The Wainwright Prize short list has been announced this morning and seven books have made the cut.
Love of Country by Madeleine Bunting (Granta)
The Otters' Tale by Simon Cooper (HarperCollins)
The Running Hare by John Lewis-Stempel (Transworld)
Where Poppies Blow by John Lewis-Stempel (W&N)
Wild Kingdom by Stephen Moss (Vintage)
The January Man by Christopher Somerville (Transworld)
The Wild Other by Clover Stroud (Hodder & Stoughton)
Chair of judges Julia Bradbury is joined on the judging panel by fellow TV presenter Matt Baker; editor of the National Trust Magazine, Sally Palmer; chair of both Gardener’s Question Time and the Wainwright Society, Eric Robson; Mail on Sunday journalist, Sarah Oliver; and ex-Chairman of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Peter Waine, and they are going to have some fascinating discussions about these books. Each one is going to have to prove its worth as...
'... the book which most successfully reflects the ethos of renowned nature writer Alfred Wainwright’s work, to inspire readers to explore the outdoors and to nurture a respect for the natural world.'
I'd like to add that even if you are not able, for whatever reason, to do that much exploring of the outdoors, from those books I have read so far each will offer as much inspiration to enjoy it from the armchair.
The winner will be announced on August 3rd by which time I am hoping ( deo volente and with fair reading wind and sail etc) to have shared my thoughts on every book, and I'm hoping some of you might be able to read along and join in with comments too...so hi thee to thy library catalogues (or bookshops or You Know Where) but for three very lucky people here in the UK something even better.
To be in with a chance of winning...
one of three complete sets of the shortlisted books
You know the drill, just add your name in comments (sorry UK entrants only) and Magnus the Choosing Cat will call a halt to Outdoor Activities and work his usual magic...
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