The Book of Trespass by Nick Hayes is a great read. It dives into what land and property really are, and how our society is shaped by it. The book tells the story from an English perspective, and though I live in Scotland, much of what is told still rings true. Stories of the elite using power to suppress the majority is unfortunately a global tale.

Each chapter of the book follows Nick as he engages in an act that is, according to English law and custom, an illegal act of trespass. But the manner in which he tells it, as an escape to nature, that is respectful of the land, juxtaposed against retellings of awful injustices, serves to reveal where the real injustices of trespass are – the man made borders and rules that keep us oppressed.

Some of the stories are a bit difficult to engage with, particularly those of the centuries old English nobility, but the more contemporary histories of slavery and oppression are enraging to read, with all the barefaced abuses that property ownership have enabled. From these he highlights some really interesting projects, which offer nice interactive visuals and data that help to press home the importance of the issues. Such as WhoOwnsEngland and the Legacies of British Slavery database.

As well as the right to freely roam across the land, Hayes discusses the right to protest, witchcraft, women’s rights and gender equality, the relationship between relaxation, community, work, and property; the difficulties faced by migrants during humanitarian crises, and so many other topics.

Nick does talk about the different friends, communities, and groups, all the activities that being truly free can open up to us. And the image that is painted does offer quite an idyllic view, though I’m not sure I would be strong willed enough to stand up to a belligerent landowner who has hundred of years of legal backing.

He does spend many passages going on about his drug use, and while that’s a perfect example of trespass beyond simply stepping on someone else’s land, I find reading about highly personal trips is about as interesting as someone analyse their dream imagery.

His manner of writing is fantastic, he finds just the right words to re-form the arguments and long held beliefs of what trespass is, in his own way perverting the notion of private property. And indeed that is one of his core arguments – the way words and laws become rules simply through their own writing. Even if you’re not an outdoorsy type, and you don’t care about access rights, I would recommend reading the book just to absorb that way of thinking.

Throughout he includes illustrations he has made on his journeys which add a nice flavour to the text. You can find many more illustrations on his website. He also picks out some wonderful quotes from predecessors and malefactors on this quest to roam and own the land.

The final chapter is a welcome respite from the often difficult stories of loss of rights and dehumanisation. It reminds us that there are many countries that do offer meaningful land access rights, and makes special mention of Scotland, which is fantastic to see recognised. These ‘Rights to Roam’ should be a focus in every country, but we do need to go further in cementing this into the public consciousness. Even here in Scotland I occasionally see signs marking routes as private or come across areas ancient paths gated up, and even knowing I should have the right to pass through, the mental barriers stand tall.

I absolutely recommend reading this book. If you liked writings by Kim Stanley Robinson or Cory Doctorow, you may enjoy this too. It’s a great political debunk and one of those topics that, once it’s pointed out to you, you can’t help but see everywhere.