Book review: The Debatable Land, by Graham Robb

Graham Robb is a remarkable writer. The list of his publications, ranging from biographies of 19th century French poets and novelists to a study of Celtic Europe and now this new book on the Debatable Land between Scotland and England, suggests a rare versatility. Fair enough. Robb is certainly versatile or, rather, eclectic in his choice of subjects. Yet in important respects his work is of a piece; it displays curiosity, intellectual vitality, wide-ranging sympathies, and a keen eye for unexpected detail.