The Kingdom by the Sea by Paul Theroux

A Classic 1984 Coastal Travelogue Circumnavigating Great Britain During the Thatcher Era

In the spring of 1982, acclaimed travel writer Paul Theroux set out to walk and ride public trains around the entire coast of Great Britain. Setting off during the height of the Falklands War and economic recession, Theroux traveled three thousand miles along windswept headlands, run-down seaside resorts, and quiet fishing ports.

His journal offers an observant, sharply honest portrait of British national identity, capturing conversations with holidaymakers, boarding house proprietors, and coastal locals while reflecting on industrial decay and seaside tradition.

Why You’ll Love This Book

Paul Theroux brings a keen sociological eye and sharp prose to this candid snapshot of 1980s Britain. A classic volume for readers of British history, coastal travel writing, and literary non-fiction.