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The Living Mountain
- A Celebration of the Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland
- Narrated by: Tilda Swinton, Robert MacFarlane, Jeanette Winterson
- Length: 4 hrs and 54 mins
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The Living Mountain
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Summary
In this masterpiece of nature writing, beautifully narrated by Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton, Nan Shepherd describes her journeys into the Cairngorm mountains of Scotland. There she encounters a world that can be breathtakingly beautiful at times and shockingly harsh at others. Her intense, poetic prose explores and records the rocks, rivers, creatures and hidden aspects of this remarkable landscape.
Shepherd spent a lifetime in search of the ‘essential nature’ of the Cairngorms; her quest led her to write this classic meditation on the magnificence of mountains, and on our imaginative relationship with the wild world around us. Composed during the Second World War, the manuscript of The Living Mountain lay untouched for more than 30 years before it was finally published.
Critic reviews
"The finest book ever written on nature and landscape in Britain." (Guardian)
"Reading [The Living Mountain] seems to me to explain why reading is so important. And odd. And necessary. And not like anything else. There is no substitute for reading." (Jeanette Winterson)
"Most works of mountain literature are written by men, and most of them focus on the goal of the summit. Nan Shepherd's aimless, sensual exploration of the Cairngorms is bracingly different." (Robert MacFarlane)
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What listeners say about The Living Mountain
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Natalie
- 28-01-20
Exquisite
I plan to trek in the Cairn Gorm now.....it will be my second trip! as I've just finished my first trip with Nan Shepard.
So vivid was this journey into the living mountain that I feel so much more relaxed after the book, as one would after a beautiful holiday immersed in nature.
It took a little while to get onto the rhythm of the book, as it takes one time to get into the rhythm of a good trek into the mountains, but worth persisting, the rewards will be many.
The afterword by Jeanette Winterson on the essence of reading is so pertinent today that it alone deserves a review...5 stars , of course.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Andrew T
- 29-09-22
A classic
The book itself is an excellent piece, and although written nearly 80 years ago it’s very relevant today.
While the reading by Tilda Swinton is very good, I would have preferred it to have been by someone Scottish to better reflect the author.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lizzy h
- 03-04-20
Transported to the landscape of the Cairngorms
Sensory journey to the peaks of the Cairngorms. Loved the description of the seasonal landscape.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ms. J. Ayoubi
- 24-07-22
Mesmerising and beautifully read
I've listened several times and this book reveals new treasures each time. Nan Shepherd describes the Cairngorms through her many hikes. These are mental and spiritual journeys, as well as physical ones.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 06-04-23
Life enhancing
I loved roaming the Cairngorms with Nan Shepherd. I felt I got to know her as well as the mountains. So real I can almost ‘remember’ what our walks looked like. And as an extra treat Robert MacFarlane and Jeanette Winterson give afterwords. I love Robert MacFarlane but I was blown away by Jeanette Winterson’s thoughts on reading. Yes! Yes! I had to write some of her pearls down to share with my family. Four life enhancing hours of ‘reading’ Recommended!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Hat Silk
- 11-01-24
A love letter to the Cairngorms
This makes me want to explore Scotland and camp under the stars in the Cairngorms
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 28-08-20
amazing
Struggled at the start but once I got into it I really enjoyed it. It takes you away from this modern consumerist way of life and makes you think about nature, weather and being at one within yourself. I'm not a mountain climbers but I can now understand it's meditative value. I intend to listen to it again over the winter.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 29-07-20
Pronunciation Inconsistencies
Great wee book, really brings the place alive.
I've walked, climbed and slept out in the Cairngorms for nearly 40 years and this prose gets at the heart of why I keep coming back. Shepherd articulates what each of us experiences intuitively, she listens and gives the hill its voice. Which makes it a wee shame that Tilda Swinton goes way off the mark trying to pronounce some iconic Cairngorm locations.
So veer off the summit path and stravaig the hidden places with Nan. Just don't be put off by the narrator's occasional dubious pronunciation.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Sarah P.
- 04-04-22
Stunning
Listen to this again and again and read the paper copy and you will find new beauty and insight each time.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lyn IE
- 18-12-22
A wonderful book
To think this book was in a drawer for 40 years; it’s magical prose could have lost forever. Listening to this makes me want to read it too. And I will. For those who know the Cairngorms, and for those who don’t? No matter. Exquisite.
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