Outposts

Journeys to the Surviving Relics of the British Empire

By: Simon Winchester

Narrated by: Simon Winchester

Length: 6 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

The New York Times best-selling author of Krakatoa and The Professor and the Madman takes listeners on a quirky and charming tour of the last outpost of the British empire

Originally published in 1985, Outposts is Simon Winchester's journey to find the vanishing empire, "on which the sun never sets". In the course of a three-year, 100,000 mile journey - from the chill of the Antarctic to the blue seas of the Caribbean, from the South of Spain and the tip of China to the utterly remote specks in the middle of gale-swept oceans - he discovered such romance and depravity, opulence and despair that he was inspired to write what may be the last contemporary account of the British empire.

Written with Winchester's captivating style and breadth, here are conversations and anecdotes, myths and political analysis, scenery and history - a poignant and colorful record of the lingering beat of what was once the heart of the civilized world.

©1985, 2003 Simon Winchester (P)2005 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Funny, masterly, fine....Superbly written." (The New York Times Book Review)

Frustrated

This popped up on my screen in the middle of listening to another book and i could not exit.

Makes distant places real and the stories are wonderful.

I would highly recommend this book. Terrific narration and story telling. I want to read more if the authors books.

colorful stories about distant rocks

Winchester does it again! He brings his colorful descriptions of the history and geology of Great Britain's distant appendages. Author's interview at the end of the book is extra special.

Hope they redo this someday to be unabridged.

As many other reviewers point out, this is not the complete book but an abridged version that cuts out Hong Kong (not a colony anymore) the Falklands (Too big in the news at the time of the recording to bother), the Carribbean and Bermuda (Too Familiar) The author says it was abridged to trim back from the "lengthy" print version. Since I have listened to books over 50 hours and this clocks in at under 7 hours, I assume it was recorded before digital books made abridgment unnecessary. Books on cassette or cd were very expensive and the abridged versions were more practical and saleable. A fix seems easy as all they have to do is have the author read the missing chapters.
The book, as is, is still very good. An interesting look at remote parts of the world few will ever visit. That is the type of travel book I like the most. Take me somewhere I will never go and tell me about it with a wry sense of humor. The chapter on Tristan de Cunha is my favorite The author reads the book and for a change that is a good thing. He is always as good a reader as he is a writer. Not a common combination.

Lost Places

I thought I would really enjoy this book, but ended up feeling rather sad in the end. The book is well written and well read, but incredibly disheartening. It seems Britain has managed to hold these leftovers of empire in a state of benevolent neglect which is shameful.

Good book, chapters are off

I read the print version of this book and loved it.
The audio version is well read by the author.
However, it is abridged; with a sample of another book by Winchester at the end. Why abridge it, and then add something from another book?
Also, the chapters are off. They break in the middle of a chapter. Seems easy to fix...

I'd still listen to anything he's written

Well, this is an earlier work, and every successful author appears to dig up some early work of lesser quality. Nevertheless, there were some interesting passages in his turn 'round the remains of the British empire. Still, I wish that he had gone to Ascension Island.

Wish it were unabridged

Another great Simon Winchester book read by the author. Some chapters were omitted. Still a worthwhile listening experience

Another great story

The only problem with books by Simon Winchester is that you literally can't put them down. Somehow he manages to draw you in and make you feel as if you were there with him

Nice Travelogue

I've enjoyed many of Winchester's narrative histories (and am currently listenting to "A Crack at the Edge of the World"), but found this travelogue an equally diverting listen, if a little short on truly useful information, as I doubt I'll ever have the time or money to visit these remote remnants of the British Empire. My one regret is that the book is only available on audio in abridged format (the author explains why this choice was made and how he elected which chapters to eliminate). The narration is excellent.