Among Flowers

Jamaica Kincaid's memoir, Among Flowers, chronicles a three-week trek through Nepal, where she and her companions gather seeds for planting at home. The book explores the natural world, the Himalayan landscape, and the ironies, difficulties, and dangers of the journey, including the presence of Maoist guerrillas. It is a vivid, engrossing, and characteristically frank memoir from one of the most striking voices in contemporary literature.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 07 July 2022
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

In her acclaimed travel memoir, Jamaica Kincaid embarks on a breathtaking and exotic three-week trek through the Himalayan land of Nepal, where she and her companions gather seeds for planting at home. The natural world, particularly plants and gardening, holds a central place in Kincaid's work.

Among Flowers seamlessly weaves meditations on nature with stunning descriptions of the Himalayan landscape, alongside observations on the ironies, challenges, and dangers of this remarkable journey. For Kincaid and her three botanist friends, Nepal is a paradise, a place where a single day's hike can traverse climate zones, from subtropical to alpine, encompassing flora suitable for growing at their homes, ranging from Wales to Vermont. However, as Kincaid elucidates, there is much more to this foreign world than towering rhododendrons. Danger, too, is a constant companion, and the leeches are merely the least of their worries. Unpredictable Maoist guerrillas inhabit these perilous mountains, and their enigmatic presence lingers long after they melt back into the landscape. Kincaid, known for her writings on the enduring effects of colonialism, delves into the irony of her status as a memsahib (mistress) alongside Sherpas and bearers.

This memoir is a remarkable blend of introspective insight and beautifully rendered description. It is vivid, engrossing, and distinctly frank, showcasing one of the most striking voices in contemporary literature. Part of the Picador Collection, a new series that highlights the finest in modern literature, Among Flowers offers readers a captivating glimpse into the world of travel, nature, and personal reflection.

Weight: 144g
Dimension: 130 x 197 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529077025