A Year with Gilbert White: The First Great Nature Writer

‘Uglow makes us feel the life beyond the facts.’ GUARDIAN
‘Few can match Uglow’s skill at conjuring up a scene, or illuminating a character.’ SUNDAY TIMES
‘Charming … Like Radio 4’s shipping forecast for naturalists.’ Andrea Wulf, FINANCIAL TIMES
‘A glorious celebration of curiosity and nature.’ OBSERVER

A BOOK OF THE YEAR IN THE TIMES, THE SPECTATOR, FINANCIAL TIMES, OBSERVER AND NEW STATESMAN

In 1781, Gilbert White was a humble country curate. He was also halfway to completing his path-breaking The Natural History of Selborne. No one had written like this before, with such close observation, humour, and sympathy. His spellbinding book has remained in print ever since, treasured by generations of readers. It would lead many to consider him ‘the father of ecology’.


Jenny Uglow illuminates this quirky, warm-hearted man. Tracing a single year of his daily fascination with the fauna, flora and people around him, she accompanies Gilbert from frost to summer drought, from the migration of birds to the sex lives of snails and the coming of harvest.

Fresh, alive and original A Year with Gilbert White invites us to see the natural world anew, with astonishment and wonder.

‘A feast of a book, it is beautifully illustrated and compulsively readable.’LITERARY REVIEW
‘The author brings her subject endearingly alive … [an] enriching book.’ NATURE