how he had lived it.
The story ends with a singular send off.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Rick deckard
- 23-05-18
cracking
A good canter through border history interwoven with an personal story of memories, passing and dedication.
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- Amazon Customer
- 21-10-23
Wonderful
Rory's love and respect for his father shines from this wonderful book. Beautifully read, full of interesting facts about landscape, history and the borderlands. I know little about politics, but listening to The Marches led me to purchase Rory's other book Politics on the Edge and subscribe to The Rest is Politics.
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- Anonymous User
- 06-02-24
A beautiful father son story in the borders
A book to peak your interest in the borders, border life and wonderful bonds between father and son.
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- R.
- 18-07-20
Great ‘father and son’ story
Rory is a devoted and loving son. His father was an adoring and loving father. One may interchange the adjectives. It was read brilliantly. It was written excellently. Gives an idea how one of the best statesmen of current times was brought up and loved. The words used to describe the environs, The Highlands and all, take readers there without having to physically travel. Amazing read!
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2 people found this helpful