‘A surprising page-turner, full of humour and startling details’ THE TIMES
‘If I read a better history this year, I will be lucky’ TOM HOLLAND
‘An astonishing tour de force’ SPECTATOR
Longlisted for the 2024 Highland Book Prize
This beautifully illustrated overview of the wildlife of the British Isles showcases the diversity of our plant and animal life.
‘Wonderfully researched and beautifully written’ Philip Hoare, author of Leviathan
‘Succeeds in conjuring a lost world’ Dava Sobel, author of Longitude
Islands have incited passion throughout the ages. These ‘watery lands’ symbolise the eternal contrast between land and water, suggesting mystery and adventure, romanticism and beauty. For centuries, they have stimulated the imaginations of writers, artists, historians and naturalists alike.
