Richard Collett on Borders, the BBC, and His New Book with Penguin

Borders between countries may look so neat on a map, but when you're on the ground, the reality gets more interesting. Languages may shift long before your passport is stamped, and an ancient divide between cultures and worldviews may not even appear on a modern atlas. Richard Collett became fascinated by unusual borders early in his travel writing journey. When he came across a 'micronation' hidden in outback Australia, he cold-pitched the story to the BBC. They took it, and would end up publishing many more of his pieces, launching a travel writing career that has taken him around the world, a journey he narrates at his blog, Travel Tramp. It was closer to home, in Southwest England, that Richard's fascination with borders led him to unexpected discoveries. Cornwall, separated from the rest of Britain by the River Tamar, seemed to him just another English county until his girlfriend, who is from there, opened him up to the region's distinctive history. This led Richard on a quest to trace the forgotten borders that carve up the British Isles. The result is Along the Borders - In search of what divides and unites us. Richard discusses the origin of the book, as well as his publishing journey, in detail. Links to explore more: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/462381/along-the-borders-by-collett-richard/9781529935882 https://www.travel-tramp.com/ https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20200811-a-tiny-nation-in-outback-australia