The Last Englishman

Book 1

By: Keith Foskett

Narrated by: Adam Stubbs

Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's Summary

A real-life adventurer. A gruelling pan-American trek. Will one Englishman dare to face his fears?

Shortlisted for Outdoor Book of the Year by The Great Outdoors magazine

Born traveller Keith Foskett had thousands of miles of thru-hiking experience when he prepared for his toughest challenge yet: a gruelling 2,640-mile hike from Mexico to Canada. In a six-month journey along America’s Pacific Crest Trail, he crossed the arid expanses of California’s deserts, the towering peaks of Oregon’s volcanic landscape, and the dense forests of Washington.

Battling phobias of bears, snakes, critters, and camping in the woods after dark, can Foskett find new ways to achieve his ultimate goal when the worst winter in years bears down on the trail?

Shortlisted for The Great Outdoors magazine Outdoor Personality of the Year and Book of the Year multiple times, veteran storyteller Keith Foskett lets you join him for a trek across the greatest long-distance hiking trail on Earth. With witty humor, astute observations, and a delightful cast of characters, you’ll discover a compelling narrative that turns the travelogue formula on its head.

The Last Englishman is an extraordinary travel memoir by an experienced long-distance hiker. If you believe there’s more to life than work, yearn for new horizons and challenges, and believe in overcoming adversity, then you’ll love Keith Foskett’s tale of exploration. 

Discover The Last Englishman to embark on a journey of tenacity today!

Reviews

"The Pacific Crest Trail is one of the most beautiful and diverse long distance trails in the world. The Last Englishman allows you to experience this amazing trail through the eyes of a thru-hiker. If you cannot take the time to hike the trail, then you should definitely take the time to read about it." (Jennifer Pharr Davis, previous record holder for the fastest thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail)

"It’s rare to find a book that captures the experience of long distance backpacking so well, and that is also fun to read. Fozzie’s account of his Pacific Crest Trail hike is educational, inspirational, and hilarious. A must-read for aspiring thru-hikers and outdoor adventure seekers." (Erik Asorson, The PCT Atlas)

©2018 Keith Foskett (P)2019 Keith Foskett

Critic Reviews

"I’m not sure if Keith Foskett knows it but he has penned a hiking classic. I just wanted to pack up my bags and head off into the wilderness." (Spencer Vignes, The Observer)

"Telling the true story of a six-month PCT hike from Mexico to Canada, crossing wild desert and mountain and meeting everything from eccentric hikers to rattlesnakes along the way. Easy to read and at times laugh-out-loud funny, it will make you want to pack your rucksack and go." (Rosie Fuller, Adventure Travel magazine)

"Long-distance hiking is tragically romantic: it’s not all about fresh air, aesthetic majesty, and colorful company. This book is refreshingly honest about the difficulties and day-to-day monotony. But it also captures the rewards of this oversized effort to hike the United States end to end." (Andrew Skurka, author and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year)

My favorite book of my library

After about 20 audible books, I have found this my absolute favorite, while I'm torn between my favorite running book, and this book. the story of this book is epic. the narrator in the beginning kind of had me iffy. but after chapter 2 you fall love with his style. I don't usually leave reviews. but I did this time and you'll have to find out why

Slow paced and overly dramatic

Started listening with great anticipation having read Cheryl Stride's account of her hike of the PCT. Sadly this book is so overly detailed it becomes very tedious to listen to. Got as far as chapter 4 when the drawn-out description of how to order an American breakfast just sent me over the edge...
Narration as well feels forced and over emphasized detracting from the experience.
Sadly had to abandoned the listen.
Possibly interesting to someone who has never hiked and and never been to the States. Rather disappointing.

Incredible and funny book.

I actually listened to this book on audible. It’s written by an Englishman, and read by an Englishman. This not only works it’s a joy to listen to. Now for the book. It’s destined to be a classic of thru hiking books. The author is funny and has that English since of humor. His descriptions of the trail and people he meets brings this book alive.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who hikes or just wants to listen/read about an incredible true story, an adventure.
Buy it, you will not be disappointed in the least

What’s the opposite of trail magic?

A common characteristic of a captivating trail narrative is the unexpected cache of humanity from stranger. Unfortunately, the Last Englishman couldn’t be bother to appreciate even the littlest of gifts, resorting to stealing salt and pepper packets. The author’s self-serving behavior overshadow his literary journey.

Right there on the Trail

I was looking for an escapist travelogue and wasn’t disappointed. A nice balance of incidents and more mundane details that frame the incidents well. The warmth and inspiration of human connections are nicely woven into the hiking narrative. I took a long while to warm to the narrator, but his voice and tone eventually won me over (at least for the most part). Like a Through Hiker, sad to reach the end.

Entertaining

Great story telling, hated to see it end. Have read other PCT books that were good but this tops the list.

This is the book to read about life on the PCT!

This is the book to read if you are considering hiking the PCT. It is also the book to read if you have hiked the PCT and are missing life on trail. From blisters to bliss, agony to angels, bears to bugs, and fighting to friendship – this book has it all. Foskett, aka “Fozzie” beautifully captures the experience of being a thru-hiker on the grueling 2,640-mile Pacific Crest Trail, finding that wonderful balance between trail-life, contextual history, and personal triumph. Foskett is an excellent writer; his memoir is well-written and highly engaging. Two thumbs up!!

Adam Stubbs does an excellent job narrating this book.

Great read! Great story! Watch the language 🫣

loved it .. little heavy on the unnecessary Language, but loved walking with Fozzy and crew

Great book!

I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure on the PCT. inspirational and funny are a good mix. The reader did an excellent job of story telling. 5 stars all around!

One of the better thru hiking books

It's a great book to read if you want to hike the trail vicariously. It is also humorous and fun to read or listen to, which is quite an accomplishment considering the subject matter.

A GREAT TREK POORLY DESCRIBED

Could have been an epic but lacked description of the trail. Far too much about cafe food, food and food. The reader was awful. Unable to pause between sentences. And paragraphs did not exist, as one blurs into the next. Time for a refund me thinks.

I so wanted to like this more than I did

I love hearing about other people's adventures, I live my life vicariously through adventure books. this book had been on my to do list for a long time. I have read a few other trek books, The long hitch home, Jupiter's Travels, A walk in the woods by Bill Bryson. This book started off ok with the author preparing for his trek and the excitement of setting off. Then it got a little tedious and overly detailed about who he was walking with, what he had for lunch, what the weather was like, a bit like reading a diary rather than helping the reader to actually be there with him and live the experience themselves. My idea of a great book is one that transports me there so I can feel the highs and lows with the author. This one sadly didn't do it for me.

Awesome.

I've read a couple of travel and hiking books but fozzys exploits are the ones that make me want to grab my pack and go out doors.

Inspiration

I couldn't stop listening. I hear the trek calling. especially during these times where our movement is restricted Keith's frank, insightful narration of the freedom he found on the PCT really resonated with me. made me just want to pack my bag and start walking.

A really great listen.......

My first ever audiobook. Made dog walking throughout the current Covid lockdown a pleasure.
It has really put me in the mood for a long distance hike, but unfortunately, I’ll never get 6 months free to do the PCT, unless of course I retire early 😉
I’m going to make do with some 4-5 day stuff here in Scotland for now.
Moving on to Keith’s account of his Appalachian Trail hike next........... hope it’s as good

Inspiring adventure and absorbing narrative

I like to hike and wild camp, i’ve done nothing on the scale of the PCT though. This book was an obvious choice, then, and it has not disappointed me.
This is a compelling story, well told in an engaging and flowing style. The adventures and observations maintained my interest all the way through. The people in the book were brought to life in a way that got me quite attached, and I was grateful for the round-up on what happened to them after their PCT experience.
I loved Bill Bryson’s ‘A Walk In The Woods’ and enjoyed this equally as much. Bryson’s thoroughly researched book is full of fascinating facts, as well as the story of his journey . ‘The Last Englishman’ is equally informative, but with an observational style that lends itself to a feeling of a shared experience while reading or listening.
This is an inspiring story with some exceptionally astute outlooks on life. This is the first of Keith Foskett’s books I’ve listened to, and I’ve bought the Kindle edition to read in the future. I look forward to more.

A long walk made into a good listen

Keith’s casual and entertaining recall of his PCT walk masks his phenomenal achievement in completing such a long hike. It would be easy for this tale to become as repetitive as the act of walking itself, but it’s far from it. Indeed, there seems to be as many twists and turns as the. PCT has to offer. Good humour is abound as is a philosophical look at living in a completely different way to our societal norms which many of us find very flawed. This book wants to make you just go for a very long walk.

Great reading

Great topic, numerous stories and great narration. Loved reading about the characters and wonderful list of reasons to do it! Thanks

A reminder of what little you need to thrive

A reminder of what little you need to thrive.

A great record of a great journey.
As someone who craves adventure, this is a dose of wanderlust tonic.
A refreshing, frank and well narrated look at what little we do need to thrive and flourish.
An ode to Friendships made and bad habits ignored, lifes priorities highlighted without the need of a like, share and comment.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and shalll seek out other Fossie adventures. Thank you.

Great story telling

A great account of the PCT and good narration too. Gotta support the Brit abroad!