Jura, George Orwell wrote, is “an extremely ungetable place”. It is easier, but only modestly so, to reach Jura now than it was when Orwell lived on the island. Unless you have your own boat or take, in summer, the small passenger ferry it still requires two ferry trips. But for Orwell, who disliked “big towns, noise, motor cars, the radio, tinned food, central heating and ‘modern’ furniture”, it proved a special place. As it has – and does – for many people since.
True, there are more motor cars now, radio reception is better than it was and tinned food more readily available. The post arrives daily now and there’s ponderous satellite internet too but even if Jura is more connected than once it was it is still not very connected. The newspapers don’t reach the north end of the island until 4pm; it takes an effort to read them.
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