Rob Cowen – författare

ONE OF BRITAIN'S FAVOURITE NATURE BOOKS AS FEATURED ON BBC's WINTERWATCHSHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE 2016 'Bold and beautiful.' Robert Macfarlane'Sensitive, thoughtful and poetic ... leading us into a whole new way of looking at the world' Michael Palin'Touched by genius' John Lewis-Stempel 'Absolutely mesmerizing, utterly beautiful and engrossing' Joanne HarrisAfter moving from London to a new home in Yorkshire, and about to become a father for the first time, Rob Cowen finds himself in unfamiliar territory. Disoriented, hemmed in by winter and yearning for open space, he ventures out to a nearby edge-land: a pylon-slung tangle of wood, hedge, field, meadow and river that lies unclaimed and overlooked on the outskirts of town.Digging deeper into this lost landscape, he begins to uncover its many layers and lives – beast, bird, insect, plant and people – in kaleidoscopic detail. As the seasons change and the birth of his child draws closer, his transformative journey into the blurry space where human and nature meet becomes increasingly profound. In bringing this edge-land to life, Cowen offers both a both a unique portrait of people and place through time and an unforgettable exploration of the common ground we share with the natural world, the past and each other.

'Two of the UK's most exciting nature writers. A thoughtful adventure in learning simple skills that help connect people to nature.' GuardianSkimming Stones and Other Ways of Being in the Wild is a book of simple skills that can help us to interact with nature, achieve a deeper connection with it and even step inside another dimension.Rob Cowen and Leo Critchley teach us, for example, making and flying a kite, making an elder whistle, damming a stream and building a den - and at the same time teach us about life.Their techniques are intended to be not only of practical value but also techniques for meditation. They help us to live in the moment, recover ancient insights and rhythms and encourage nature to reveal to us her secrets and treasures.They write that '...there are forces deep in everyone's subconscious that find a pure expression in the simplest of activities. This book explains why we should be taking the time to do them. It is born out of a wish to share our passion for our landscape and the contemplative, reflective pleasures and joys that were well-known to our grandparents, but which are in danger of being lost and forgotten. They will help us get back to a place where we all belong'.Skimming Stones was awarded the Robert Deakin Grant from the Authors' Foundation, by the Society of Authors. 'Essential reading.'Daily Express'At its simplest their book gives advice on connecting with nature through twelve activities... but Skimming Stones delves deeper. Each section draws the reader lyrically into deeper philosophical waters... I was simply carried along by the authors' sense of awe, and their quiet belief that our lives can be enriched through a deeper connection with nature.' 4*BBC WildlifeSkimming stones teaches you how to get back to nature and:*Skim a stone*Find a fossil*Forage for food*Make a kite*Carve an elder whistle*Track an animal*Build a den*Light a fire*Build an igloo*Catch a fish*Dam a stream*Walk in the wild

LONGLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING 2025BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK'A dazzlingly inventive work of literature' Robert Macfarlane'A wonderful achievement' Kathleen Jamie, New Statesman'Beautifully written' Observer'A wonderful, epic braiding of history, geography and memoir' James RebanksAt the heart of this book is a highway. The A1; The Great North Road. A 400-mile multiplicity of ancient trackway, Roman road, pilgrim path, coach route and motorway that has run like a backbone through Britain for the last 2,000 years.In this genre-defying and profoundly personal book, Cowen follows this ghost road from beginning to end on a journey through history, place, people and time. Weaving his own histories and memories with the layered landscapes he moves through, this is the story of an age, of coming to terms with time past and time passing, and the roads that lead us to where we find ourselves.Written in kaleidoscopic prose, The North Road is an unforgettable exploration of Britain’s great highway.'Astonishing... One to relish and revisit'Telegraph'Remarkable'Financial Times'Sweeping, sensitive and enduring'Tristan Gooley'Stunning and utterly unique'Benjamin Myers'A dazzling, dogged, layered account of one road’s passage through place, time and an ordinary family’s history'Melissa Harrison

LONGLISTED FOR THE JAMES CROPPER WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING 2022___A year of looking, listening and noticing across four unique seasons and thirty-five beautifully illustrated poems.'Dazzling, moving... A book that will touch many, and be given often: here, take this, you must read this.' ROBERT MACFARLANE'So vivid... A call out to our elemental relationship with love and nature. Beautiful.' WILLEM DAFOE___The world changed in 2020. Gradually at first, then quickly and irreversibly, the patterns by which we once lived altered completely.The Heeding paints a picture of a year caught in the grip of history, yet filled with revelatory perspectives close at hand: a sparrowhawk hunting in a back street; the moon over a town with a loved-one's hand held tight; butterflies massing in a high-summer yard - the everyday wonders and memories that shape a life and help us recall our own.Across four seasons and thirty-five luminous poems and illustrations, Rob Cowen and Nick Hayes lead us on a journey that takes its markers and signs from nature and a world filled with fear and pain but beauty and wonder too. Collecting birds, animals, trees and people together, The Heeding is a profound meditation to a time no-one will forget.At its heart, this is a book that helps us look again, to heed: to be attentive to this world we share and this history we're living through, to be aware of how valuable and fragile we are, to grieve what's lost and to hope for a better and brighter tomorrow.____'The Heeding speaks to us all, guiding us through the emotional journey the nation has gone through during the past year, with humour, pathos and forensically sharp portrayals of people and nature at a time like no other.' Stephen Moss, author of The Robin'Poignant and exquisite' Lucy Jones, author of Losing Eden'Vivid, beating, aching. The Heeding feels like both a eulogy and a defiant, wild challenge to go on. I loved it.' Josie George, author of A Still Life'It is rare to find a writer that is able to tease apart the threads that make up the fragile fabric of our loves, hopes and despairs with such care and humility. An exceptionally good book for an exceptionally bad time.' Matt Gaw, author of Under the Stars

LONGLISTED FOR THE JAMES CROPPER WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING 2022___Take a journey filled with everyday beauty and wonder.A year of looking, listening and noticing across four unique seasons and thirty-five beautifully illustrated poems.‘Dazzling, moving... A book that will touch many, and be given often: here, take this, you must read this.’ Robert Macfarlane‘A book about people, place and nature that’s impossible to put down.’ BBC Wildlife Magazine___The world changed in 2020. Gradually at first, then quickly and irreversibly, the patterns by which we once lived altered completely.Across home and town, allotment and moorland, The Heeding paints a picture of four unique seasons caught in the grip of history yet filled with moments of wonder close at hand. A sparrowhawk hunting in a back street; butterflies massing in a high-summer yard as death rates rise; the moon overhead with a loved one held tight – the everyday memories that shape a life and help us recall our own.The Heeding leads us on a journey that takes its markers and signs from nature and a world filled with fear but beauty and joy too. Collecting birds and animals, land and people together, it helps us look again, to heed: to be attentive to this world we share, to grieve what’s lost and together seek a better and brighter tomorrow.____SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOK ARE MY BAG READERS AWARDS 2021‘The Heeding isn’t a book. It’s a gateway into the place all of us have been looking for.’ Joanne Harris‘A love letter to all that still remains for us to hold dear, to protect, to celebrate.’ Kerri ní Dochartaigh‘I have clung to this book since it arrived, keeping it close, and the words have clung to my mind.’ Jackie Morris‘Rob Cowen’s poems speak to us all, guiding us through the emotional journey the nation has gone through… Powerful, moving and brilliant.’ Stephen Moss‘Visceral, achingly tender and with stunning illustrations by Nick Hayes.’ Dara Mcanulty‘Luminously hopeful . . . The Heeding is an invitation to appreciate the gifts of the moment.’ Kathryn Aalto

LONGLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING 2025 AND A RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK‘A dazzlingly inventive work of literature’ Robert Macfarlane, author of The Old Ways'A wonderful, epic braiding of history, geography and personal memoir' James Rebanks, author of English Pastoral _____________________________________________________________________At the heart of this book is a highway. The A1; The Great North Road. A 400-mile multiplicity of ancient trackway, Roman road, pilgrim path, coach route and motorway that has run like a backbone through Britain for the last 2,000 years.In this genre-defying and profoundly personal book, Cowen follows this ghost road from beginning to end on a journey through history, place, people and time. Weaving his own histories and memories with the layered landscapes he moves through, this is the story of an age, of coming to terms with time past and time passing, and the roads that lead us to where we find ourselves.Written in kaleidoscopic prose, The North Road is an unforgettable exploration of Britain’s great highway.__________________________________________________________________________'This is an astonishing book in its scope and vitality. It’s one to relish and revisit.' The Telegraph 'A remarkable, post-Covid, post-Brexit state of the nation literary archaeology.' Financial Times'Stunning and utterly unique. The North Road sits in a genre of one' Benjamin Myers, author of The Gallows Pole 'A dazzling, dogged, layered account of one road’s passage through place, time and an ordinary family’s history, The North Road truly is a trip' Melissa Harrison, author of All Among The Barley'Thought-provoking and beautiful' Matt Gaw, author of Under The Stars'A beautifully woven and mesmerising book' Tom Bullough, author of Sarn Helen'Sweeping, sensitive and enduring' Tristan Gooley, author of How To Read A Tree