Road to Rouen - Softcover

Ben Hatch

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0755364546 ISBN 13: 9780755364541

Publisher: Headline, 2013

Synopsis

Ben Hatch is on the road again. Commissioned to write a guidebook about France (despite not speaking any French) he sets off with visions of relaxing chateaux and refined dining. Ten thousand miles later his family's been attacked by a donkey, had a run-in with a death-cult and, after a near drowning and a calamitous wedding experience involving a British spy, his own marriage is in jeopardy. A combination of obsessions about mosquitoes, French gravel and vegetable theme parks mean it's a bumpy ride as Ben takes a stand against tyrannical French pool attendants, finds himself running with the bulls in Pamplona and almost starring in a snuff movie after a near fatal decision to climb into a millionaire's Chevrolet Blazer.Funny and poignant, Road to Rouen asks important questions about life, marriage and whether it's ever acceptable to tape baguette to your children's legs to smuggle lunch into Disneyland Paris.

About this title

About the Author

Ben Hatch was born in London and grew up here, in Manchester and Buckinghamshire, where he lived in a Windmill that meant he was called Windy Miller at school for years, though he's not been scared by this experience at all. He now lives in Brighton with his tiny wife Dinah, and two children, in a normal house. He likes cheese and is balding although he disguises this fact by spiking his hair to a great height to distract people he wishes to impress. His latest book is called Road to Rouen: A 10,000 Mile Journey in a cheese-filled Passat. Before this he wrote Are We Nearly There Yet? 8,000 Miles Round Britain in Vauxhall Astra, that was a Radio 2 Book of the Year, became a Number One bestseller and is currently being made into a movie by Island Pictures. He is the tallest Hatch who ever lived (5ft 9) and is son of Sir David Hatch, the famous radio performer and producer whose shadow Ben doesn't at all feel under. He also maintains that he knows the cure for the common cold (tweet him at @BenHatch to find this out) and that one of his relatives was John Couch-Adams who discovered the planet Neptune. Apparently his aunty told him.

Review

Parents will either roar with laughter or roll their eyes with recognition at this family road-trip memoir. * Metro * An Epic French odyssey * Daily Express * Haven't laughed as much in ages * Mike Gayle * Goes from one hilarious situation to another. Very entertaining. The author is naturally funny * The Sun * I loved Ben Hatch's funny, honest, touching memoir -- Jenny Colgan Ben Hatch is a very funny writer. His work is fresh and heartfelt -- David Jason Highly recommended to anyone holidaying in France this year. Or to anyone holidaying anywhere. Or to anyone holidaying with kids. Or to anyone with kids but no holiday plans. Basically to anyone with a sense of humour. -- Charlotte Heathcote * Daily Express * Fantastically funny and touching. I laughed and winced and will never look at baguettes in the same way again * Sophie Kinsella * I am going to shout this very loudly. YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK. The funniest travel memoir you will read this year. Ben Hatch is a genius. The funny bits were so funny. The sad bits were so sad. -- Lisa Jewell A French odyssey to rival the greatest adventures in history - if you like jokes, and a car full of cheese. As funny and touching as an overfriendly clown. * Danny Wallace * Magnifique! Honest, warm and written with feeling and flair -- Terry Wogan Ben Hatch makes me laugh more and more -- John Cleese

Edition details

• Publisher: Headline
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0755364546
• ISBN 13: 9780755364541
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 336