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In this captivating travelogue, lauded writer Oliver Smith embarks on a transformative odyssey across Britain's sacred landscapes, challenging our conventional understanding of pilgrimage. From the whispers of Ice Age ritual journeys to the contemporary spiritual quests of the 21st century, Smith weaves a tapestry of sacred travel through time.
With a blend of imagination and meticulous research, Smith's adventure takes him to the far-flung corners of Britain's hallowed grounds. He delves into remote sea caves, slumbers within Neolithic tombs, ascends forgotten holy peaks, and even finds himself adrift at sea. Traversing ancient paths to churches, cathedrals, and standing stones, this evocative narrative not only explores prehistoric, pagan, and Christian sites but also unveils how modern-day football stadiums and music festivals have become unexpected pilgrimage destinations.
While the routes Smith treads are often steeped in antiquity, the pilgrims he encounters are decidedly contemporary. Yet, at the heart of this enlightening journey lies an eternal truth: the act of travelling has always been a means of discovering meaning. As Smith astutely observes, "the unravelling of a path goes in tandem with the unravelling of the soul."
Hailed as "excellent" and "special" by The Times, and praised for its imaginative engagement by Country Life, this Financial Times Book of the Year offers a fresh and compelling perspective on Britain's spiritual landscape.
Book ISBN: | 9781399409049 |
Book Author: | Oliver Smith |
Book Format: | Paperback / softback |
Book Imprint: | Bloomsbury Continuum |
Book Publisher: | Bloomsbury Publishing PLC |
Book Dimensions: | 197 x 129 x 19 cm |
Book Publication Date: | 2025-02-27 |
Book Pagination: | 256 pages, 10 black and white interior photos |
Book Weight: | 212g |
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.’
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.’