News Claxon! My first book, ‘Along the Borders: In search of what divides and unites the British Isles’, published April 30th 2026 by Penguin Random House, is now available for pre-order!
4 years ago, I found myself travelling along the banks of the River Tamar while writing a story for BBC Travel. The River Tamar marks one of the oldest ‘borders’ in the British Isles. For much of its 61-mile length, the river is the dividing line between Celtic Cornwall (Kernow) and Anglo-Saxon Devon.
I was tracing the route of this ancient boundary – which was first defined as such in 936AD by King Athelstan, England’s first true king – to explore a rising tide of Cornish nationalism. Inspired by devolution and independence movements in Scotland and Wales, the Cornish desire for autonomy was, and still is, strong.
It was also not a narrative I’d really been aware of until I moved to Devon. I’d always assumed Cornwall was just another ‘English county’. I was unaware of the ancient Cornish language (Kernewek), which has been revived in recent years, or that the Cornish trace their roots back to a time long before the Anglo-Saxons arrived on British shores.
Read more: Is Cornwall a Country? Everything You Need to Know.
Along the Borders: In search of what divides and unites the British Isles
The article I wrote for BBC Travel explored how Cornwall is Britain’s ‘forgotten fifth nation’ (after England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). Travelling along the Cornish-Devonian border revealed to me how the Cornish desire and deserve recognition and devolution within the United Kingdom. The entirety of Cornish history, and a vision for the region’s future, could be found along this border.
I wondered what the United Kingdom’s many other borders, both internal and international, could teach me about my home country. That journey along the River Tamar inspired my first book.
Over the next few years, I travelled the length of the Welsh, Scottish and Irish borders – and many more borders (both modern and ancient), which continue to define the UK today. I found a country in the midst of an identity crisis. There are desires for independence in Scotland and Wales. The English Channel is politicised by right-wing politicians railing against immigration and refugees. Ireland looks set on a slow path towards reunification.
On the borders, nationalities often become strongest when they’re defined in opposition to something else. But on the borders, I also found what unites the people who call Britain home. That’s the essence of this book, with a cast of characters ranging from Cornish nationalists to Shetland tour guides, and Midland historians to refugee charity workers.
To my surprise, the book was keenly picked up by Penguin Random House. For the last two years, I’ve enjoyed (or endured) the monumental task of turning my journeys into a coherent written narrative.
‘Along the Borders’ is now on its way to the printers. I can finally announce it’s available for pre-order with the release date set for 30th April 2026.
It even has a lovely and colourful front cover:
Where can I pre-order my copy?
I’m amazed to say that Along the Borders: In search of what unites and divides the British Isles is available for pre-order through many of the UK’s major bookstores!
You can pre-order my first book from the likes of Waterstones, Blackwells, Foyles and TG Jones (that’s the old WH Smiths!). A full list of suppliers is available on the Penguin Random House website:
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/462381/along-the-borders-by-collett-richard/9781529935882
Of course, it also appears to be available for worldwide order through Amazon.
As we near the publication date next April, there will be a more comprehensive list, including many more independent bookshops.
Read more: What is Borderlines? My New Project.
So what’s next for the book?
30th April seems a very long way off, but pre-orders are so important in the competitive world of publishing!
Once the book is launched, I’m hoping to take it on a tour through the borders (and the rest of the country!), which inspired it. So keep your eyes peeled for more details on that next year.
Finally, I’d like to say thank you to everyone who supported this book, from friends and family to loyal readers of my blog and the many people I interviewed in the borders themselves during my travels.
THANK YOU ALL!
Richard Collett
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