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Fifty Words for Snow

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About this listen

Waterstones Non fiction Book of the Month November 2021

Snow. Every language has its own words for the magical, mesmerising flakes that fall from the sky. In this exquisite exploration, writer and Arctic traveller Nancy Campbell digs deep into the meanings of fifty words for snow.

In Japanese we encounter yuki-onna – a ‘snow woman’ who drifts through the frosted land. In Icelandic it is hundslappadrífa – ‘snowflakes as big as a dog’s paw’ – that softly blanket the streets. And in Māori we meet Huka-rere – ‘one of the children of rain and wind’.

From mountain tops and frozen seas to city parks and desert hills, each of these linguistic snow crystals offers a whole world of myth and story – the perfect winter treat.

©2020 Nancy Campbell (P)2020 Simon & Schuster Audio
Civilization Linguistics Poetry Themes & Styles Travel Writing & Commentary Words, Language & Grammar World Language Learning

Critic reviews

"A delightful compendium that brings together language, culture and adventure through frozen landscapes as it shares the meanings behind 50 words for snow, gathered from around the globe." (The Herald)

"This stunning book made me want to pack all my woolies, candles, ample firewood and enough books for a year – and head to as northerly a location as I could find." (Kerri ní Dochartaigh, Caught By the River)

"Sparkles and dazzles with new meanings and old magic. You’ll never see snow in the same way again." (Matt Gaw, author of Under the Stars)

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A beautiful calm experience. Enjoyed it so much, I’m going to start it all over again.

Hypnotic and calming

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