NO FIXED ABODE
A Journey Through Homelessness from Cornwall to London
Finding himself jobless, with no money but with all the time in the world, Charlie Carroll takes on the daunting task of tramping from Cornwall to London. On foot with basic supplies and a commitment not to spend any money on travel or accommodation, he pushes his body and his resolve to the limit.
On a journey that takes him from the picturesque Cornish coast to sleeping on the Strand in London, Charlie's encounters are sometimes enlightening, sometimes disturbing, but always memorable. A striking mix of travel and current-affairs writing, No Fixed Abode sheds light on a side of the UK few ever see from within.
"Honouring the expeditions of Jack London and George Orwell into hidden zones of poverty and homelessness, Charlie Carroll contrives a startling narrative of a nightworld most of us would choose to avoid. He is perverse, obstinate, brave about his own strategic cowardice (or writerly self-preservation), he is driven and unyielding in the determination to return from darkness to light with a story worth the telling. That story grips and bites and blisters. Read it." - Iain Sinclair, author of London Orbital
"A striking travelogue." - The Big Issue
"A courageous and sensitive book. No Fixed Abode finds Charlie Carroll tackling another knotty social issue that is all too often brushed under the carpet. It is all the better for being well-written and, perhaps surprisingly, inspirational. Orwell would be impressed by this travelogue but no doubt saddened that Carroll has rightly seen the need to tackle this vicious problem again ninety years on." - Will Randall, author of Solomon Time
"Surprises, danger and some memorable characters." - The Bookseller
"Charlie’s managed to poignantly capture the plight of our often forgotten homeless in a way that’s sometimes scary, frequently surprising but always genuine and heartfelt. Eye opening - a true insight into a life many of us will never know." - Phoebe Smith, author of Extreme Sleeps
"Carroll offers a unique insight to a lifestyle many thought died out years ago." - Best of British
"A most courageous undertaking, beautifully told, that would test the mettle of even the hardiest. Charlie Carroll must be congratulated on a fine book!" - Harry Bucknall, author of Like a Tramp, Like a Pilgrim
"It's a life few could imagine choosing, but one man did ... His journey would take in the South West Coast Path to Bude; a prolonged stay on the streets of Bristol; and a number of experiences in the capital, from rough sleeping on the Strand to the tented community of Parliament Square. During that time, he met a number of colourful characters whose stories were complex, often poignant and occasionally disturbing." - Cornwall Today
"A fascinating concept and an immensely courageous assignment. The descriptions were powerful and evocative. It should be required reading for all those who have difficulty in seeing behind the face of the destitute in our affluent society." - David Bathurst, author of The Beaten Track
"Charlie Carroll’s unique journey from Cornwall to London provides a rare perspective on life as seen from the street; a glimpse into the fringes of society and the people who, for all manner of circumstance, inhabit a very different world. It’s an honest, poignant and often courageous tale of homelessness and life on the move and raises many questions about the kind of society that we live in; about tolerance, prejudice and probably - most of all – about camaraderie and the affirming power of the human spirit." - David Le Vay, author of The Hairy Hikers