Fringed with Mud and Pearls: An English Island Odyssey

by Ian Crofton

Greece has its sun-soaked Cyclades and Dodecanese; Scotland its Northern Isles and rain-drenched Hebrides and Ireland the Arans and Skelligs.

And what has England got? The isles of Canvey, Sheppey, Wight and Dogs, Mersea, Brownsea, Two Tree and Rat.

But there are also wilder, rockier places - Lundy, the Scillies, Holy Island, the Farnes. These islands and their inhabitants not only cast varied lights on the mainland, they also possess their own peculiar stories: the Barbary slavers who once occupied Lundy; the ex-major who seized a wartime fort in the North Sea and declared himself Prince of Sealand; the wrecked munitions ship off the Isle of Sheppey that one day might unleash an unimaginable cataclysm, and much more besides. He also describes his encounters with island wildlife, from puffins to porpoises, and recounts the varied ways in which England's islands have been formed, and how they are constantly changing.

Genres: Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

Published June 1, 2021

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book which, despite how many similar books I've read, provided few winces at hackneyed experiences or writing (there is a bit of the moaning about National Trust and English Heritage entrance fees, and the distaste for interpretation boards). There's a light touch with the personal, but I found it quite moving. He picks up the planned project at the urging of a clinician as he works to accommodate and recover from the effects of a brain injury. There is thus little muscular or intrepid (although there is a seriously hairy climb on Lundy and he's clearly returned to climbing as a hobby, despite his enduring visual issues as a result of falling on his head) He mooches around, interested in people, and history and geography and change. I particularly enjoyed his reflections in the afterword.

[Stephen Dunstan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw this book in a local bookshop and being something of a fan of books about British islands was keen to read it.

In my view it's a bit of a curate's egg. Most (all?) chapters start with some history. I think it would work better if the history was woven into the main narrative more.

Some of the writing is very well observed, and some of it isn't. In many chapters Ian tries for an appropriately literary conclusion, and it generally doesn't quite work.

Overall I find it hard to summarise quite why this didn't hit the heights for me, but there's still plenty in here to make it a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the subject matter.

[Joseph Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book does well to wind up the clowns who wave the St George’s cross nowadays which is very entertaining, it is, at the crux of it, a travel history book. Some of the islands are interesting, others I should have skipped through. The book serves it purpose but I don’t think it’s convinced me to travel to any of these places, I’d still probably choose Scotland any day of the week. The lack of Viking mentions was also criminal to me.

[Chris Holme · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Fascinating insights into the islands around England we know from the shipping forecast and other gems. Each has its distinct character from the Thames and Medway to the Scillies and Farnes - history, language and personality.

[Tony Hands · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written and worth a read. But to get to know a place Well you do need to spend more time at the location.

[Steph Cowling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely, interesting nuggets of information, good to dip in and out of. A little bit too meandering for me at times.