At the Very End of the Road

At the end of the road is a six-bar metal gate that is chained and padlocked, marking the end of the tarmac. Beyond that is a track, twelve pasture and hay fields, and an area of saltmarsh. This book of place explores the impact of season and tides and weather upon this land at the edge through a series of literary pictures crafted through lyrical imaginative language. The author attempts to render meticulous observations of the intimate details of wildlife and landscape to depict a place as faithfully and transparently as possible, challenging the current orthodoxy of nature writing. The book is framed in such a way as to remove the author's presence almost completely, with no story, narrative connection, focus on a single species, discussion of environmental issues, or characters.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2021
Publisher: Whittles Publishing

At the end of the road, a six-bar metal gate stands, chained and padlocked, marking the precise boundary where the tarmac ends. Beyond this point lies a track, twelve pasture and hay fields, and an expanse of saltmarsh, bordered by a river on one side and vast tidal mudflats on the other. Deep within the western reaches of England, this land has been sculpted by the wind and painted by the tides, teeming with wildlife. This captivating and meticulously crafted book of place delves into the profound influence of seasons, tides, and weather upon this land at the edge, employing a series of literary images crafted through lyrical, imaginative language. The author embarks on a remarkable endeavor, attempting to capture the elusive essence of a place with remarkable fidelity and transparency. Few, if any, have ventured to undertake this task, meticulously observing the intricate details of wildlife and landscape to depict a place as accurately and authentically as possible. This is a bold book, one that dares to explore the enigmatic soul of a place, undertaking a daring examination of both what constitutes a place and how it is continually remade through the intricate interactions between landscape and observer. It is also radical in its approach, challenging the prevailing orthodoxy of nature writing that posits the necessity of a narrative framework of human emotion to establish a connection between author, subject, and reader. While the prose may be subjective, the book is carefully structured to virtually eliminate the author's presence. There is no overarching story, no narrative thread, no singular focus on a specific species, no discussion or allusion to the environmental issues of our time, no characters. Indeed, there is scarcely any mention of people at all. Despite its occasional attempts to explain or educate, this book primarily places observations at the forefront. Yet, in seeking to unravel the essence of what it is, it offers a profound and contemplative journey.

Weight: 408g
Dimension: 139 x 216 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781849954976