On Gallows Down

Meer over het boek

***Shortlisted for the James Copper Wainwright Prize 2022 for Nature Writing - Highly Commended******WINNER of the Richard Jefferies Award 2021 for Best Nature Writing!*** "It's ever so good. Political, passionate and personal."--Robert Macfarlane (via Twitter) Part nature writing, part memoir, this work is an essential read for fans of Helen Macdonald and Terry Tempest Williams. It weaves a powerful, personal narrative shaped by a landscape filled with protest, change, and the quest for belonging. The author recounts her journey from a girl captivated by the "peace women" of Greenham Common to a mother advocating for the preservation of ancient trees, all while living in a cottage near grand estates. Through her writing, she uncovers a rich history of resistance in her village of Newbury, spanning from the English Civil War to modern protests against the Newbury bypass. The narrative also reflects on the rewilding of Greenham Common and the stories embedded in the landscapes of Watership Down and Highclere Castle. Nature becomes an integral part of her sense of belonging, illustrated through walks with her children and encounters with wildlife. Ultimately, the author discovers that home is defined by a connection to nature and imagination, a bond that must be safeguarded through words and actions. "We are writing for our very lives and for those wild lives we share this one, lonely planet with."--Nicola Chester