Tales from the Tillerman: A Life-long Love Affair with Britain's Waterways

(Paperback)

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Haywood imprints his inimitable humour on his descriptions of the people and places he meets along the way. BBC Countryfile magazine He conjures up a picture of a different world, filled with interesting and eccentric people. A cross-section of the best of middle England, in fact. The Oxford Times Steve Haywood has been cruising the inland waterways for fifty years, and has amassed a following of readers keen to hear about his travelling tales on Britains beautiful canals and rivers. His previously published books Narrowboat Dreams, One Man and a Narrowboat, Too Narrow to Swing a Cat and Narrowboat Nomads have all been hugely enjoyed by those with a desire for a narrowboat narrative told in Steves witty, charming style. Tales from the Tillerman is Steves tribute to Britains canals, rivers and countryside and a celebration of Britishness in all its eccentric glory. Unlike Steves previous titles, which have each focussed on one particular journey that Steve has taken, Tales from the Tillerman is casting the net wider and drawing from his full fifty years of experience, recounting the many hair-raising escapades hes had up and down the country and reflecting on how the country and the cruising landscape has changed in those fifty years. Anecdotes and light-hearted rants aplenty, mixed with some tall tales and a smattering of the nostalgic, in Tales from the Tillerman youll be thoroughly entertained as a middle-aged man (oh, go on then, an old one) reflects on his long love affair with boats and waterways, contemplating their importance to his life and how theyve changed it.

Reviews

With his acerbic, dry humour, Steve relates various brushes with other canal users, officialdom and extreme weather in amusing or alarming circumstances. Through it all, he paints a picture of a rapidly changing Middle England and its frustrated populace... compelling reading not only for its wealth of fascinating history and entertaining anecdotes but also for its perceptive insight into a nation caught in turmoil. * Towpath Talk *
For a spot of armchair escapism, we recommend losing yourself in Tales from the Tillerman: A Life-long Love Affair with Britains Waterways, by waterman Steve Haywood, who urges readers to explore the waterways on their doorsteps. * The Daily Telegraph *
Compelling reading not only for its wealth of fascinating history and entertaining anecdotes but also for its perceptive insight into a nation caught in turmoil. * Towpath Talk *
A warm, nostalgic celebration of a lifestyle, an island and its often eccentric inhabitants. * Wanderlust *
This book is a perfect read for anyone with a desire to explore more of the UK's river and canal network. * Practical Boat Owner *
Steve recounts his adventures with humour, lots of local information, history and anecdotes * Practical Boat Owner *
Haywood is always entertaining, and fans of his previous books certainly won't be disappointed with this new offering
An accomplished writer... Mr Haywood is always entertaining, and fans of his previous books certainly won't be disappointed with this new offering. -- James Francis Fox * Waterways World *
A charming history of Britains inland waterways... nothing short of a love letter to our heritage in all its eccentric glory. * Bury and West Suffolk Magazine *
A charming, witty tribute to Britains canals, rivers and countryside one that will have you itching to explore the waterways yourself. * Lifeboat Magazine *
Steve Haywood combines a history of Britain's canals with 50 years of anecdotes and lively rants about his own water escapades and the changes in the cruising landscape he has encountered along the way. * The Observer *

Author Bio

Steve Haywood is a writer, journalist and filmmaker. Hes author of four previous waterways books and a Harper Collins Crime Club novel. Previously a producer on BBCs Newsnight and Panorama, in 1999 he was awarded a Royal Television Society award for his contribution to specialist journalism. Hes been a devoted inland waterways narrowboater for fifty years and has written a monthly column for the magazine Canal Boat for more than ten years.