Along theBorders: In search of what divides and unites the British Isles.
Richard Collett
Punished 2025 Publisher: DoubleDay-Penguin
ISBN 978-1-5299-3588-2
336 pages, Hardback
22.4 × 14.6 cm
Reviewed for Volume 4 Issue 2 Spring 2026
The Review
This is a fascinating book. The author is not an historian but a travel writer. Yes he has worked for the BBC, CNN and National Geographic but seasoned travellers will be more interested to see that he has also worked for Lonely Planet across the world.
This book is a personal, physical, journey in the present time along the borders, past, present and cultural. In fact the subtitle is the important part “In search of what divides and unites the British Isles”
The text is a travelogue of history, interviews with people, and the author’s reflections long the Tamar, Cornish border, the Scottish Highland-Lowland divide, Kent and Northern Ireland as well as the English-Welsh and English-Scottish borders. This is about the people and culture as much, if not more so, than the history and dates. It is what the “ordinary people” see and feel.
After reading the book I realised that other than the thumbnail maps of the borders, there are no other images. It is the author who paints the pictures in words. That maybe a cliche but it is true, having been to many of the places mentioned; the text does paint an accurate picture of the places mentioned.
Where is Tamworth in this? It’s in the chapter on the Dane Law border. The somewhat movable border from London to Chester between Mercia and the Danish held areas to the East. Tamworth was on both sides of the border for periods. Though the town romanticises the time Tamworth was in Mercia and the Mercia Lords past through on occasions. Readers should Google “map of Mercia” and then “Map of Dane Law” and try to reconcile them.
There are seven pages on Tamworth from the viewpoint of a world traveller who has seen the underbelly of many places across the world. It is what the author saw and felt on a November day in 2024. The Author spent time in Tamworth asking questions and it should be noted, talking to many more people than are actually quoted or mentioned in the book.
Yes, Tamworth has a long history but it was the present that cast a dark and depressing shadow, though with a glimmer of hope at the end. There is always hope and it helps to have an outsiders view to wake us up!
Tamworth aside it is a fascinating look at other UK borders and their history, and people in general. It should get readers thinking and looking at what divides and unites us. It should help all around.
Tamworth, the place and the people has major changes in the political structure over the next 18 months to a new chapter in the life of Tamworth so I suggest that: This book should be required reading by all the town’s officials and councillors as this is how others see us.
