The olive route - Carol Drinkwater

The Olive Route resembles both the Silk Road and the Spice Route in that the epic adventures involving the transportation of its produce are highly colourful, intriguing and sometimes bloodthirsty.
They embody the entire history of the Mediterranean and its diverse peoples.
From the Levant on the eastern coast of its ancient sea, to its western shores, the olive tree is farmed.

For many living around the Mediterranean basin, such as Carol Drinkwater, this silvery-grey evergreen is essential to their lives and diets.
It has inspired painters and writers since time immemorial.
For those who holiday here or dream of it, the tree evokes dusty fragrant seasons, an escape from urban life.

From Gibraltar to northern Syria the olive route's stretch is 2,200 miles.
At its widest, between France and Algeria, the sea spreads 488 miles.
Carol
Drinkwater vividly unearths its ancient stories, travels its lands, crosses its shimmering, almost-tideless tranquillity.
She meets its striking, often courageous, peoples and traces its venerable olive culture.
Tracking the Cretans, Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Romans, amongst others, she finds her way back to her olive farm in the sun-baked hills in southern France.

The Olive Route recounts a thrilling, heroic, sensual and entertaining journey by the bestselling author of the much-loved Olive series.

Best known for her role as Helen Herriot in BBC Television's ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL (for which she was awarded THE VARIETY CLUB TELEVISION PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR AWARD), Carol Drinkwater has enjoyed a long and distinguished career as both an actress and writer.
During her acting career she has worked in film, television and theatre. Her credits include working with Laurence Olivier at the National Theatre and Stanley Kubrick on A CLOCKWORK ORANGE.

Carol is the author of six bestselling memoirs: THE OLIVE FARM, THE OLIVE SEASON, THE OLIVE HARVEST, THE OLIVE ROUTE, THE OLIVE TREE and RETURN TO THE OLICE FARM.
Carol worked with UNESCO on a lavish documentary film series inspired by her two most recent books, THE OLIVE ROUTE and THE OLIVE TREE. The series is both travel and history based and will follow an Olive Heritage Trail around the Mediterranean Basin. The aim is to celebrate the cultural heritage of this sacred tree. The first transmissions will be in Canada in February and in Germany in April 2013.

one cannot resist Drinkwater's courage and joie de vivre, nor the enormous appetite and enthusiasm she has for her subject
THE DAILY MAIL - Wendy Holden

a vibrant account
SAINSBURYS MAGAZINE

'part travel journal, part food story, and a social account of the eastern Mediterranean.'
SUNDAY BUSINESS POST

'Drinkwater has a sharp eye for character, and the people who populate The Olive Route will not disappoint her fans....
THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY - Danuta Kean

'The Olive Route is a thoughtful and passionate addition to the Carol Drinkwater Olive series.'
THE RIVERIA REPORTER

a hugely enjoyable book.
TUAM HERALD - Tony Galvin

the adventures involved in the spread of the olive are colourful and intriguing
TRAVELLER

an effortless, flowing narrative that draws you in and makes you her travelling companion.
SMART LIFE INTERNATIONAL

an inspiring and captivating read.....a lively, often humorous account, providing a fabulous insight to the olive route.
MIDDLE EAST MAGAZINE - Rhona Wells