This book is a portrait of the rivers, creeks and coast of Essex between Harwich and Canvey Island. This is done with five chapters, with the towns, villages and sometime just creeks that contribute to the character of the coastal area. Both their past and present are discussed to portray the character of each place. The towns and villages covered have their own individual characteristic but certain themes run through the area. Fishing, traditional working boats and the people of the coastal area are recorded and Essex’s tremendous battle against erosion by the sea. The chapters cover, Harwich, River Stour and Walton Backwater, Tendring Coast, River Colne, River Blackwater and Mersea Island, Rivers Crouch, Roach and the Roach Islands and down past Southend to Leigh-on-Sea.

The work is very well illustrated with colour, and some old black and white, photographs.

This is Robert Simper’s thirty-seventh book, and follows his highly popular style of blending superb photographs with descriptive words.