Wild Words Newsletter
Get monthly recommendations on all the latest nature writing, heritage and conservation related reads available at Sherlock & Pages
Enchanted Islands : Travels Through Myth & Magic, Love & Loss by Laura Coffey invites readers on a mesmerizing journey that blends ancient mythology with deeply personal reflection. This evocative memoir traces Laura's six-month odyssey through the Mediterranean's mystical islands, believed to be the real-life settings of Odysseus's epic adventure in The Odyssey.
More than a travelogue, this book explores the convergence of myth and reality as Laura seeks solace from heartbreak and her father's illness. Through vivid descriptions of cold-water swims, mountain hikes, and star-lit nights, she discovers the healing power of nature and the redemptive magic intertwined with these enchanting landscapes.
Praised by Stephen Fry as "a simply marvellous read" and described by Clare Pollard as "a spellbinding book about growing up, grieving and the gods," this work appeals to lovers of memoir, mythology, and transformative travel stories. Enchanted Islands : Travels Through Myth & Magic, Love & Loss offers a unique lens on how stories shape our understanding of life, grief, and healing.
ISBN: | 9781837995639 |
Author: | Laura Coffey |
Format: | Paperback / softback |
Imprint: | Summersdale Publishers |
Publisher: | Octopus Publishing Group |
Dimensions: | 129 x 197 x 31 mm |
Publication Date: | 22 May, 2025 |
Pagination: | 288 pages |
Weight: | 256g |
Sherlock & Pages is a little bookshop with a big heart. We are based in Frome, Somerset, England and curate lists of books in the areas we are passionate about – landscape, nature, history, and heritage. In short, the conservation of all we’ve inherited and all we are responsible to pass on. We aim to inspire and be inspired, to form a literary culture of care and passion about this precious planet we call home.
This is a shop where you might find something you haven’t seen before, and we like to think we’ve got something for everyone. We choose each of our books with care and for a reason. This is because our physical store is small but beautifully formed, holding only around 1200 titles at any one time. We try and recreate the feel of the shop wherever we are online, to reflect our niche categories and personality.
We have an active social media presence and aim to share our story with all our friends. The long-term goal is to build a hub for the books and writers we believe in. Who knows where our adventure will lead but by supporting Sherlock & Pages you’re helping us to add a further layer of magic to our little corner of the world. If you haven’t visited our physical store, one day you might just make a literary pilgrimage down to Somerset.
Our tagline is ‘Long Live the Hedgerows’ and our symbol a hibernating dormouse. If you want to support an independent with a unique character and which will share stories with you for years to come, then choose Sherlock & Pages. The world needs bookshops with soul, for they are ‘citadels of light.’