Boater
A Life on England's Waterways
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Boater
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Narrated by:
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By:
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Jo Bell
About this listen
Step aboard Boater, a mesmerising voyage along the tranquil waterways of England, written by UK Canal Laureate, Jo Bell.
'It's not a lifestyle. It's a life'
For over twenty years, Jo Bell, archaeologist and poet, has travelled the waterways of England (and sometimes Wales) meeting extraordinary people in an extraordinary environment. It’s a journey that's taught her about human nature, including her own; about rope and Brasso and bravery; about ducks and locks, and above all, about the necessity for a constant supply of biscuits.
In this smart, funny memoir she describes an alternative nation within a nation, a place of different maps and deep history, and home to people who live and work in a world quite separate from the land a few feet away on the banks.
Always at home, always on the move, Jo's peaceful life is interrupted when a turbulent relationship takes her on a year-long odyssey through tranquil waters and on to the treacherous Bristol Channel. Join her as she navigates shallow waters and deep trouble, and welcomes listeners onboard a remarkable voyage through the past, present and future of our remarkable canals and the communities they support.
©2025 Jo Bell (P)2025 HarperCollins PublishersCritic reviews
'What a wonderful exploration of love and waterways – this evocative writing had populated the canals with so many more ghosts and stories – a truly enriching experience' Robin Ince
'Bell is a brilliant and often very funny writer. She navigates with ease through the deeply fascinating themes of industrial archaeology, personal memoir and our country’s waterways' Sally Coulthard
'A vivid, illuminating account of canal history’ Stuart Maconie
'Jo Bell steers us around a parallel country, our canal network. Keen to its history and fragile beauty, its wildlife and cast of endlessly contrary characters, she peels back the layers with precision, empathy and – most of all – unfettered joy. Boater is a delicious glimpse of an alternative England that you’ll never find if you stick to the satnav' Mike Parker
'Boater effortlessly threads a personal narrative through the history and culture of Britain's waterways, all of it told with the distinctive, compelling voice that has long established Bell as one of the UK's finest poets' Adam Farrer
'This highly original, beautifully written account of a personal journey through England's canal system melds love and anguish with poetry, humour and history' Brian Groom