Water Gypsies

A History of Life on Britain's Rivers and Canals

By: JULIAN DUTTON

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Paperback | 30 April 2021

At a Glance

Paperback
176 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
23.4 x 15.6 x 1.8

Paperback

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A complete historical chronicle of living afloat on Britain's waterways.

For centuries, living afloat on Britain's waterways has been a rich part of the fabric of our social history, from the fisher-folk of ancient Britain to the bohemian houseboat dwellers of the 1950s and beyond. Yet remarkably a complete history of the houseboat has never been written. In this fascinating chronicle, Julian Dutton – who was born and grew up on a houseboat - traces the evolution of boat-dwelling from an industrial phenomenon in the heyday of the canals to the rise of life afloat as an alternative lifestyle in post-war Britain. Drawing from diaries and personal accounts, Water Gypsies is both a vivid narrative of a unique way of life, and a valuable addition to social history.

About the Author

Julian Dutton was born and grew up on a Chelsea houseboat. He has worked as a writer & actor for over 30 years, mainly in TV & Radio script-writing and performing, and has won a BAFTA, a British Comedy Award, and a Radio Academy Gold Award. Among his credits is the BBC2/Netflix comedy Pompidou, which he created & performed with Matt Lucas. He has written articles for the Sunday Times, the Independent on Sunday, and the London Evening Standard.

Industry Reviews

There could be no better or more informative guide to a history of life aboard. Whether you want to know about working boats, prison hulks, Dickensian houseboats, pleasure cruisers, floating restaurants or artists' retreats, this book is for you.

-- Samuel West

Love the book!
Super-informative facts and history

-- Thames Path National Trail

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