Sarn Helen by Tom Bullough

Sarn Helen: A Journey Through Wales, Past, Present and Future

By Tom Bullough

 

Illustrated by the amazing Jackie Morris

This is the story of an acutal physical journey but also an account of Tom’s own personal reaction to the climate crisis and its consequences on the Welsh land that he loves. A thought provoking contemplation on how we react to a physical place and our effect on the same place – at times with irrevocable consequences

From Tom’s website and in his own words…….’ I am really delighted to be writing a new book for Granta – this one nonfiction, which is a first for me. Its title is Sarn Helen. It’s an account of a long walk I have made over the past few months (when lockdowns have permitted) along the one-time Roman road, Sarn Helen, from Neath in South Wales to Caerhun (near Conwy) in the north. At least, that is the spine of the book. It is about all sorts of things, though centrally about the future of Wales – and the world – under climate change and what we might learn from the attitudes to the natural world of, particularly, the 6th-century saints. Given which, I’ve been laughing a lot while doing it. This may be because of being locked up with children, or perhaps it is actually sometimes quite funny. In any case, how great to be back with Granta. They are a fine bunch indeed..’

Candida Hopkinson