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Mail Obsession

On sale

6th October 2016

Price: £9.99

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Selected: Paperback / ISBN-13: 9781780228334

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‘FASCINATING’ Daily Mail
‘FULL OF AMAZING FACTS’ The QI Elves

Each of the United Kingdom’s 124 postcode areas has a story to tell, an unexpected nugget to dust off and treasure.

Mark Mason has embarked on a tour of the country, immersing himself in Britain’s history on a roundabout journey from AB to ZE. On the lookout for interesting place names and unusual monuments, along the way he discovers what the Queen keeps in her handbag, why the Jack Russell has a white coat and how Jimi Hendrix got confused by the M1.

At the same time Mason paints an affectionate portrait of Britain in the 21st century, from aggressive seagulls in Blackpool to ‘seasoned’ drinkers in Surrey. And his travels offer the perfect opportunity to delve into the history of the Royal Mail, complete with pillar boxes, posties and Penny Reds – plus Oscar Wilde’s unconventional method of posting a letter.

A playful mix of fact, anecdote and overheard conversation, MAIL OBSESSION pays homage to Britain’s wonderful past and its curious present.

Reviews

BBC LONDON
Fantastic stuff
READER'S DIGEST
Almost every page contains at least one thing that you'll be itching to startle your friends with
CHOICE
All sorts of knowledge
BBC RADIO 4
Turns up trivia at every stop
The QI Elves
Awesome - full of amazing facts
DAILY MAIL
Fascinating
Jane Shilling, DAILY MAIL 'Must Reads'
Beginning his adventure at the Watford Gap service station - the very first such station on one of the country's first motorways, the M1, [Mason] set off in the pleasant pursuit of idle trivia ... this book a source of endless delight.
EAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES
Intriguing tales
DAILY EXPRESS
An entertaining read
WANDERLUST
Mason is an entertaining companion