About this item
The Rhine is one of the world's greatest rivers. Once forming the outer frontier of the Roman Empire, it flows 800 miles from the social democratic playground of the Netherlands, through the industrial and political powerhouses of Germany and France, to the wealthy mountain fortresses of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. For five years, Ben Coates lived alongside a major channel of the river in Rotterdam, crossing it daily, swimming and sailing in its tributaries. In The Rhine, he sets out by bicycle from the Netherlands where it enters the North Sea, following it through Germany, France and Liechtenstein, to where its source in the icy Alps. He explores the impact that the Rhine has had on European culture and history and finds out how influences have flowed along and across the river, shaping the people who live alongside it. Blending travelogue and offbeat history, The Rhine tells the fascinating story of how a great river helped shape a continent.
About the Author
Ben Coates was born in England in 1982. After completing a master's degree in economics, he worked as a political adviser, corporate speechwriter, lobbyist, journalist and aid worker. He has written for publications including the Independent, the Daily Telegraph, the Scotsman, the Irish Times and BBC News. He now works for an international organisation and lives with his wife, daughter and dog in a cottage in the Dutch countryside. He is the author of two best-selling books: the 'The Rhine', which blends travelogue with a lively history of western Europe; and 'Why the Dutch are Different', an exploration of the Netherlands and its unique history, politics and culture.
