The Gran Tour by Ben Aitken
'Both moving and hilarious' Spectator, Books of the Year 'A tale of gloriously eccentric British pensioners. Aitken rivals Alan Bennett in the ear he has for an eavesdropped remark ... boy, can he write.' Daily Mail, Book of the Week FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE ACCLAIMED A CHIP SHOP IN POZNAN. One millennial, six coach trips, one big generation gap. When Ben Aitken learnt that his gran had enjoyed a four-night holiday including four three-course dinners, four cooked breakfasts, four games of bingo, a pair of excursions, sixteen pints of lager and luxury return coach travel, all for a hundred pounds, he thought, that's the life, and signed himself up. Six times over. Good value aside, what Ben was really after was the company of his elders - those with more chapters under their belt, with the wisdom granted by experience, the candour gifted by time, and the hard-earned ability to live each day like it's nearly their last. A series of coach holidays ensued - from Scarborough to St Ives, Killarney to Lake Como - during which Ben attempts to shake off his thirty-something blues by getting old as soon as possible.
As funny and moving account of inter-generational friendship as you could wish to read-- Mark Mason, Daily Mail
Both moving and hilarious -- Spectator * Books of the Year *
A tale of gloriously eccentric British pensioners [and] a light-hearted travelogue ... [but] so much more than that as well. The pen portraits of his fellow holidaymakers are wonderful. And boy, can he write. -- Daily Mail * Book of the Week *
Funny and moving ... the type of gentle travel writing that will leave you aching to visit a local seaside resort. -- Stylist
One of the ... most enjoyable travel books I've ever read ... Aitken has an astonishingly sharp eye and ear for the wisdom and weirdness of his elderly companions. * Daily Express *
Both moving and hilarious -- Spectator * Books of the Year *
A tale of gloriously eccentric British pensioners [and] a light-hearted travelogue ... [but] so much more than that as well. The pen portraits of his fellow holidaymakers are wonderful. And boy, can he write. -- Daily Mail * Book of the Week *
Funny and moving ... the type of gentle travel writing that will leave you aching to visit a local seaside resort. -- Stylist
One of the ... most enjoyable travel books I've ever read ... Aitken has an astonishingly sharp eye and ear for the wisdom and weirdness of his elderly companions. * Daily Express *
Ben Aitken was born under Thatcher, grew to 6ft then stopped, and is an Aquarius. He was conceived by a nurse and a shipwright, grew up in Portsmouth and was in a boyband for a spell in the noughties, then worked as a carer throughout his twenties. He is the author of six books: Dear Bill Bryson, A Chip Shop in Poznan (a Times bestseller), The Gran Tour ('Both moving and hilarious', Spectator), The Marmalade Diaries, Here Comes the Fun and Shitty Breaks. He writes for The Guardian and The Times, was the TCG Travel Journalist of the Year in 2024, and is an occasional lecturer at the University of Portsmouth.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781785786488 |
| ISBN 10 | 1785786482 |
| Title | The Gran Tour |
| Author | Ben Aitken |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Icon Books |
| Year published | 2020-09-03 |
| Number of pages | 306 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |