TheVoyages of the Princess Matilda by Spall, Shane ( Author ) ON Feb-23-2012, Paperback

by Shane Spall

'Tim and I both understood we had done something really stupid. We had underestimated the danger involved in going out to sea. We had no radio, compass, life raft or flares. In other words, we were a couple of idiots.'

This is the story of Shane and Timothy Spall and their Dutch barge The Princess Matilda. After a summer on the Thames they head out to sea with only a road atlas and a vast amount of ignorance - and it is absolutely terrifying!

On their travels, memories are triggered of childhood trips to the seaside, but also of more recent times. A decade before, Tim had been diagnosed with acute leukaemia and was given only days to live.

Shocked at how life can pass you by they decided that when, and if, Tim got better, they would buy a boat.

As Tim and Shane explore the coast from the Medway to Cornwall, eventually they start to wonder, could they make it out of England altogether? Could Matilda make it to ... Wales?!

Taking over five years, The Voyages of The Princess Matilda is a minor epic,charting a very personal, moving and uplifting story of an everyday couple's adventure around their much loved homeland.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published February 23, 2012

Reviews

[Sophie Crane]

I loved this book Shane wrote this book beautifully it was if you were on the boat with them . And you joined in all their adventures. I didn't want it to end. She describes their ups and downs with great detail and incorporates Tim illness in to the story beautifully .I wish them both good luck in what they do next. Look forward to read more adventures.

[Jo Bennie]

Shane Spall has in effect written three books in one. On the simplest level this is a tie in to the BBC 4 TV series, a narrative of Shane and Timothy Spall's attempt to sail from London to Wales in their sea barge The Princess Matilda. They are hilariously hapless, on their first journey they don't make it beyond the Thames Barrier and Timothy takes a thorough crash course in navigation before they set out to sea. They encounter beautiful moorings and full on prejudice and snobbery in equal measure.

This narrative itself would have made for a good book, Shane Spall's mercurial nature in contrast to Timothy's laid back nature and penchant for pink crocs is hilarious but Spall intersperses this story with the heartbreaking one of Timothy's battle with leukaemia and her diaries from nights sat by his bed when he hovered between life and death. Shane had already lost her father and best friend to cancer and her words are honest and searing.

Thirdly there are snippets of Shane's own life, again written with unflinching honesty. Of her previous life as a flower child, of her drug addiction, of the Welsh husband she lost and her experience of giving birth to their daughter Pascale.

These elements turn a very good book into a firm favourite, and one that I read into the night. I knew Timothy Spall from tv and film, a respected and beloved actor, and this book deepened that respect.

[Ronnie]

I enjoyed the tv series and now the book has given it another dimension. The interlacing of the story of Tim's leukaemia in heart rending and very powerful.

[Paul Chiswick]

I found the geography/route of this trip interesting, and I like the way the story of Tim's illness (from Shane's perspective) threads through their nautical meander from London to Wales. However, much was repeated and consequently became rather predictable and boring. Then again, what can you do on a boat hugging the south coast of England? I will not be reading the sequels. In fact, had this not been a book chosen by my reading group I would not have opened it.

[Sarah]

Shane has a knack for writing a picture. You can vividly imagine everything they experience. Her outlook is so sunny and her humor is infectious - even when things aren't going well - and I just admire the hell out of her. She has a natural gift for writing, and the story is both informative and fun.

[Brenda Hendy]

Book not be missed

I loved this book Shane wrote this book beautifully it was if you were on the boat with them . And you joined in all their adventures. I didn't want it to end. She describes their ups and downs with great detail and incorporates Tim illness in to the story beautifully .I wish them both good luck in what they do next. Look forward to read more adventures.

[KFK]

Difficult book to rate. I enjoyed the story about navigating from London to Cardiff, the story about Tim's disease and the description of the places.

I didn't enjoy the 1000 of mentions of names of people and films I didn't know (apparently all famous) and the mention of some nautical terms as if they were obvious. Also found lots of mistakes, so the book needs some editing.

[J. A. Lewis]

I made it to about 10% and gave up. Too many referrals to waterways I knew nothing about. Nautical terms I didn't understand. Totally foreign lifestyle. Sorry

[Caroline]

A great read, especially if you've ever sailed out into open sea, or just lived on a boat.

[Ally]

The only reason I did not finish this is because I lost the book after only reading the first chapter. Hopefully can find another copy and continue.

[Jennifer]

Ah, I was disappointed to like my first read of 2015 less than I expected. Actor Timothy Spall's improbably named wife Shane weaves accounts of their voyages on their barge the Princess Matilda with recollections and diary entries from his terrifying encounter with leukaemia and other reflections on their lives.

There was a lot to like in the book and some of what was likeable made it a less enjoyable read in a way - it seemed a very honest straightforward account. The 'leukaemia diaries' are not complete because she couldn't face writing anything for a while and that seems very realistic. There's a lot of messing about with ropes and engines.

There were also things mentions which weren't followed up - Shane herself is clearly a very interesting woman who got herself in some degree of bother in her younger days. Although the 'voyages' are set against the period when Tim was fighting the cancer, there's an earlier triumph there about which we heard not enough, or too much (my vote is for the former) I wanted to know if she ever finished the thesis she was writing when Tim was ill! I wasn't keen on the stilted name-dropping in the earlier part of the book, nor on the copious consumption of champagne, and some of the conversations just didn't sound right but her descriptions of life as the wife of an actor were fascinating. It seemed to me too that there is some real writing talent there with some beautifully crafted descriptions and well-timed phrasing.

It was as if someone didn't have confidence that any of the three strands would make a book in their own right, so twisted them together and they lost something in doing that.

[Martin Turner]

Shane Spall has written this about her and her husband, the actor Timothy Spall, had various adventures in their boat The Princess Matilda. The events take place after Tim has recovered from suffering life-threatening leukemia, the story of which is mirrored in this light, humourous and touching tale of how they came by the boat and the journey that they took. This is an uplifting story and shows that life has to be treated with respect and made the most of. How many times are we reminded that we never know what is round the corner, so live for the present... A lovely read and well put together. Whether you know who Timothy Spall is or not, this is far from being a "celebrity" based book and can be enjoyed by all. I would recommend it.

[Heather Taylor-Nicholson]

Shane Spall is the wife of actor Tomothy Spall (Auf Wiedersehen Pet, Harry Potter) who documents their travels around the UK coast on a barge called 'The Princess Matilda'. This book is a companion to the BBC3 Series of the same name. But also she writes movingly about Tim's battle with luekaemia a decade ago in a series of flashbacks, from which the voyages originated as that was Tim's ambition, should he survive. An exellent read that also is a good start for anyone planning a sea going adventure for the first time.!

[Harriet]

I thought this book was a wonderful read. The sheer joy at having escaped tragedy that is present in every sentence, the sheer gladness of being alive and with the person you love turns what might have been a hideously smug diary of pair of 'we have lots' into a personal journey of thankfulness. The way the book weaves in the episodes of Shane Spall's thoughts while her husband lies at the mercy of cancer left me rocked at what they both suffered.

[Marissa Mergler]

I enjoyed this autobiographical story because it was really raw and vulnerable. Spall flipped between the past and present in an effective way. She was very honest about her hopes, dreams, and fears. You could see the pain and how she made connections to difficult points in her life through her narrative style. This was a great way to start 2023. I look forward to reading her other book.

[Stephen]

funny, comical and interesting book about the princess matilida's trip from brentford to wales and the story of timothy spall fight against cancer and how the husband and wife team brave the elements, other ships,boats and mechanical mishaps to achieve their goal, well worth reading

[Paul]

Two books in one. Part is the first part from London round to Cardiff, and the book within is about the leukemia that nearly killed Timothy Spall. the She can swear like a docker, but it is a book from the heart

[Amanda]

I thought this was rubbish. Her descriptive powers were non existent and I was very bored. I did not finish it. It says on the cover that it won some sort of travel book award....in my opinion then, it shows that awards stand for nothing, or can be bought.

[Susan]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Would recommend.

[Sarah]

Amusing and poignant luvvie/boating/cancer memoir. I returned it to the library without finishing it as I knew the ending...(TS obviously still alive.)

[Christine Dee]

Bought this on the basis of the television series and overall it was very entertaining. Made me laugh a lot but some sections I struggled with but saying that an enjoyable read.

[Aileen]

It was okay but it would have probably been better read as a blog.

[Alison]

kindle 326 (travel memoir)

[Graham]

Interesting read - she paints a great picture of the interesting characters they meet along the way

[Laura Saidler Clark]

The sailing aspects were interesting, the name dropping and pomposity not so much