Books by Alex Bescoby
Alex Bescoby is a British documentary filmmaker. His book, The Last Overland, was shortlisted for the 2023 Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year award.
The Last Overland: 21,000 km, 23 Countries and One Very Old Land Rover
by Alex Bescoby
☆ Shortlisted for the 2023 Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards Travel Book of the Year
In 1955, a group of students led by Tim Slessor drove 19,000 miles from London to Singapore in a Land Rover; the resulting documentary and book, First Overland, caught the public imagination in a time of post-war austerity. But it was a passing comment by Sir David Attenborough's on the fiftieth anniversary of the expedition—in which he suggested it was "a journey that I don't think could be made again today"—that proved an irresistible challenge for the filmmaker and adventurer Alex Bescoby. This book, and a Channel Four documentary series, are the result: a thrilling adventure in which nothing goes quite to plan, that offers an opportunity to reflect on how much has changed since the 1950s.
Interviews with Alex Bescoby
The Best Adventure Novels: The 2026 Wilbur Smith Prize, recommended by Alex Bescoby
What makes a great adventure novel? For Alex Bescoby, filmmaker, traveller and judge of the 2026 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, it’s the ability to transport readers to unfamiliar worlds and bring history vividly to life. Here, he discusses the six shortlisted novels, from ancient Britain to revolutionary India, exploring stories of endurance, rebellion and remarkable perseverance in the face of hardship.
