Britannia Obscura

Joanne Parker is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Exeter. She has always been interested in the British countryside, in British eccentricities, and in questions of identity. She has lived in York, Edinburgh, Cumbria, Quebec, and now lives on Dartmoor (next door to a pub allegedly built around a standing stone), with a morris dancer, two daughters and a flock of black sheep.

"Original and engaging." -- Gillian Tindall Literary Review "An affectionate, alternative exploration to make readers feel more familiar with Britain." Great Outdoors "Parker's tour is conducted with a light touch in prose which makes learning from her a pleasure. She makes delightful connections between eras and activities, and is conscious of the value of the unknown and uncertain in our lives... At twice the length this book would have been no less enjoyable." -- Horatio Clare Daily Telegraph "[Joanne Parker's] book is an eye-opener." -- Andrew McNeillie Country Life "Ultimately, Britannia Obscura is a book that aims to make its readers more familiar with Britain but also excited about the endless possibilities for surprise that lie just around familiar corners." -- Bethan Mason Pembrokeshire Herald