The living mountain
by Nan Shepherd · first published 1977
2mentions
2recommended by
2HN commenters
2019–2025first – last mentioned
100% recommend
The finest book ever written on nature and landscape in Britain: said a newspaper of this when it was first published. The manuscript was completed in 1944, Nan Shepherd showed it to a friend, who thought it would be tough to find a publisher. Shepherd recevied one rejection and then left the MS in a drawer. In 1977, Aberdeen University Press printed a small edition. Later, Robert Macfarlane was introduced to it and wrote: "I read it, and was changed" in his first-rate introduction. You will be, too.
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
…Macfarlane's books recently after a recommendation from someone on HN - "The Old Ways" and "Landmarks". Both very different to what I usually read but very enjoyable. I'm now reading Nan Shepherd's The Living Mountain - which is every bit as good as Macfarlane suggests. Also planning on reading The Peregrine by J.A. Baker. A review of the The Living Mountain: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/sep/20/living-mountai...
on “What Lies Beneath” ↗Never read her fiction, but The Living Mountain is a lovely book.
on “Remembering Nan Shepherd” ↗