Peter Biddlecombe has dragged his beleaguered expense account around no fewer than 170 countries of variable merit, which puts him literally miles ahead of every other travel writer. Wittily and informatively he brings a unique businessman's perspective to his destinations - Biddlecombe has to land running in order to survive. IRELAND: IN A GLASS OF ITS OWN - in many ways the perfect marriage of author and subject - marks a departure, as it focuses upon one comparatively small country. In this book Biddlecombe argues - in inimitable fashion - that the thirty-two counties can be said to represent the constituent parts of a pint of the black stuff. (Happily, the author has lost none of his famed thirst.) The roasted, malted barley, for example, comes from the farming counties: Wicklow, Kilkenny and Meath. This is Biddlecombe's hilarious account of Ireland - not just the coastal areas beloved of normal (I.e. lesser) travel writers but the bits in between. Particularly those bits with pubs on them. Well, just to save you the embarrassment of drinking on your own ... Cheers.
