{"title":"Books by Christopher Somerville","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9781914982033","title":"The View from the Hill","description":"During the enforced idleness of the coronavirus pandemic, Christopher Somerville revisited the 450 notebooks whose pages contain the accumulated thoughts and experiences of a career spent exploring Britain on foot over four decades.   The View from the Hill pulls together the cream of this unique crop, following the cycle of the seasons from a freezing January to a Christmas sunrise. In between are hundreds of walks that take in magnificent flora and fauna, ancient traditions, and folklore, and geological peculiarities and wonders – all narrated with moving and humorous sensitivity.   There’s no need to move from your chair to go walking in Christopher’s company. Just stir up the fire, fill your glass, and let these spirited tales take you out of here and far away.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43173475418290,"sku":"9781914982033","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781914982033_5be9deea-9eab-43a0-9996-e502df4ac046.jpg?v=1786031069"},{"product_id":"9781804991060","title":"Walking the Bones of Britain","description":"\u003cb\u003e'[Somerville's] infectious enthusiasm and wry humour infuse his journey from the Isle of Lewis to southern England, revealing our rich geological history with vibrant local and natural history.' \u003c\/b\u003e Observer\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'An illuminating take on the British landscape ... a remarkable achievement. ' \u003c\/b\u003e- Tom Chesshyre\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A meticulous exploration of the ground beneath our feet. Glorious.' \u003c\/b\u003e Katharine Norbury\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eSomerville is a walker's writer.' \u003c\/b\u003eNicholas Crane\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'His writing is utterly enticing.' \u003c\/b\u003e Country Walking\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003e'The physical book is sumptuous, with helpful supplementary materials including colour photographs, a timeline, maps and walking route resources.' \u003c\/b\u003eTimes Literary Supplement\u003cbr\u003e...........................................................................................................................................................................................................\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTravelling a thousand miles and across three billion years, Christopher Somerville (walking correspondent of \u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e and author of \u003ci\u003eCoast, The January Man\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eShips of Heaven)\u003c\/i\u003e sets out to interrogate the land beneath our feet, and how it has affected every aspect of human history from farming to house construction, the Industrial Revolution to the current climate crisis.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn his thousand-mile journey, Somerville follows the story of Britain's unique geology, travelling from the three billion year old rocks of the Isle of Lewis, formed when the world was still molten, down the map south eastwards across bogs, over peaks and past quarry pits to the furthest corner of Essex where new land is being formed by nature and man.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDemystifying the sometimes daunting technicalities of geology with humour and a characteristic lightness of touch, Somerville's book tells a story of humanity's reckless exploitation and a lemming-like surge towards self-annihilation but also shows seeds of hope as we learn how we might work with geology to avert a climate catastrophe.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt cannot fail to change the way you see the world beyond your door.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44581226545330,"sku":"9781804991060","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781804991060_33f446e8-0643-4aca-8d59-646366c04175.jpg?v=1786028243"},{"product_id":"9780008745189","title":"The Times Britain’s Best Walks","description":"\u003cp\u003eMeander through pastures of meadowsweet, savour the smell of stone and earth, and delight in the beauty of Britain’s landscapes with this new edition of The Times Britain’s Best Walks.More than just a basic guidebook, this is a meditation on our relationship with the landscape and a celebration of all that Britain has to offer. From Cornwall to Shetland via Pembrokeshire and Barrowdale, this is the most comprehensive collection of walks in the United Kingdom available in one book, and features trails to suit all skill levels and references, whether you want a gentle ramble to the pub or something much more challenging. Featuring a selection of 200 new routes – with a handful of classics – chosen by Christopher Somerville, who has travelled the length and breadth of the UK on foot and written about its landscape, wildlife and history for more than 30 years.Each of the featured walks contains:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDetailed description as featured in The Times column\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePostcode and OS grid reference start point\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSimple step-by-step walk instructions\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBeautiful colour photography\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFull colour, clear and up-to-date map\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFood recommendations for the hungry travellerFeaturing stunning photography and using Christopher’s trademark wit and lyricism, this is the perfect gift for ramblers anywhere.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54926114619765,"sku":"9780008745189","price":30.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780008745189_10fae973-40d4-41c4-8697-795dca0b5298.jpg?v=1786011149"},{"product_id":"9780857523655","title":"Ships Of Heaven","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e'Something close to divine inspiration' - \u003c\/i\u003eThe Times\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen Christopher Somerville, author of the \u003ci\u003eThe January Man ('a truly wonderful, uplifting book, bursting with life' - Nicholas Crane)\u003c\/i\u003e, set out to explore Britain’s cathedrals, he found his fixed ideas shaken to the roots.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStarting out, he pictured cathedrals – Britain possesses over one hundred – as great unmoving bastions of tradition. But as he journeys among favourites old and new, he discovers buildings and communities that have been in constant upheaval for a thousand years.  Here are stories of the monarchs and bishops who ordered the building of these massive but unstable structures, the masons whose genius brought them into being, the peasant labourers who erected (and died on) the scaffolding. We learn of rogue saints exploited by holy sinners, the pomp and prosperity that followed these ships of stone, the towns that grew up in their shadows, the impact of the Black Death, the Reformation and icon-smashing Puritanism, the revival brought about by the Industrial Revolution, and the hope and disillusion of two world wars.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMeeting believers and non-believers, architects and archaeologists, the cleaner who dusts the monuments and the mason who judges stone by its taste, we delve deep into the private lives and the uncertain future of these ever-voyaging Ships of Heaven.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56295359709557,"sku":"9780857523655","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780857523655_1e7cf294-da32-4d9b-b5fc-fd574dfa58c2.jpg?v=1786015929"},{"product_id":"9781529104820","title":"Walking in Ireland","description":"Walking has never been a more popular pastime and nowhere is more beautiful for walkers to explore than Ireland. In this beautifully written and superbly researched guide, Christopher Somerville draws on his very popular column for the \u003ci\u003eIrish Independent\u003c\/i\u003e, to present 50 of the very best walks in Ireland - from the Nephin Beg Mountains in Mayo to Dingle Way in Kerry. Practical instructions for the walks are married with evocative and informative passages on the history, flora and fauna, culture and topography of the land. Whether it's exploring the Burren in its floral glory or seeing the Walls of Derry, or even sitting at home in your armchair planning your next walk, this book will prove popular with ramblers, holiday makers and anyone who loves the Irish landscape.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56303679930741,"sku":"9781529104820","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781529104820_bce94281-ae0b-4b5f-a389-18c3442b6aed.jpg?v=1786022312"},{"product_id":"9781784161248","title":"The January Man","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Evocatively written and charming'\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e- Countryfile\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e'The January Man is a book that makes you want to pull on your boots, grab a map and get out there' \u003ci\u003e- Country Life\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe January Man\u003c\/i\u003e is the story of a year of walks that was inspired by a song, Dave Goulder's 'The January Man'. Month by month, season by season and region by region, Christopher Somerville walks the British Isles, following routes that continually bring his father to mind. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs he travels the country - from the winter floodlands of the River Severn to the lambing pastures of Nidderdale, the towering seabird cliffs on the Shetland Isle of Foula in June and the ancient oaks of Sherwood Forest in autumn - he describes the history, wildlife, landscapes and people he encounters, down back lanes and old paths, in rain and fair weather.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis exquisitely written account of the British countryside not only inspires us to don our boots and explore the 140,000 miles of footpaths across the British Isles, but also illustrates how, on long-distance walks, we can come to an understanding of ourselves and our fellow walkers. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOver the hills and along the byways, Christopher Somerville examines what moulded the men of his father's generation - so reticent about their wartime experiences, so self-effacing, upright and dutiful - as he searches for 'the man inside the man' that his own father really was.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56305269801333,"sku":"9781784161248","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781784161248_d137938e-4f1a-47e7-a9f3-d87ce273c504.jpg?v=1786026007"},{"product_id":"9781907973345","title":"The Golden Step – A Walk through the Heart of Crete","description":"Christopher Somerville walked the 300 miles across Crete, tackling four mountain ranges, high slopes and numerous gorges. Relying on the famed hospitality of the Cretans, his only plan was to begin in the east at Easter and finish at Whitsun in the extreme west, at the Monastery of the Golden Step.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56308769292661,"sku":"9781907973345","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781907973345_42d8d2e2-6401-45d5-b3c3-3e7dacdd3cc9.jpg?v=1786029198"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-christopher-somerville.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}