The Book Club Graham Robb: The Discovery of Britain
Nov 5, 2025
In this engaging discussion, historian Graham Robb, celebrated for his narrative histories, shares insights from his book, The Discovery of Britain. He recounts how a spontaneous bike journey sparked a time-traveling exploration of the UK's history. The conversation reveals his groundbreaking cartographic discoveries, shedding light on Iron Age Britain and the myths surrounding King Arthur. Robb also unpacks the complexities of identity, class, and engagement with historical misconceptions, all while weaving personal anecdotes into a rich tapestry of Britain's past.
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Bike Ride That Started The Book
- Graham Robb and his wife escaped train cancellations by cycling from Preston to Lancaster using torn map sheets and a policeman's direction.
- That impromptu ride traced Roman, Viking and Iron Age routes and sparked the book's time-travelling structure.
Using Memory As A Historical Lens
- Robb uses his younger self as a narrative witness to notice details adults might miss and to create a readable chronological perspective.
- He argues that inserting the personal voice avoids the droning single authoritative tone of many histories.
Decoding Ancient British Maps
- Robb decoded five Iron Age maps embedded in Ptolemy's coordinates by adjusting the plotting grid using known town locations.
- The result shows remarkably accurate pre-Roman cartography, especially for northern England.
