Hermit: A memoir of finding freedom in a wild place

After her partner leaves, Jade is left alone in a barn, but with the help of nature, she finds herself and discovers the power of being alone. She explores the idea of hermitic living and questions its feasibility in today's world, but ultimately finds home in the landscape of her childhood home county.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 18 May 2023
Publisher: Cornerstone

Here is the rephrased text:

I never thought the wind would carry me here, to a kind of isolation I had never known. Out here, there is nothing but my shadow, untouched by anyone for years. When Jade's partner leaves the barn they had recently moved into, a dent is left in the wall, and her life falls apart. Numbed from years in a destructive and abusive relationship, she faces an uncertain future and complete solitude.

Slowly, with the help of Devon's rugged cliffs and damp forested footpaths, Jade begins to reclaim her life and discovers the beauty of being alone. As she reacclimatizes, she ponders the meaning of living alone. Through conversations with other hermits from around the world, Fitton sheds light on the diverse and often misunderstood ways of solitary living, encompassing monks, hikikomori, and the often overlooked female hermit.

Jade questions the feasibility of hermitic living in an era of constant communication and rising housing costs, as she finds herself struggling financially and constantly on the move. She realizes that home is not confined within walls but exists within the landscape of her childhood home county.

Written in a lyrical and inspiring style, this story is a testament to recovery, finding one's place, and embracing solitude in the natural world. It serves as a reminder that sometimes, the greatest treasures can be found in the simplest of places.

Weight: 416g
Dimension: 145 x 224 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529152104