A visit to the rapid where she lost a cherished friend unexpectedly reignited the author’s love of rivers, setting her on a journey of natural, cultural and emotional discovery. The rivers in this book are primarily British, including West Country torrents (the Dart and East Lyn), swollen giants (the Severn and Thames), rocky Welsh canyons, Pennine white water classics, the salmon highways of Scotland, the gin-clear chalk rivers of the Yorkshire Wolds, and the astonishing slot canyon of Hell Gill. The tributary themes include loss and recovery (of people and ecosystems), mythology and flood management.

WINNER OF THE JAMES CROPPER WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING

'Unparalleled.' THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE
'A true masterpiece.'TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT
'A tour de force.' GUY SHRUBSOLE
'Quietly courageous.' PATRICK BARKHAM
'Lyrical, wholehearted and wise.' LEE SCHOFIELD
'A knockout. I loved it.' MELISSA HARRISON
'Honest, raw and moving.' SOPHIE PAVELLE
'An extraordinary book by an extraordinary author.' CHRIS JONES
'A book of wit, wonder and of wisdom.' NICK ACHESON
'Beautiful.' NICOLA CHESTER