Down Old Roads

A cultured, engaging collection of historical vignettes ranging from prehistoric times to the early 20th century - all focused on the ancient roads, tracks and pathways of Europe

For a million years people have been traveling throughout Europe. From the mysterious homo antecessor which left its footprints on the coast of England to the traveller on the motorways of today. Under every footstep lies an older one, under every paved road a donkey trail or wagon rut, under every footpath the prints of a hunter or prey.

And yet the long through roads of Europe don't hold a special place in the imaginations and identities of its residents. Why does the European have such an ambivalent relationship with the long roads of his or her continent?

Why have no classics been written about the E30, such as the Americans have written about Route 66? Are Europeans too attached to their own home patch? Or have they too often seen armies marching towards them along those roads?

In search of the answer to that question, Mathijs Deen follows the refugees, bandits, pilgrims, fortune seekers, conquerors and racers who found their way along the coasts and via the rivers and roads of Europe. From Boekelo to Smolensk, and from the first Europeans to the barons who raced the open roads of Europe circa 1900: Down the Old Roads is a journey through Europe and a trip through time.

Translated from the Dutch by Jane Hedley-Prole and Jonathan Reeder