Stuart Maconie has seized upon the wonderful opportunity given him by commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Jarrow March to literally follow in its footsteps and retrace the 300 mile journey from the North East to London.

He is an acute observer of the people he meets en route and the places that he walks through and provides a thoughtful and sometimes harsh comparison of the state of our nation compared with the austerity much of it faced back in 1936.

Part travelogue, part polemic, part witty observational journalism this is a thought provoking account of how so much has stayed the same as how much has changed in the interim period.

Highly recommended.

Really great humorous yet informative book. The author comes across as a really genuine guy who loves this country, and is exploring where we may have gone slightly astray...

Although Stuart Maconie had no particular connections with Jarrow, he ‘fancied going for a really long walk,’ and decided, in 2016, to retrace the 1936 Jarrow march. Over three and a half weeks, he planned to walk the nearly 300 miles from Jarrow to London. This march has taken on something of a mythic quality in British minds. These men, walking to London in order to deliver a petition to parliament, hoping to find employment. In a way, as Maconie muses, this is due to our love of ‘heroic failure.’ The last survivor of the march later admitted it, “had made not one ha’porth of difference,” although others felt it created a desire for change.

Maconie is an interesting and entertaining guide and I have enjoyed his previous books. This is a guide across a still divided nation – a country split by geography and class – and written shortly after the Brexit vote which permeates the pages of this book as Maconie attempts to come to grips with what leaving Europe means (published a year later, it is obvious that nobody is sure even now, including an increasingly divided government).

So, what was life for like in Jarrow in 1936? Jarrow sits on the banks of the Tyne, nine miles west of Newcastle. At the time of the march, the shipyards were closed, there was 80% unemployment, a harsh means test for any kind of welfare benefit and little support from the Labour party (the natural political supporters) for the march. However, hopes were high when the men set out and so was our guide and author.

This book combines a history of the march with modern day comparisons. Although some people he talked to, had not heard of the Jarrow march, others had longer memories and he draws interesting, more modern examples. In Barnsley, for example, Maconie discovers a cab company, formed with the redundancy money from the miner’s strike, with a younger cab driver comparing the original drivers to ‘Japanese soldiers who don’t know the war’s over.’ There are various political, and historical, topics – from Jeremy Corbyn attending a function to national tragedies, such as Hillsborough and Aberfan.

Along with the shock of Brexit, there is the approaching US election. Could any reasonable, sane human being, ‘really consider voting for a man like Trump? Surely not.’ Hindsight is a fine thing and we know what is around the corner… Still, along with the depression (literally, in the 1930’s) and the political depressions abounding in this book, there is also a lot to interest and amuse. Pubs and Indian restaurants are important considerations on the author’s travels, as are evening entertainments, which have to be carefully thought about. Should Marconie go to a classical concert or to see the Chuckle Brothers? Twitter is important in offering suggestions and places of interest, while we read of subjects as diverse as football, Ladybird Books and the abdication crisis.

If you are interested in Britain, then and now, as well as the historical importance of the Jarrow March, this is a very good read. Marconie is a good travel guide, who has an obvious interest and love in the places he travels through and the people he meets. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review and recommend it highly.

Unable to review this book because Netgalley archived it on the day they sent me the email to say I could download it and it is now unavailable.

This is everything you want from Maconie .

Its warm witty and wise the decision to retrace jarrow allows some social history , social commentary and humour.

It will make you smile , may anger you and you will learn so much .

Highly recommended

I thoroughly enjoyed Stuart's ruminations as he follows in the footsteps of the Jarrow March. Thought provoking, intelligently and well written his observations kept me interested from the first page to the last.
A really good read.