Our book group choice for Oct 2016 is As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning by Laurie Lee. It was 1934 and a young man walked to London from the security of the Cotswolds to make his fortune.
On a midsummer morning in 1934, Laurie Lee leaves his home in the Cotswolds village of Slad to begin a new life. He walks to London, where he makes a living by playing the violin and labouring on a building site. After a year, he decides to travel to Spain, a country that has long fascinated him.
Lee travels through Spain on foot, making his way from the north to the south. He encounters a wide variety of people and experiences, from the wealthy landowners of Galicia to the gypsies of Andalusia. He also witnesses the growing political unrest in the country, which would eventually lead to the Spanish Civil War.
As Lee travels, he writes about his experiences in a series of letters to his family and friends. These letters form the basis of As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning, a lyrical and evocative memoir of a young man’s journey of self-discovery.
The book is divided into three parts. The first part, “The Road to London,” tells the story of Lee’s journey from Slad to London. This section is full of vivid descriptions of the English countryside, as well as Lee’s thoughts and feelings about leaving home.
The second part, “The City,” describes Lee’s life in London. He struggles to make a living in the city, but he also finds beauty and excitement in its streets. He meets a variety of people, including Cleo, a half-American girl who becomes his girlfriend.
The third part, “The Road to Spain,” tells the story of Lee’s journey to Spain. He travels through the country on foot, experiencing its rich culture and history. He also witnesses the growing political unrest, which eventually leads to the Spanish Civil War.
As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning is a beautifully written book that captures the essence of a young man’s journey of self-discovery. Lee’s writing is lyrical and evocative, and he paints a vivid picture of the places he visits and the people he meets. The book is also a moving account of the political turmoil that was brewing in Spain in the years leading up to the Civil War.
As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning is a classic of travel literature, and it has been praised by critics for its beauty, its honesty, and its insights into the human condition.
Discussion Questions As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning
- Did you enjoy the book?
- How does this compare to other travel writing?
- How did you find balance between description of people and places? Any memorable people?
- Favourite passage?
- Comparison with London Belong to Me? What is it about this era? Did you recognise the era? Was it familiar to you?
- Was there much sexual suggestion for its era?
- Did you find the book emotive and moving?
- How did you find the transition from peace to war?
- Was Laurie a bit of an idiot in terms of risking danger? Or was it artistic license?
- How was the length? Too long?
- How did you find the lack of plot or overarching narrative? Did it have more narrative than you would expect for a travel book?
- Does this remind you of your own experience of travel? Examples?
- Do you yearn for the road? Could you do it?
- Have you read any other Lee?
- To whom would you recommend this? And why?
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