The January Man is the story of a year of walks that was inspired by a song, Dave Goulder's ' The January Man'. Month by month, season by season & region by region, Christopher Somerville walks the British Isles, following routes that continually bring his father to mind. As he travels the country
- from the winter flood lands of the River Severn to the lambing pastures of Nidderdale, the towering seabird cliffs on the Shetland Isle of Foula in June & the ancient oaks of Sherwood Forest in autumn
- he describes the history, wildlife, landscapes & people he encounters, down back lanes & old paths, in rain & fair weather. This exquisitely written account of the British countryside not only inspires us to don our boots & explore the 140, 000 miles of footpaths across the British Isles, but also illustrates how, on long-distance walks, we can come to an understanding of ourselves & our fellow walkers. Over the hills & along the byways, Christopher Somerville examines what moulded the men of his father's generation
- so reticent about their wartime experiences, so self-effacing, upright & dutiful
- as he searches for 'the man inside the man' that his own father really was. About the author Christopher Somerville is the walking correspondent of The Times. He is one of Britain’s most respected & prolific travel writers, with forty-two books, hundreds of newspaper articles & many TV & radio appearances to his name. He lives in Bristol.