COLLECTIVE WINNER OF THE HIGHLAND BOOK PRIZE AND SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE‘This is the book that has been wanting to be written for decades: the ragged fringe of Britain as a laboratory for the human spirit’ Adam NicolsonCOLLECTIVE WINNER OF THE HIGHLAND BOOK PRIZE AND SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE‘This is the book that has been wanting to be written for decades: the ragged fringe of Britain as a laboratory for the human spirit’ Adam NicolsonOver the course of a year, leading historian and nature writer David Gange kayaked the weather-ravaged coasts of Atlantic Britain and Ireland from north to south: every cove, sound, inlet, island.The idea was to travel slowly and close to the water: in touch with both the natural world and the histories of communities on Atlantic coastlines. The story of his journey is one of staggering adventure, range and beauty. For too long, Gange argues, the significance of coasts has been underestimated, and the potential of small boats as tools to make sense of these histories rarely explored. This book seeks to put that imbalance right.Paddling alone in sun and storms, among dozens of whales and countless seabirds, Gange and his kayak travelled through a Shetland summer, Scottish winter and Irish spring before reaching Wales and Cornwall. Sitting low in the water, as did millions in eras when coasts were the main arteries of trade and communication, Gange describes, in captivating prose and loving detail, the experiences of kayaking, coastal living and historical discovery.Drawing on the archives of islands and coastal towns, as well as their vast poetic literatures in many languages, he shows that the neglected histories of these stunning regions are of real importance in understanding both the past and future of the whole archipelago. It is a history of Britain and Ireland like no other.COLLECTIVE WINNER OF THE HIGHLAND BOOK PRIZE 2019SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE 2020BBC Countryfile Magazine Book of the Month ‘An impressive intellectual and physical journey, allowing the reader to experience the Atlantic Coast from a fresh, deeply informed and invigorating perspective; rarely have our coastlines and cultures been explored with such understanding and respect.’ Highland Book Prize‘A tour de force’ Moya Cannon‘This book is the product of a considerable physical achievement … A brilliant book, and a major step towards a genuinely radical reimagining of the history of the British Isles.’ Scotsman‘The strength of Mr Gange’s account is his generosity. His own wry persona never overshadows the voices of past and present inhabitants … [his] prose is itself poetic and precise … His enthusiasm for snoozing in soggy sleeping bags is infectious … A dunking in the freezing sea, off the coast of County Mayo, leaves the author shivering but “ignited, elated”. Surfacing from the book, the reader is invigorated, too.’ Economist‘An intensely political book … there is uncomplicated beauty as well as wonderful descriptions’ Country Life‘Gange is both extraordinarily intrepid and deeply attentive to all he encounters … worth attention for its deeper argument as well as its thrilling surface.’ Spectator‘[Gange is] physically resourceful, articulate, clear-eyed, informed, attentive to the realities, and crucially at home in all the elements. A book reliant in the end on one key fact: edges are revelatory.’ Adam Nicolson, winner of the Wainwright Prize 2018‘This beautifully written and grippingly researched book shows us that our shores are the beginning, not the ending, of things.’ Philip Hoare‘Energetic, entertaining and erudite … Sometimes boisterous, sometimes lyrical but always engaging.’ Donald MurrayDavid Gange was born in the Peak District. He is Senior Lecturer in Modern History at the University of Birmingham and has published history books with Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press and Oneworld Publications. He has appeared on BBC2 and Smithsonian television as well as at the Hay Literary Festival and in the TLS. His writing as published nature writing and photography in various books and magazines. Recently, he held a research fellowship at the National University of Ireland, Galway.www.mountaincoastriver.blogspot.co.uk.• FOR READERS OF HISTORY, TRAVEL WRITING AND NATURE WRITING: Those who enjoy the writing of Adam Nicolson, Roy Foster, Neil Oliver, Thomas Williams, Robert Macfarlane, Richard Fortey and John Lewis-Stempel will love this book. Success of The Outrun and The Salt Path also good comps.• NEW VOICE IN NATURE AND TRAVEL WRITING/DEBUT WRITER: This will be David Gange’s first trade book. There is a real opportunity to position him as a debut writer within this area of publishing.• SOCIAL MEDIA SAVVY/DIGITAL AUDIENCE: David Gange has an online media presence and is a Twitter user (4k followers). He is web savvy and prior to this book was writing the following blog where he has a captive audience: https://frayedatlanticedge.wordpress.com• INDIE AND NATIONAL PRESS APPEAL ACROSS THE BRITISH ISLES AND IRELAND: David is also a keen photographer and has documented a lot of his experiences visually. Because of the national outlook, there are PR opportunities across England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland. There will also be excerpting opportunities for publications such as The Observer, Granta, and Wild magazine.• THE FIRST PERSON TO PERFORM THIS JOURNEY IN A KAYAK: It’s the inspiring story of someone doing this journey in a kayak for the very first time. This will appeal to any water sports enthusiasts, anyone interested in sailing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, jet skiing, rafting, parasailing. It could also be pitched to magazine dedicated to these disciplines.• PERSONAL MOTIVATION TO RIDE A KAYAK: His wife was hit by a car while they were in their 20s. Kayaking became one of the only ways she could be out in the world without the need of her wheelchair. This could be discussed during publicity campaigns. His wife has just been selected for the paralympics canoe team for 2020.• PRIZE POTENTIAL: Obvious contender for Scottish literary prizes and nature and travel prizes (e.g. Wainwright nature writing prize, Edward Stanford travel writing prize).Competition: Seabird’s Cry, Sea Room, H is for Hawk, Underland, A Short History of England, The Salt Path. Adam Nicolson, Robert Macfarlane, David Attenborough, Helen Macdonald, Julia Blackburn, Dan Richards, David Starkey, Simon Jenkins, Raynor Winn
Publicat de: HarperCollins Publishers