Fifty Words for Snow

In her book "Snow", Nancy Campbell explores the fifty words for snow in different languages and cultures, revealing the rich mythology and stories behind each term. The book is a beautiful winter gift that offers a new perspective on the snow and inspires adventure and exploration.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2021
Publisher: Elliott & Thompson Limited

Waterstones Non fiction Book of the Month November 2021

‘A delightful compendium that brings together language, culture, and adventure through frozen landscapes, as it shares the meanings behind 50 words for snow, gathered from around the globe. The Herald

Snow. Every language has its own words for the magical, mesmerizing flakes that fall from the sky. In this exquisite exploration, writer and Arctic traveler Nancy Campbell digs deep into the meanings of fifty words for snow.

In Japanese, we encounter yuki-onna – a ‘snow woman who drifts through the frosted land. In Icelandic, it is hundslappadrífa – ‘snowflakes as big as a dog's paw – that softly blanket the streets. And in Māori, we meet Huka-rere – ‘one of the children of rain and wind.’

From mountain tops and frozen seas to city parks and desert hills, each of these linguistic snow crystals offers a whole world of myth and story – the perfect winter gift.

‘Absolutely exquisite. This little book is a work of art. It is impossible to imagine the reader who will not love it. Horatio Clare, author of The Light in the Dark

‘This stunning book made me want to pack all my woolies, candles, ample firewood, and enough books for a year – and head to as northerly a location as I could find. Kerri ní Dochartaigh, Caught By the River

‘Sparkles and dazzles with new meanings and old magic. You'll never see snow in the same way again. Matt Gaw, author of Under the Stars’

Weight: 242g
Dimension: 130 x 198 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783966035