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The Rhine is one of the world's greatest rivers. Once forming the outer frontier of the Roman Empire, it flows 800 miles from the wealthy mountain fortresses of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, through the industrial and political powerhouses of Germany and France, to the social democratic playground of the Netherlands.

For five years, Ben Coates lived alongside a major channel of the river in Rotterdam, crossing it daily, swimming and sailing in its tributaries. In The Rhine, he sets out by bicycle to the river's source in the icy Alps, then cycles along its course through six countries to where it enters the North Sea. He explores the impact that the Rhine has had on European culture and history and finds out how influences have flowed along and across the river, shaping the people who live alongside it.

Blending travelogue and offbeat history, The Rhine tells the fascinating story of how a great river helped shape a continent.