Star rating - 8/10
Poet
Simon Armitage has given a very entertaining, amusing, and thoughtful talk on
his 2010 Pennine Way walk as part of the Manchester Literature Festival. He is
talented, intelligent, and very good company - which is probably why he got so
many temporary companions and supporters along the 260 mile trek.
His
new book 'Walking Home' is the story of the walk, and he read some lovely
extracts from it, as well as answering random audience questions in and honest
and open way (all expect the one about the difference between Yorkshire and
Lancashire folk which he neatly, and very sensibly, swerved). He tackled the
route in his typically self confessed perverse manner, by doing it the wrong
way around and walking towards his home village of Marsden, just over the Lancashire border in Yorkshire. He also challenged
himself bravely, some might say foolishly, as a modern day troubadour, giving
poetry recitals each night for his keep.
Through
this book, Armitage demonstrates his skill at prose writing as well as his more
familiar art of poetry. He is a very witty guy, with a pleasingly dry Northern humour.
And his lovely slide show of photos from his journey was given in the spirit of
amateur holiday slide shows of yesteryear.
He
says his experience has made him more optimistic about people and communities
as a result of the warmth, kindness, and company he was offered along the
way. My experience of listening to him has just made me want to read his
book , and dare I venture, even to walk the Pennine Way myself one day. A
lovely evening in the company of a very talented man.
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