Jul 05, 2012 walking home describes this extraordinary, yet ordinary, journey. Now simon armitage, with equal parts enthusiasm and trepidation, as well as a wry humor all his own, has taken on britains version of our appalachian trail. Walking home the pennine way is not a book of poems from this famous poet but a personal account of simon armitages experience, walking one of the toughest climbs in britain. All these are present in simon armitages equally entertaining walking home. Walking home paperback softback simon armitage mighty ape. He earned a ba from portsmouth university in geography, and an ms in social work from manchester university, where he studied the impact of televised violence on young offenders. This resource presents archive material relating to the walk and creation of walking home, held by special collections.
Simon armitages walking home is the travelogue of a penniless poet. Kindle books kindle unlimited prime reading bestsellers kindle daily deal kindle monthly deals free kindle reading apps buy a kindle content and devices kindle support. Walking home by simon armitage, 9780571249893, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. What does simon armitage bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you had only read the book. Walking home the pennine way is not a book of poems from this famous poet but a personal account of simon armitages experience, walking one of the toughest. Not content with walking the pennine way as a modern day troubadour, an experience recounted in his bestseller and prizewining walking home, the restless poet has followed up that journey with a walk of the same distance but through the very opposite terrain and direction far from home. Armitages account of the walk, walking home, was published in 2012. Nineteen days, 256 miles, and one renowned poet walking the backbone of england. Simon armitage was born in west yorkshire, england in 1963. Odysseus journeys home, his famous flair for storytelling seducing friend and foe. Walking home fits into the classic unnecessary journey genre, with a cast of local characters and transcendent momentsand never will reading about a hot shower and some foot ointment be quite so enjoyable. Buy walking home book online at low prices in india. Armitage wanted that, but also, to write a book about the north, one.
Simon armitage s first and last days on the trail, and particularly the legs from about dufton to hawes, included some of the best writing about walking that i have read. Walking home with simon armitage in 2010 simon armitage spent 19 days walking the 256 mile pennine way as a modern troubadour. Kirklees libraries reader development and the kirklees physical activity team, and health walks groups have joined forces to organise this great event which is part of the south pennine walk and ride festival. The challenging 256mile route is usually approached from south to north, from edale in the peak district to kirk yetholm, the other side of the scottish border. Simon armitage, an english poet, decides to walk the pennine way, a 256 mile trek down the spine of britain, that starts near his home in marsden and ends in kirk yeltham, just over the scottish border. The crisis manifested itself not in buying a red sports car or taking up with a younger woman, but rather in hiking the pennine way and then writing about it. The followup publication, walking away, also made the. Go search best sellers gift ideas new releases deals store. When simon armitage, a modern day poet and author, decided to write about walking the 256 mile pennine way in the summer of 2010 from north to south so that, as the quote above says, he felt like he was walking home towards yorkshire, rather than away from it. Walking home by simon armitage walking home the pennine way is not a book of poems from this famous poet but a personal account of simon armitages experience, walking one of the toughest climbs in britain. In the summer of 2010 the british poet simon armitage decided to have, at age 47, his midlife crisis. He worked as a probation officer for six years before focusing on poetry. Along the route he stopped to give poetry readings, often in exchange for donations of money, food or accommodation, despite the rejection of the free life seen in his 1993 poem hitcher, and has written a book about his journey, called walking home. A couple of summers ago, the poet simon armitage set out to tackle the pennine way, penniless and backwards.
Walking home by simon armitage, 9780871407436, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Buy walking home by simon armitage from waterstones today. The origins of the poet laureateship date back to the seventeenth century, when it was established as a royal office. He has a wonderful voice and an authentic yorkshire accent. So when the poet simon armitage decided to turn properly troubadour for a summer, and attempt a longdistance walk the harsh pennine way without taking any money at. In this edition of meet the author, nick higham talks to simon armitage. Jul 04, 2012 simon armitages walking home is the travelogue of a penniless poet along the pennine way. All these are present in simon armitages equally entertaining walking home, an account of the poets attempt on britains most gruelling trail, the 256mile pennine way, as he tramps it the. His narrative about walking the pennine way using no money except that which he earns from readings of poetry along the way is charming and interesting. Walking home hardcover in summer 2010 simon armitage decided to walk the pennine way. Simon armitage has 99 books on goodreads with 20554 ratings. In 2010 simon armitage spent 19 days walking the 256 mile pennine way as a modern troubadour. However we were inspired to buy this book after seeing simon at the marlborough literary festival at the end of september.
After buying a signed copy, i began reading walking home by simon armitage a writer best known for his poetry on the way back from a short stay in cornwall with my boyfriend. Apr 19, 20 and so in his new book, walking home, simon armitage, best known as a poet, but also a novelist, translator and essayist, heads for the pennine way, a rugged 256mile trail running along the. But as the walk finishes a darker horizon looms, and the close of walking home works like a perfect simon armitage poem. Simon armitages new book, walking home, describes a similar if shorter kind of adventure. In america wed call it hiking, but that doesnt capture the exact essence of the experience. Oct 11, 2014 walking home is no navel gazing contemplation or record of superhuman stamina. In summer 2010 simon armitage decided to walk the pennine way.
Poet simon armitage will be guiding a walking tour in celebration of his book walking home, on monday 10 september in kirklees. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Walking home with simon armitage special collections. So when the poet simon armitage decided to turn properly troubadour for a summer, and attempt a longdistance walk the harsh pennine. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. It is with great pleasure we announce the appointment of simon armitage as the new poet laureate. A poets journey uk, by simon armitage faber and faber non fiction, is the kindle deal of the day for those in the u. In 2019 armitage became poet laureate of great britain. Simply put, if you buy a book i recommend, a very small percent. Simon armitages walking home is the travelogue of a penniless poet along the pennine way. The book was perfect for the train, although i didnt have the time to finish it until about two weeks later. Another slowlypaced but wonderful travel book is the fabulous account of some of britains best railway trips, on the slow train again by michael williams.
Jan 11, 20 simon artmitage talks exclusively to jazz fm about his book walking home. A poets journey a poets journey by simon armitage available from rakuten kobo. Apr 04, 20 walking home by simon armitage walking home the pennine way is not a book of poems from this famous poet but a personal account of simon armitage s experience, walking one of the toughest climbs in britain. Mar 27, 20 simon armitages new book, walking home, describes a similar if shorter kind of adventure. Simon armitage and the pennine way would you listen to walking home again. Rather than a cheerful recount of his walk through the pennine way designed to entertain an audience with humorous anecdotes of his rip roaring adventures, walking home a poets journey represents armitages range of emotional highs and lows, celebrating both the potential sublime and banal that he encounters on his way whilst still frequently finding humour throughout. In one classic walking book, travels in england carl philipp. Instead walking home is the story of a trip that is more down to earth than that. He is also professor of poetry at the university of leeds and succeeded geoffrey hill as oxford professor of poetry when he was elected to the fouryear parttime appointment from 20152019.
Simon armitage is the awardwinning poet and translator of both sir gawain and the green knight and the death of king arthur, as well as several works of poetry, prose, and drama. During the day he would walk, and in the evenings he would stay with those he met along the way while earning cash by giving readings. Walking home in summer 2010 simon armitage decided to walk the pennine way. Read walking home by simon armitage available from rakuten kobo.
Reading walking home was much like i imagine the pennine way to be. Simon armitage british poet, playwright, and novelist. Simon armitage, who narrates his own book, has a very relaxing voice which makes this an enjoyable read. His work combines wry colloquialism and humour with frequent. The english poet simon armitage hikes the pennine way, giving readings en route, and chronicles his experience in the book walking home. You cannot receive a refund if you have placed a shippingpasseligible order. Armitage, a gifted english poet, relates his tramp along the nearly 260 miles of the pennine.
Armitage wanted that, but also, to write a book about the north, one that could observe and. The romantic poets tramped all over the lake district searching for inspiration. Walking home by simon armitage, 9780571249886, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. Armitage s account of the walk, walking home, was published in 2012. Armitage s 2012 non fiction book walking home, an account of his troubadour journey along the pennine way, became a sunday times top ten bestseller for over a month and was shortlisted for the 2012 portico prize. One of britains bestloved poets, armitage walked the pennine way in the wrong direction from the scottish borders to. One summer, simon armitage decided to walk the pennine way a challenging 256mile route usually approached from south to north, with the sun, wind and rain at your back. Sometimes armitages prose soars and flies as one would expect from a skilled poet, other times it lays as flat as a rain soaked tablecloth. In walking away simon armitage swaps the moorland uplands.
What makes armitages pilgrimage special is that he attempts to fuel it on poetry alone. He undertook this task, a walk that stretched about 256 miles, in the summer of 2010. You are eligible for a full refund if no shippingpasseligible orders have been placed. He includes a couple of his poems later in the book which are magical. His works were widely anthologized and have been broadly popular. In 2010, armitage walked the 264mile pennine way, walking south from scotland to derbyshire.
In this case, the customer care team will remove your account from autorenewal to ensure you are not charged for an additional year and you can continue to use the subscription until the end of your subscription term. And so in his new book, walking home, simon armitage, best known as a poet, but also a novelist, translator and essayist, heads for the pennine way, a rugged 256mile trail running along the. Walking home event with simon armitage reading groups. The best poems by simon armitage selected by dr oliver tearle since his debut collection, zoom. Simon armitage, british poet, playwright, and novelist whose poetry is attuned to modern life and vernacular language and has been regarded as both accessible and revelatory. Simon artmitage talks exclusively to jazz fm about his book walking home. See all books authored by simon armitage, including homers odyssey, and short and sweet. Its about facing emotional and physical challenges, and sometimes overcoming them. He undertook this task, a walk that stretched about 256 miles, in. Poet simon armitage decided in 2010 to walk the pennine way in reverse instead of heading to scotland, hed start just across the border. Its a story about britains remote and overlooked interior the wildness of its landscape and the generosity of the locals who sustained him on his journey.
One of englands distinct traditions is that of the walking holiday. In the authors case, the walk was more than a shuffle about the lake district, but rather a long haul down the pennine way, more than 250 miles, and three weeks, from scotland to his home in the midlands. This month we will be discussing simon armitages walking home and im ashamed to say i hadnt really thought about him as a prose writer, rather. We have been fans of simon armitage after seeing him on a number of tv programmes about poetry. Walking home simon armitage sue roberts download free ebook. He read extracts from walking home, and the next day we bought the book. Walking home by simon armitage great mixture of fun travel and thought provoking lyricism with the odd bit of excellent poetry walking home. I thought i was in for a treat, as id really enjoyed his first semi. Simon armitage books list of books by author simon armitage. Walking home describes this extraordinary, yet ordinary, journey. Walking home by simon armitage walking home the pennine way is not a book of poems from this famous poet but a personal account of simon armitage s experience, walking one of the toughest climbs in britain. This online resource presents archive material relating to the walk and creation of walking home, held by special collections. Simon robert armitage, cbe, frsl born 26 may 1963 is an english poet, playwright and novelist who has been poet laureate since 10 may 2019. Apr 22, 2014 odysseus journeys home, his famous flair for storytelling seducing friend and foe.
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