Outposts

It has been interesting to read this book 20 years after publication. A very readable mix of history and travel and with that some very interesting events that would pass the reader by generally. There are a couple of very strong chapters, “Tristan”, “St Helena” and the “Falklands” for example. “Pitcairn and other territories” just seems an ill fit. The final chapter “Some Reflections” seems dated. The Further reading seems perfunctory.

In the end an easy read so it was never that hard to read past the dated history. I found that Winchester wrote a mix of love and despair and at times a fair bit of sarcasm about the remnants of the now (almost) gone Empire and with that I suggest that this would have been a fine read on release.