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HarperNorth signs Phoebe Smith's book on the 'transformative' power of walking
HarperNorth has signed Wayfarer: Love, Loss and Life on Britain’s Ancient Paths, a book on the "transformative" power of walking, from adventurer Phoebe Smith.
Senior commissioning editor Jonathan de Peyer acquired world English rights from Caroline Montgomery at Rupert Crew. The book will be published in hardback, e-book and audio on 29th March.
When Smith quit her job, ended her long-term relationship and returned home to North Wales, she began walking some of Britain’s oldest pilgrim paths: "By following these old ways, she ended up confronting past traumas that she thought she had laid to rest."
De Peyer said: "There is a growing interest in pilgrimages as a secular experience, in the UK and internationally, and there’s no better person to explore why they appeal to us and what their significance might be, than Phoebe. Wayfarer deftly weaves travelogue, history and personal memoir to create a rich and immersive experience. Fearless and very readable, for me it holds its own alongside The Salt Path and The Outrun as a testament to the healing power of nature, and of solitude."
Smith added: "This book is extremely personal, dealing with past trauma, grief and relationships, all set against the backdrop of some of Britain’s most ancient trails. My great hope is that it offers some comfort to those people going through – or recovering from – similar situations by celebrating the natural world, our shared histories, and the simple act of placing one foot in front of the other."
