| Special Offa |
| Special Offa |
Bob Bibby is on his travels again, this time following the line of that mighty earthwork that stretches 177 miles "from sea to sea" along the old border between England and Wales - Offa's Dyke, built by the very first self-styled King of the Angles, the fearsome 8th century King Offa. Join Bob as he walks the long-distance path between Chepstow and Prestatyn and meet some of the fascinating historical and modern-day characters he stumbles upon - "Ozzie" Osbern of Chepstow Castle, the original Hound of the Baskervilles in Kington, Kilvert the Pervert of Clyro, William Spooner (or Spilliam Wooner) of Oswestry, the Daleks of Llangollen, and many, many more. Discover the truth about Placido Domingo's vocal exercises, Carol Vorderman's 28 day Detox Diet, the site of Arthur's last battle, why Near Earth Objects are rather worrying, what the Welshwomen did to the dead bodies after the Battle of Pilleth, what Horatio Nelson was up to in Monmouth, and the origins of the V-sign. Special Offa is a wonderful companion for those planning to walk the Offa's Dyke Path, whether on foot or in the comfort of their armchairs. Published by Eye Books |
| Special Offa Reviews |
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"Bob Bibby's writing is reminiscent of Bill Bryson; he has a dry wit and a keen perception of detail that highlights the ordinary and elevates it." "Towns, villages, historical monuments and chance encounters are all described in a way which gives the book a lively sense of pace, and the author's enthusuasm for his subject, objective view and fascination with the quirky and eccentric are much in evidence, prompting some inevitable comparison with Bill Bryson. An enjoyably engrossing read and useful work of reference, equally at home by a winter fireside or stuffed into the rucksack of anyone tackling a walk in this mysterious, beautiful border country." |