Our Favourite Books

A Sunday Times bestseller and Samuel Johnson Prize nominee, 'The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot' is a masterful exploration of Britain's ancient pathways by the acclaimed author of 'Underland', 'Landmarks', and 'The Lost Words'. Robert Macfarlane, renowned for his eloquent observations of nature,...

Behold, a literary triumph that has captured the imagination of readers and critics alike! This Sunday Times bestseller and Science and Environment Book of the Year has garnered numerous accolades, including the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award. It has also been...

By Francis Pryor (Author)Format: Hardback 352 pages, 3x8pp colPublisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLCImprint: ApolloISBN: 9781801101608Published: 6 Jul 2023Classifications: Lincolnshire, Wetlands, swamps, fens, Gardens (descriptions, history etc), Specialized gardening methodsWeight: 596gDimensions: 162 x 243 x 34 (mm) The story of how Francis Pryor created a haven...

In this captivating ode to hearth, heritage, and the natural world, Gavin Plumley takes us on a journey of discovery that begins with an unexpected love affair. Once a dedicated urbanite, Plumley's life takes a dramatic turn when he and his husband, Alastair, fall...

Embark on an enthralling journey with Dave Goulson, a wildlife enthusiast turned bumblebee champion, in this Sunday Times bestseller. From his boyhood fascination with exotic pets and amateur taxidermy to his groundbreaking research, Goulson's lifelong obsession with nature takes centre stage. At the heart...

Hailed as 'one of the best books' by Richard Osman and lauded for its 'tender and elegant' prose by the Guardian, J L Carr's 'A Month in the Country' stands as a singular masterpiece in modern English literature. This poignant tale follows Tom Birkin,...

Embark on a mesmerising odyssey through pre-war Europe with Patrick Leigh Fermor's 'A Time of Gifts'. This captivating travelogue, introduced by Jan Morris, chronicles the author's audacious trek from Holland to Hungary at the tender age of eighteen. In 1933, armed with nothing but...

Hemingway's captivating memoir of living in Paris during the twenties. 'If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast'Hemingway's...

Delve into a captivating compendium of British folklore, superstitions, and legends from yesteryear and today. Did you know that in Cumbria, it was once believed that one couldn't die whilst resting on a pillow stuffed with pigeon feathers? Or that emerald hues were considered...

NOW A HAUNTING BBC DRAMA, STARRING GEMMA ARTERTON AND DIANA RIGG'A remarkable and beautiful book' DAILY TELEGRAPH'I envy anyone reading it for the first time' AMANDA COE'[Godden has] a genius for storytelling' EVENING STANDARDHigh in the Himalayas, the mountaintop palace shines like a jewel....

Crowned victor of the Fortnum & Mason Debut Food Book Award 2023 and shortlisted for the André Simon Best Cookbook Award 2023, 'Breadsong' has garnered accolades from The Times, The Week, and Delicious Magazine as one of the top culinary tomes of 2022. This...

In the tumultuous period of 1860-1890, the American West witnessed a harrowing saga of shattered promises, disillusionment, and bloodshed. Dee Brown's gripping narrative, "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee", chronicles the tragic plight of Native Americans as they faced the relentless tide of white...

Hailed as a top science and environment book by The Times and featuring on Prospect's Top Thinkers 2024 list, this groundbreaking work has garnered praise from luminaries like Bill Gates and David Wallace-Wells. The Financial Times lauds its engaging narratives of pivotal figures behind...

Britain's Pilgrim Places captures the spirit of 2,000 years of history, heritage and wonder. It is the complete guide to every spiritual treasure, including 500 enchanting holy places throughout England, Wales and Scotland and covers all major pilgrimage routes. Produced in collaboration with The...

Jared Farmer's 'Elderflora: A Modern History of Ancient Trees' has been honoured with the Jacques Barzun Prize in Cultural History. This captivating work seamlessly intertwines natural and human narratives, presenting ancient trees not merely as extraordinary organisms, but as silent witnesses to human triumphs,...

Nestled in the ancient Mesta valley, one of Europe's longest-inhabited river basins and a haven for wild plant foragers, Elixir offers a captivating journey into the profound bonds between humans, flora, and their environment. Kapka Kassabova, whose forthcoming work 'Anima: A Wild Pastoral' is...

Prepare to have your perception of the Middle Ages utterly transformed. 'Femina', the instant Sunday Times bestseller and Cundill History Prize longlisted sensation, peels back the layers of time to reveal the hidden influence of medieval women. Dr Janina Ramirez's groundbreaking work has set...

Subtle, compendious and rich' - James McConnachie, The Sunday Times'Dazzling ... Finlay's adventures, vividly recounted, make enthralling reading ... This book is equally an inspiration and an education' - Bel Mooney, Daily Mail'A gorgeous adventure through the history of cloth' - StylistThe Sunday Times...

[a] gem of a book' SpectatorChurches and cathedrals were originally built to be read. They are alive with images and symbols. But today few people, including regular visitors, truly understand the wealth of meaning in what they find there. How to Read a Church...

Prepare to embark on a captivating odyssey through a millennium of English lore and history. Christopher Hadley's 'Hollow Places' defies easy categorisation, offering readers a delightfully immersive experience that the Sunday Times hails as 'comfortably the most unexpected history book of the year'. Picture,...

Crowned victor of the 2020 Women's Prize for Fiction and reigning supreme as the No. 1 bestseller of 2021, this literary gem has been hailed as "richly sensuous... something special" by The Sunday Times and "a thing of shimmering wonder" by David Mitchell. At...

Delve into the captivating world of British inter-war artists and designers in this masterful biography centred on Eric Ravilious. This enthralling narrative weaves together tales of creative brilliance, camaraderie, and tragedy, offering a fresh perspective on a pivotal era in British art. Eric Ravilious...

Oliver Smith, the esteemed travel writer, embarks on a captivating journey to redefine the concept of pilgrimage in Britain. In this masterful exploration, Smith traverses sacred landscapes, delving into ritualistic travels from the Ice Age to contemporary spiritual quests. With a keen eye for...

Lauded by the Wainwright Prize 2023 and shortlisted for multiple accolades, Gaia Vince's 'Nomad Century' is a riveting exploration of the most overlooked yet monumental consequence of climate change: the impending mass migration of humanity. As the Observer proclaims, this is a book that...

Shortlisted for the 2023-2024 Gordon Burn Prize and the 2018 Scotiabank Giller Prize, and crowned victor of the 2019 Indigenous Voices Award for Published Prose in English, this extraordinary debut novel blurs the lines between fact and fiction, reality and myth. Set in the...

Exquisite... A worthy companion to revered nature writing tomes like H is for Hawk' - NEW STATESMAN. 'Marvellous... both candid and intrepid' - TELEGRAPH BEST TRAVEL BOOKS OF THE YEAR. 'Captivating' - GUARDIAN TOP TEN NATURE MEMOIRS. Grey whale mothers and their calves traverse...

Delve into the shadowy realm of folklore with this captivating compendium of 50 of the world's most enigmatic and rebellious characters. 'Rebel Folklore' invites readers to explore the significance of these misunderstood misfits from ancient tales, passed down through generations by society's outsiders. From...

When Peter Hill, a student at Dundee College of Art, answered an advert in The Scotsman seeking lighthouse keepers, little did he imagine that within a month he would be living with three men he didn't know in a lighthouse on Pladda, a small...

Enchanting, breathtaking and beautiful... If you need me, I'll be in Storyland - Ben Miller IMMERSE YOURSELF IN MIST AND MAGIC AND DISCOVER HEROES AND MONSTERS RIGHT ON YOUR DOORSTEP . . . You will have heard of Thor, Medusa and Hercules. But what...

The Sunday Times paperback bestseller and Waterstones Non-Fiction Book of the Month*Featuring a brand new chapter!*'Never have the joys of exploring the churches and cathedrals of this country been so vividly conveyed as they are in this engaging and elegiac book.' - New Statesman...

Storyland, a captivating reimagining of British mythology by Amy Jeffs, has garnered widespread acclaim, earning its place on numerous bestseller lists and award shortlists. This enchanting tome weaves a tapestry of ancient tales, from the misty origins of creation to the Norman conquest, breathing...

Prepare to be enthralled by this meticulously researched and passionately argued account of England's most tumultuous century. Dr Jonathan Healey's 'The Blazing World' offers a riveting exploration of 17th-century life, brimming with vigour and excitement. This era witnessed England's transformation from a nation ruled...

Embark on a riveting journey through time with Marc Morris's Sunday Times bestseller, hailed as a "clever, lively ... splendid new book" by Dan Jones. This masterful work delves into the tumultuous period following Britain's departure from the Roman Empire, when the island plunged...

A literary tour de force, this Sunday Times Top 5 bestseller has garnered accolades from Barack Obama and prestigious literary prizes. Dalrymple's masterful narrative, hailed by The Times as 'a book of beauty', offers a fresh perspective on a pivotal moment in history. In...

Embark on a captivating journey through Scotland's rich tapestry of folklore with this exquisite compilation of tales. Culled from The History Press' esteemed Folk Tales series, this volume presents a veritable treasure chest of narratives from a cadre of gifted raconteurs. Within these pages,...

A Sunday Times bestseller and nominee for prestigious literary awards, 'The Book of Trespass' by Nick Hayes is a groundbreaking exploration of England's hidden landscapes. This captivating work, lauded by literary luminaries, challenges readers to reconsider their perception of the countryside. Hayes unveils a...

Hailed as a TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR, this masterful chronicle of Viking history defies conventional timelines. While traditionally bookended by the Lindisfarne raid of 793 and King Harald Hardrada's fall at Stamford Bridge in 1066, Neil Price's groundbreaking work delves deeper, unearthing the...

THE TIMES BEST HISTORY BOOK OF 2023A BOOK OF THE YEAR PICK FOR THE TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES, BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE, GUARDIAN, INDEPENDENT AND FINANCIAL TIMESA BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK | AN INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'Humanity has transformed the Earth: Frankopan transforms...

Featuring Jodie Comer of Killing Eve fame, this gripping tale is now a major motion picture. Megan Hunter's debut novel, The End We Start From, is a compelling and innovative narrative that begins as London succumbs to rising floodwaters and a woman brings new...

John Wright's captivating prose makes armchair foraging almost as enticing as the real thing. This exquisitely crafted and beautifully illustrated tome is a true gem, as noted by John Carey in The Sunday Times. It's no wonder the book clinched both the Guild of...

Crowned with the Golden Man Booker Prize in 2018, this 'magnificent' (Sunday Times) novel has been hailed as 'the best piece of fiction I've read in years' (Independent on Sunday). As the final act of the Second World War draws to a close, we...

Sunday Times Bestseller `A paradigm-smashing chronicle of joyous entanglement' Charles Foster Waterstones Non-Fiction Book of the Month (September) Are trees social beings? How do trees live? Do they feel pain or have awareness of their surroundings? In The Hidden Life of Trees Peter Wohlleben...

Honoured with a place on the Women's Prize for Fiction 2022 shortlist and celebrated as a Sunday Times top ten bestseller, this captivating tale has also captured the heart of Reese Witherspoon's Book Club. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of 1974 Cyprus, two star-crossed...

Hailed as the pinnacle of British nature writing, Nan Shepherd's 'The Living Mountain' is a captivating exploration of the Cairngorm mountains in Scotland. This masterpiece, featuring an introduction by Robert Macfarlane and an afterword by Jeanette Winterson, invites readers on an extraordinary journey through...

A long-time confidante of the rain and snow, I am ninety years old. The rain and snow have weathered me, and I too have weathered them'At the end of the twentieth century an old woman sits among the birch trees and reflects on the...