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Original poster

Norfolk broads based fiction?

26 replies

LearnAsIgo · 23/05/2017 17:38

I'm going on holiday soon and I love to read books set in the area I'm visiting at the time. Does anyone have any recommendations please? I'd prefer fiction but I'd be happy to hear any recommendations you have. Thanks

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 23/05/2017 17:45

Waterland - Graham Swift is set in East Anglia, but it's not a very cheery book.

One of the Arthur Randome books is too - I think it might be We didn't mean to go to sea.

Sadik · 23/05/2017 18:03

Of the Arthur Ransome books, Coot Club and The Big Six are set in the Norfolk Broads, and would be a perfect holiday read.

SplitInfinitive · 23/05/2017 19:38

Can't think of any myself, but you could do with @TripFiction turning up to advise right now :)

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 23/05/2017 19:40

Elly Griffiths has a series of crime novels set there featuring Ruth Galloway, an archaeologist. They are really good.

CMOTDibbler · 23/05/2017 19:43

The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L Sayers

PhilODox · 23/05/2017 19:43

Came on to recommend the Arthur Ransome books... But everyone has beaten me to it Grin
It's terrible, but I cannot think of anything written for adults Blush

EdithWeston · 23/05/2017 19:46

The Norfolk Mystery by Ian Sansom.

And I think one of the PD James is set there, but I can't remember which one.

MissBeehiving · 23/05/2017 20:07

Salt by Jeremy Page is set a bit further north in the county but well worth a read.

Graphista · 23/05/2017 20:18

Waterland by Graham swift is an incredible book.

Devices and desires is the PD James book set there.

Weirdo by cathi unsworth is a favourite of a friend. Another friend likes
The house at sea's end sorry forget author.

Original poster
LearnAsIgo · 23/05/2017 20:53

Oh - a brilliant load of recommendations - and mostly all new to me. I'm going to check them all out. What joy! Thank you! x

OP posts:
user76895432 · 23/05/2017 20:54

I came on to recommend the Ely Griffiths series but I see someone has beaten me to it!

BumbleBee1982 · 23/05/2017 22:38

A PC Peter Grant book by Ben Aaronovitch. The Rivers play a big part in the stories. Highly recommended!

akkakk · 23/05/2017 22:45

If you want hilarious stories about sailing on the Broads:
www.abebooks.co.uk/book-search/title/percival/author/anthony-armstrong/
Percival and his sidekick Apple in Percival and I (from Punch magazine) go sailing with unsurprising mishaps!

as others say, Waterland - good, but weird / Arthur Ransome all the above mentioned...

Original poster
LearnAsIgo · 23/05/2017 23:04

Thanks for more Grin...this will keep me reading for ages x

OP posts:
EdithWeston · 24/05/2017 08:24

Which Peter Grant book is based in Norfolk? Do you mean Foxglove Summer (thought that was Essex, but might be misremembering)

OP- I love the Peter Grant series, don't get me wrong about that. It's just that they're nearly all set in London and so don't match your spirit of the place criterion. (FS which is outside London, easterly, is the 5th of 6, and I don't think you should start with that one)

SplitInfinitive · 24/05/2017 09:06

Foxglove Summer was set in Herefordshire :)

tripfiction · 25/05/2017 21:12

Take a look around the books I have curated set in Norfolk: www.tripfiction.com/find-a-book/?location=Norfolk&reset=1

Hope you find something good. It's a great way to get to know a place through the eyes of an author....

SatsukiKusakabe · 26/05/2017 14:14

The Go Between is set in Norfolk.

David Copperfield grows up in Great Yarmouth.

The Accidental by Ali Smith is about a family on holiday in norfolk.

MiddlingMum · 29/05/2017 22:11

There's a local author called Chris Crowther who publishes detective fiction based in the Broads. They are very readable, and he really knows the area. I can't remember all the titles but some of them are: Waterproof, Murky Waters, Water Under The Bridge. They are quite widely available in the Broads or from his website.

If you're going to the Broads, you need to go to Lathams at Potter Heigham, a big cheap and cheerful shop which sells everything you can think of. It's a bit of an institution and we always call in there when we're in the area. You can buy Chris Crowther's books there.

SatsukiKusakabe · 29/05/2017 22:27

I can't believe you mentioned Lathams! No holiday complete without a stop there Smile

NotMeNoNo · 30/05/2017 07:36

Helen Dunmore - My Blue-Eyed boy. Really gripping. Well it's Norfolk anyway.

EdithWeston · 30/05/2017 07:42

If you want tongue in cheek, try Prewd and Prejudice: a Norfolk Exit by Sid Kipper.

You'll probably need to buy locally, as well as Lathams try Jarrolds (dotted about in a few towns, can't think of one on the Broads). Do visit Roys if in Wroxham, and if going further afield Larners if in Holt.

Ontopofthesunset · 30/05/2017 12:36

The Shrimp and the Anemone/The Sixth Heaven/Eustace and Hilda, also by L P Hartley, are partly set on the Norfolk coast.

MiddlingMum · 31/05/2017 18:41

Satsuki, yes, Lathams is an institution. We have so many things from there, and in fact one of the best quality t-shirts DH has ever had was from one of their rummage bins years ago. Worn and washed for years.

No holiday in the Broads is complete without a trip to Lathams and chips from the place across the bridge.

Anyway, back to the books .....

Backingvocals · 31/05/2017 20:17

Yy to Salt and David Copperfield.