Whitby is a remarkable town that thrives while larger resorts on Yorkshire's coast flounder. Voted the UK's top destination for a weekend away in a poll of over-fifties, its good fortune is one of the many facets examined by Malcolm Barker in this comprehensive overview. He attributes its popularity to 'an ingenious inertia' that has resisted precipitate change, thus leaving the grand Georgian heritage intact. This heritage receives full coverage in this readable and informative book, which covers the many topics that make the story of Whitby so special. These range from herrings to Count Dracula, and from stormy seas to the endlessly celebrated Magpie Cafe. The text captures the essence of a town that may keep its head down between the cliffs but carries its leading landmarks of abbey and church high in view. The book is illustrated with superb photographs collected over the years by the author, Malcolm Barker. This book will appeal to anyone who lives or has lived in Whitby as well as the many thousands of visitors for whom this book will serve as a lasting, high quality reminder of a very special place. It is a beautifully illustrated book that explores the real character of this most charming of Yorkshire seaside towns.