John Bently of Liver and Lights has produced a 4-part series
of little handmade books called English
Road Movies. Each one contains a poem and wood-cut illustrations about a
different journey. To Penge on an old Routemaster, via Bromley Sth by
train, via Brixton on the 159 from Streatham Hill and the overnight coach from Buchanan Street, Glasgow to Kings Cross.
Each poem is a heart-warmingly honest and funny
portrayal of the romance, nightmares and sheer mundane hell of travel. It is
perhaps the most definitive folk tradition of the English to elaborate upon the
trials and tribulations of a journey to friends, family and total strangers
with a level of cinematic clarity and drama to rival the finest Hollywood
screenwriters. Here Bently takes this a step further by promoting his
portfolio of travel tales to book form, dedicating them to the paper and ink we
all know our own stories likewise deserve.
The books are £12 each. Or if you want something incredibly
special you can invest in the whole series shrouded in a hand-painted wooden
slipcase in the shape of a Red London Bus for £120, we only have one of these in the shop so no
dilly-dallying.
- Jon Lander