LEIGH Library will be hosting an evening with travel writer and author Chris Moss on Thursday, 23 July from 6.30-8.00pm.
Chris will discuss his book Lancashire: Exploring the Historic County that made the Modern World, exploring how Lancashire helped shape modern life—from transport and leisure to the arts—while also reflecting on his personal connection to the county and what it means to return home after years away.
Chris will also celebrate the release of Where Tourists Seldom Tread: Postcards from Bypassed Britain, inviting us to move away from the preference for major cities and rural idylls and to consider the hidden treasures of Britain's bypassed towns.
On his latest book, Chris said: “I have spent the past four years and a bit tackling overtourism in the most direct, low budget and obvious way possible: visiting places where hardly anyone goes on holiday.
“My grand tour of UK towns took me to Armagh and Hounslow, Colne and Ramsey, East Kilbride and Doncaster, Gillingham and Newport, St Helens and Wrexham, and other places besides.
“I did not go “so you don’t have to” or to deliver knowing and ironic dispatches from the margins.
“On the contrary, I want the book to be, as well as a set of travelogues ideal for the armchair and train journey, a sort of field guide – with the hope that readers will go and check out the towns, boroughs, small cities and big villages next time you have a free day or weekend.
“Our towns are mainly featured in the media for crime, poverty, declining high streets, potholes, political strife; online forums bristle with self-loathing.
“I don’t deny there are massive issues. I don’t try to ignore the dark bits when I visit.
“But there are more than a thousand towns spread across these isles and many are ancient, architecturally intriguing, full of local stories, lost literary legends, social and political history, and have secret parks and pubs and, even, half decent food, hotels and museums – the staples of the Great British Break.
Tickets cost £4.50 and includes a hotpot supper served by Hunnibunz Catering. Tea and coffee will also be available.
Waterstones Wigan will have both books for sale on the evening and Chris will be happy to sign copies.
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