William Collins lands third book from Shrubsole

William Collins has landed Guy Shrubsole’s third book, The Lie of the Land.  

Publishing director Arabella Pike acquired world English rights from James MacDonald Lockhart at Anthony Harwood Literary Agency. Publication is slated for next autumn. 

The synopsis says: “Britain’s landowners, we are told, are the rightful stewards of the countryside. They care for the land on behalf of us all and the generations to come. But in truth, a handful of powerful landowners are responsible for the destruction and degradation of many of our most treasured landscapes, especially our moorlands, downlands and national parks. 

“In this urgent and timely new book, Guy Shrubsole examines the history of these failures, from the 17th century draining of the Fens and the Victorian invention of driven grouse shooting to the introduction of invasive species, revealing how landowner claims of good stewardship have become the greatest lie we tell about our land.” 

Pike said: "Guy’s inspirational political work as a campaigner is now matched by his ever-growing power as a lyrical, literary writer. His two previous books have brought new insights into our landscape, environment, and Britain’s diverse countryside. We could not be prouder to be publishing this, his third book, which will kick into touch any residual complacency about the state of landownership in Britain.” 

Shrubsole added: “A million acres of upland peat – England’s single largest carbon store – is owned by just 150 aristocrats and wealthy businessmen, who have trashed this ecosystem in the name of grouse shooting. Yet our leaders are still in thrall to the idea that landowners alone can save us from climate and ecological breakdown through voluntary action and by paying them to do the right thing. 

“But a different future now beckons: of communities buying land to nurture wildlife, of national parks actually owned by the nation, and of ordinary people becoming nature’s whistleblowers, monitoring what goes on behind the fences and the "keep out" signs that enclose the countryside. It’s time to put paid to the old lie, that only those who own land can care for it – and time for us all to take a stake in restoring our land to ecological health.”