North London couple’s hit book on epic Middle East family road trip
Added: (Sat Feb 19 2022)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
Dr David Nicolle is rightly regarded as an expert in Medieval and Middle Eastern history, while his American wife Colette is every bit as revered in the world of Ergonomics and Inclusive Design.
But the armfuls of academic achievements and fellowships aren’t necessarily the tools best required to guide you through the 1980s Middle East and Europe in a Fiat Panda.
Although both David and Colette have between them more than 100 books and academic journals to their names, 1984, an ill-advised journey? is undoubtedly their most personal.
In the days before mobile phones, sat-navs or online hotel bookings, 1984, an ill-advised journey? is a thrilling and humorous reminder of travel in the pre-digital age.
The month-long road trip was their first trip home after David had been offered a job lecturing in Art History at Yarmouk University in northern Jordan.
The couple, along with their 18-month-old son, Freddie, set off from the small Jordanian town of Irbid with a flexible plan to reach London safely, bearing in mind that Colette was heavily pregnant.
While David searched for little-known historical wall paintings, sculptures and architecture along the way, Colette sourced nappies and toddler-friendly food.
And readers benefit from both sides of the story, with each of the London-based authors providing their contrasting perspectives of each adventurous day on the road.
David said: “This road trip in a Fiat Panda from Jordan to London in the summer of 1984 is told through our separate, and at that time private, diaries.
“Colette was five months pregnant, and our son Freddie was under two years old, which led to not entirely unexpected difficulties along the way, as well as very different priorities.
“The photographs include rarely seen but very interesting examples of medieval art and architecture, as well as scenery and family shots in somewhat peculiar situations, including the urgent search for disposable nappies.”
1984, an ill-advised journey? has already entered Amazon’s Travel Writing top five, and it has also been met with a string of five-star reviews.
Colette and David’s travelogue has been described by critics as ‘quirky’, ‘very enjoyable’, and ‘one journey and two very different experiences’.
One of the most captivated readers of all has been the couple’s daughter, Antoinette, who made the entire journey ‘in utero’.
Colette explained: “Our daughter has read the whole book and said she couldn’t put it down.
“For the book, as well as typing up our diaries, we wrote a scene-setting introduction, a follow-up about the birth of Antoinette, and finally an account of our long-promised visit to Syria and Jordan in 2007 to show her where she was born.
“We hope the book reassures new or soon-to-be parents that exciting lives can continue after giving birth.”
For more information visit Amazon and search for Colette Nicolle and David Nicolle, where the Kindle and paperback versions of 1984, an ill-advised journey? are available.
Notes to the Editor
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