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To the River book cover
Best River Journey

To the River

by Olivia Laing

Audiobook Narrated by Kate Reading 8 hrs and 29 mins

Listen to a Sample

Free with Audible trial · Amazon buyer protection

Following the course of the River Ouse from its source in the Sussex Weald to the sea at Newhaven, this lyrical work blends nature writing, memoir, and literary history into an unforgettable journey. The river that claimed Virginia Woolf's life in 1941 becomes a thread connecting past and present, as the author explores the landscape on foot whilst weaving together stories of those who have lived along its banks.

Through encounters with kingfishers and water voles, abandoned mills and ancient bridges, the narrative creates a rich tapestry of England's countryside and its literary heritage. The result is both an intimate portrait of a particular English river and a meditation on landscape, loss, and the ways we inhabit and remember places. Essential reading for anyone drawn to the intersection of walking, writing, and the natural world.