Ken Worpole weaves a rich literary tapestry as he reflects on memories of friends and places he has known and loved. Through a unique series of letters, Staying Close to the River takes you to the source of things, charting a route through four generations of family life, the political progress of the left, the cities of the world and human fallibility. At times moving and also very funny, Ken's style is a testimony to the art of detailed evocation and meticulous observation, whether sweating on the road in Tuscany, meditating on the pain of cycling or discussing the arrival of 'Dallas' on Russian TV.