The Lost Words cover art

The Lost Words

Rediscover our natural world with this spellbinding book

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About this listen

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris, read by Edith Bowman, Guy Garvey, Cerys Matthews and Benjamin Zephaniah.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
WINNER OF THE BEAUTIFUL BOOK AWARD
BRITISH BOOK AWARDS CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2018

The book that has taken root in schools across Britain, inspired creative thinkers, young and old, and restored the vanishing poetry of nature.


All over the country, there are words disappearing from children's lives. These are the words of the natural world; Dandelion, Otter, Bramble and Acorn, all gone. A wild landscape of imagination and play is rapidly fading from our children's minds.

The Lost Words stands against the disappearance of wild childhood. It is a joyful celebration - in art and word - of nearby nature and its wonders. With acrostic spell-poems by award-winning writer Robert Macfarlane and illustrations by Jackie Morris, this enchanting book evokes the irreplaceable magic of language and nature for all ages.

Across a rich and vivid natural soundscape, Edith Bowman, Guy Garvey, Cerys Matthews and Benjamin Zephaniah, iconic voices of modern Britain, bring the magic of nature and language to listeners. Through captivating readings, wonderful natural recordings and more, the audio edition of The Lost Words is a stunning celebration of the nature and the power of language.

Includes listening notes by Chris Watson, wildlife and natural phenomena recordist, as a downloadable PDF.

Praise for The Lost Words:

'The most beautiful and thought-provoking book I've read this year' Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Observer

'Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris have made a thing of astonishing beauty' Alex Preston, Observer

'My top book of the year' Susan Hill, Spectator

'Gorgeous to look at and to read. Give it to a child to bring back the magic of language - and its scope' Jeanette Winterson, Guardian

Animals Animals & Nature Literature & Fiction Nature Poetry Poetry & Nursery Rhymes Heartfelt Feel-Good Inspiring

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Critic reviews

Sumptuous...a book combining meticulous wordcraft with exquisite illustrations deftly restores language describing the natural world to the children's lexicon... The Lost Words is a beautiful book and an important one
One of the publishing sensations of recent times is The Lost Words
My top book of the year... It is one of those children's books for ages up to 99 years. The lost words are those my generation and earlier ones used every day and which are fast disappearing, and Macfarlane's aim is to resurrect the everyday glories of our language. May he succeed
Gilded and glorious, Jackie Morris's paintings illustrate Robert Macfarlane's acrostic poems in The Lost Words, one of the years loveliest books for all ages over 10
Rapturously received celebration of nature
Deeply reflective and gorgeously illustrated...Morris's paintings of wildlife echo the complexity and vibrancy of Macfarlane's poetry
I loved the book of The Lost Words already, but as it is meant to be spoken out loud and shared, to hear it read by these wonderful voices, now I love it even more. It was destined to be fabulous in this format and didn't disappoint!

Pure magic!

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The birdsong, trickling water and other sounds accompanying the narration show how the right book, with the right readers, can be transcended through the audiobooks format. A lovely listed on a car journey.

Perfection

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Beautiful book, lyrical performers, wish it was longer, a really enchanting listen enjoyed by me and my children

Beautiful

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This book was lovely, nice to just lie around on the sofa or in the garden, or in the bath listening too. The different narrators are great. Very relaxing, you could definitely listen again and again.

Lovely.

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I love the mix of nature's sounds and poems to create an easy listening experience.

Naturally relaxing

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This is for adults as much as for children. Delicious poetry, drawing us to a closer connection with the natural world.

Simply lovely

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this audiobook provides a beautiful timeless space in the midst of a disassociated and hectic world .

charming production

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I downloaded this from the 'audible daily deal' from which I seldom choose anything, and listened to it all immediately. This small book of simple poetry is spellbinding. Its almost as good as being in a bluebell wood on a spring day amongst all of life. Like being a 7 year old again - finding wonder in the beauty of nature. I wish I had a 7 year old to share it with!
I will definitely listen again and again to this. 45 minutes of tranquility in amongst the noise and bustle of every day life.

Tranquility

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Beautiful sound collages and wonderful narration. This is a very lovely piece of work. I'd recommend it highly.

Heavenly.

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This is a lovely collection of poems.
It really is an audio book that you want to listen to over and over.

lovely.

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