Official Review: Lance's Travels - UK by Lance Leuven

[amen jamir]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Lance's Travels - UK" by Lance Leuven.]

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United Kingdom I have learnt, is a place famous for its natural beauty. Equally significant are its rich history and culture. My motive behind taking up Lance's Travels- UK to read was to explore the land in depth, though it doesn't come half as close exciting to exploring it in person. It was an adventurous journey none the less, to literally discover it through Lance Leuven's perceptive eyes and detailed narration.

The year is 2010. Lance is planning something crazy! To celebrate his upcoming 30th birthday, he quits his job to spend the summer months travelling the length and breath of UK. His intention was to experience as much as possible what the land had to offer. In the author's words, 'one last bout of foolishness' as the milestone marked the dawning of a chapter in his life which will no longer offer space for 'reckless' and 'irresponsible' behavior. Without much ado, he departs with an antiquated Ford Mondeo, an unreliable Sat Nav and a genuine 1980's caravan. He admits, his only experience of towing the caravan had been the return journey of picking it up. I was assured it was going to be a rough ride.

Lance has mentioned in this book about the iconic views he saw, native animals, World Heritage sites, regional food and explained the history of locations he visited with minute details. Below is just a blurb in points from what the author has seen and narrated. I found them informative and most fascinating among many other things, though I won't be doing justice by mentioning just a few. There is so much to read and learn from this book.

• New Forest National Park: It is the first among the many parks Lance visited. This site stretches across the Southern English countries of Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset and is the smallest of the UK's fifteen National Parks. William the conqueror created the New Forest Area in 1079.
• Stonehenge: An image of the stone circle, it is one of the most famous sites in the world. What people fail to notice as the author says, is the surrounding earthen bank and ditch. Beyond this can be found additional stone circles, barrows, several hundred burial mounds, standing stones and avenues.
• Wraysbury Village: Lance drove miles in his car in order to locate a yew tree in this village and found it with the help of a kind lady walking her dog. In 1215, the charter of 'Magna Carta' was signed under this tree. In honor of the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002, Tree Council selected this tree and recognized it for its historical significance. An interesting fact the author mentioned was that ribbons were tied to it and there were little letters written by children folded up and tucked behind branches.
• The Shambles: A Street located in York, it is considered Europe's best preserved street. In 2010, it was awarded the title of Britain's most picturesque street. The houses were originally butcher's shops. Some of these shops were opened for business as late as 1872, but have vanished now. All that remains are the meat hooks which still hang outside the buildings, and the shelves on which the meat was displayed.
• Castle Rock: It is the second most visited tourist destination in UK. Located at Scotland, its dominating feature is the remains of an extinct 350 million year old volcano. Another historical highlight Lance visited in this area was Doune Castle. This castle was used in the Monty Python film, The Holy Grail.
• Holy Trinity Church: This church in Stratford-upon-Avon is where the literary giant Shakespeare is buried. They charge some amount to view the grave which proves to be a rather lucrative business for the church.
• Mendips: It is one of the most important residences in musical history, being the childhood home of John Lennon. Lance learnt from a tour guide that John lived there for eighteen years. He recalls feeling a thrilling sensation to be physically standing in John's old bedroom. What surprised him was that the tour guide actually lived in the house. I found it eerie. Regardless of the respect I garner for Lennon's musical talents, I would really think twice before moving in. What if he really comes back???
• The Big Belly Oak: Lance re-entered England for the last time during his trip to visit more of the historical trees honored during the Queen's Golden Jubilee. This oak which grows in the Savernake Forest is the last tree he visited. It is a 1000 year old oak possessing an eleven meter girth. Some claimed the devil can be summoned by dancing around it twelve times in an anti-clockwise direction at midnight. The author is sceptical about it. Probably he didn't try but I thought the memory would have been worth the bravado act and what a way it would have been to end a crazy trip!

The book was an enjoyable read and informative to say the least. I found his writing organised and conversational; language simple; and him, a keen observer and witty. The book comes in ten chapters and I enjoyed all the pictures he put up after the end of each. My favorites were the pictures of Yorkshire Moors, the wild and the windswept hills of Scotland and the picture he took on his way to the summit of Scafell Pike. Simply breathtaking! I had to go slow in some parts of the narration as it contained a whole lot of history but without it, the book would have been incomplete.

I recommend this book to all those who love travels and adventures. Lance also offers useful tips for travelers here and there through his experiences, so don't miss out on this book if you are planning to pay a visit to UK anytime soon. I genuinely felt it will also be a great reference book for those studying and researching the history if UK. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.

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