Two million Brits visit the Isle of Wight every year, but few seem to have much of a clue about where it is, or even what language the natives speak.
That is the message shared by writer and humourist George East in Rough Diamond - a book about the history, people and quirky aspects of the Island.
Other questions explored by the author include:
- What’s the currency and will they accept English money?
- What side of the road do they drive on?
- Will I need a passport?
After eating, drinking and writing their way around France for many years, George and wife Donella bought a home on the Isle of Wight to be closer to their family on the mainland.
Rough Diamond follows George as he spends a year visiting every town and village (and most of the pubs) on the Island while trying to discover what makes it such a closed book to so many Britons.
"I was curious why there were so many misconceptions about the Island," George said, "and why so many people thought of it as years behind the times and awash with weird customs, attitudes and characters.
"I have to admit I started off with some of those misconceptions, but by the end of my journey I had been won over completely.
"If the Island was good enough for Karl Marx, Charles Dickens, Queen Victoria, and an amazing array of thinkers, revolutionaries, writers, poets and painters over the centuries, it’s certainly good enough for me!"
A Kindle edition of the book is available to purchase from Amazon for £3.99.
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