Common Ground
One of Britain’s Favourite Nature Books as featured on BBC’s Winterwatch
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Cornerstone
Published:24th Mar '16
Should be back in stock very soon
In Common Ground, Rob Cowen embarks on a transformative journey exploring an overlooked landscape, discovering profound connections between nature and humanity as he prepares for fatherhood.
After relocating from London to Yorkshire and anticipating fatherhood, Rob Cowen finds himself navigating new and unfamiliar landscapes. He feels disoriented and confined by the winter season, prompting him to explore a nearby edge-land: a wild, untamed area filled with woodlands, hedges, fields, meadows, and a river that remains largely unnoticed on the outskirts of town. This exploration serves as a catalyst for his journey of self-discovery and connection with nature.
As Cowen delves deeper into this overlooked landscape, he begins to uncover its rich tapestry of life, including various creatures, plants, and the human stories intertwined with them. The seasons shift, and as the birth of his child approaches, his journey into this liminal space where humanity and nature intersect becomes increasingly meaningful. Through his vivid observations and reflections, Common Ground transforms into a poignant narrative that highlights the connection between people and the environment.
In Common Ground, Cowen masterfully conveys the beauty and complexity of this edge-land, offering readers an immersive experience that invites them to reconsider their relationship with the natural world. His writing is both evocative and powerful, capturing the essence of a unique square mile that holds extraordinary significance. This book serves not only as a personal memoir but also as a universal exploration of the commonalities we share with nature and each other.
One of the most original books of 2015. -- Melissa Harrison * Books of the Year, The Times *
Bold and beautiful. -- Robert Macfarlane * New Statesman *
Cracking… Vividly and movingly described… Cowen writes very well. -- Alan Bennett * London Review of Books *
Absolutely mesmerising, utterly beautiful, utterly engrossing – it takes a lot for a book to give me goosebumps but this one did. -- Joanne Harris * Simon Mayo Drivetime BBC Radio 2 *
[A] multi-faceted, touched-by-genius exploration of a stretch of Harrogate wasteland. -- John Lewis-Stempel * Sunday Express, Books of the Year *
Marks out Cowen as a new writer who is both entertaining and significant… Cowen’s descriptive writing is visceral and gripping… and his attention to colour is particularly striking. -- Richard Benson * Independent *
Magical... Deeply original... a detailed nature study [and] a moving memoir... I became both intrigued and enchanted by this hybrid approach. -- Sara Maitland * Countryfile magazine, Book of the Month *
Highly poetic... like an archaeologist, Cowen unearthshistories, natural life and decayed infrastructure in a small area bordering the River Nidd... Above all, Common Ground is about the transformative power of this unnoticed piece of land, if one can only stand and stare for long enough' -- Serena Tarling * Financial Times *
Highly poetic... like an archaeologist, Cowen unearthshistories, natural life and decayed infrastructure in a small area bordering the River Nidd... Above all, Common Ground is about the transformative power of this unnoticed piece of land, if one can only stand and stare for long enough' -- Serena Tarling * Financial Times *
Sensitive, thoughtful and poetic. Rob Cowen rakes over a scrap of land with forensic care, leading us into a whole new way of looking at the world. -- Michael Palin
- Short-listed for Wainwright Prize 2016
ISBN: 9780099592037
Dimensions: 198mm x 130mm x 22mm
Weight: 251g
352 pages