A literary and climate-themed journey through Europe, one bookshop at a time.
Part 1, CAMBRIDGE & ELY – Lowlands, Legacy & Literary Soil
The Euro Book Trek began not with a bang, but with the soft, persistent lapping of water under a fenland sky — and a punt ride down the river past ancient libraries. As I stood beneath the tower of Ely Cathedral, it struck me: if Salt & Seeds is a story of regeneration and resistance, then this land, once an island in marsh and sea, was the perfect place to start. Cambridgeshire and Ely exist on borrowed time, much like my home in East Yorkshire — and the world Vega inherits in my novel.
- 📍 Places Visited
- Ely: Cathedral city built on high ground in a sea of low-lying fens. Originally an island dominated by a 7th-century monastery, reminiscent of Whitby Abbey — also 7th century. Henry VIII closed both, but Ely was quickly re-established as a cathedral, while Whitby was left to erode. Walking Ely’s sacred spaces gave me a vivid sense of what Whitby once was in its full glory.
- Cambridge: An ancient seat of learning, imagination, and quiet rebellion. Home to around 100 libraries — stories stacked on stories, bricks bound to books.
🌊 Climate & Resilience Insight
Both Ely and Cambridge sit just above sea level — their pasts reclaimed from water, their futures once again threatened by it. The Fens, long drained by pumps and protected by levees, now face rising tides and an uncertain infrastructure. Yet there’s hope: locals are planting flood-tolerant trees and exploring peatland restoration. Here, as in Salt & Seeds, the waterways are not only risks — they are also lifelines that the people here know how to use.
📚 Literary Encounters
Peacocks Tearoom, Ely: A gentle pause, where bookmarks now wait for readers sipping lapsang and enjoying lemon drizzle cake. Their tea selection was the best I’ve ever seen — the violet tea paired beautifully with my peanut butter and banana sandwiches. George, the owner, is a wonderful host. Over tea, he told me he’s friends with the owner of Toppings Books and kindly offered to speak with them about stocking Salt & Seeds in their shops.
Topping & Co., Ely: Books stacked high, pride in local authors, and warm, welcoming staff. Bookmarks now among the shelves.
Thrive, Cambridge: A conscious, plant-powered book café where solarpunk flyers sit next to flapjacks. I had a fabulous breakfast, leafed through a rich collection of books, and left bookmarks nestled throughout.
The Haunted Bookshop, Cambridge: Narrow aisles, whispering books — the perfect haunt for a quiet offering.
Waterstones & Heffers, Cambridge: Yes, chains — but both staffed by passionate readers who received Salt & Seeds with genuine interest.
Great St Mary’s Church Book Swap: One signed copy now sits beneath the bells, waiting for a wandering soul.
🤝 People & Moments
A woman in the Haunted Bookshop asked me what my book was about. “Hope,” I said. “And community resilience.” She smiled like she already knew. At Thrive, a kind woman behind the counter with fabulous tattoos read the back cover and said, “I look forward to reading this myself.” These moments stay with me — the spark of recognition, of shared purpose.
📘 Book Drops
Bookmarks at:
- Heffers, Cambridge
- Peacock Tea Room, Ely
- Toppings Bookshop, Ely
- Thrive, Cambridge
- The Haunted Bookshop, Cambridge
- Waterstones, Cambridge
Book left at:
- Great St Mary’s Church book swap, Cambridge
🌱 Closing Thought
This beginning was all about planting seeds and reconnecting with literary roots — in the marshy soil, in conversations over tea, in ancient stone and ink-stained hands. These are the stories we carry and leave behind.
Next stop: Le Shuttle, under the Channel from Folkestone to Calais, and on to Boulogne-sur-Mer — the windswept coast of Normandy where memory is etched in sand and stone.
Alan Raw Writes 
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