Listen to a sample
Epitaph for the Ash
- Author
- Lisa Samson
- Narrator
- Charlotte Strevens
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Publish Date
- 22 March 2018
- Run Time
- 4 hours 35 minutes
- Format
- x-book®
- Genre
- History: specific events and topics, Restoration ecology / rewilding, Trees, wildflowers and plants: general interest, The Earth: natural history: general interest, Gardening: trees and shrubs, Autobiography: general, Broadleaf forest, Deforestation, Applied ecology, Mixed forest
- Rating
- 4.0 (1 review)
Not available in your country
We don't have the rights to sell this audiobook where you are. If it's already in your library you can still listen to it in My Books.
What to expect
Inspired by her uncle, Lisa Samson has communed with trees since her childhood. Tragically, a disease from mainland Europe now poses a very serious threat to the ash tree’s survival. Epitaph for the Ash explores how barren our landscape could become without the ash’s familiar branches protruding from limestone scars and chalky cliff faces.
The trees’ grave prognosis takes on a personal resonance when, in the course of writing this book, Lisa is diagnosed with a brain tumour. While she receives treatment, and learns to walk and talk again, Lisa finds solace once more in the natural world. She continues to research her beloved forests, which once sheltered a wealth of flora and fauna, seeking out the possibilities that modern science might provide for their survival.
Taking us from the lowlands of Norfolk to northernmost reaches of the British Isles, Lisa's book is a celebration of the deep cultural and historical significance of the ash. As Lisa contemplates her own mortality, and the trees’ likely fate emerges, Epitaph for the Ash offers up a rallying cry to treasure these remarkable woodlands while we still can, before it is too late.
Critics Review
-
‘Fascinating … Her pilgrimage to discover the present state of the ash in the UK, and the work that is being done to accommodate or counter ash dieback, is both a labour of love and an extraordinary achievement, especially given the heart-rending physical limitations Samson eventually endures as a result of life-saving surgery’ OBSERVER
-
‘Everywhere Lisa’s powerful affinity with the natural world is palpable… Samson is right to urge appreciation of what we have; her book will also help raise awareness of the need to protect our invaluable natural heritage for future generations’ Literary Review
-
‘Lisa Samson’s … quest to travel the length and breadth of the land takes us on a leafy green jewel of a journey into a kingdom that will change the way you look at the ash tribe forever’ BBC Wildlife
User Reviews
Book 4.0
Narration 5.0
- No written reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Lisa Samson
- Narrator
- Charlotte Strevens
- Duration
- 4 hours 35 minutes
- Release Date
- 22 March 2018
- ISBN
- 9780008141073
- Format
- x-book®
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Genre
- History: specific events and topics, Restoration ecology / rewilding, Trees, wildflowers and plants: general interest, The Earth: natural history: general interest, Gardening: trees and shrubs, Autobiography: general, Broadleaf forest, Deforestation, Applied ecology, Mixed forest
- Rating
- 4.0(1 review)
- Narration
- 5.0(1 review)
Synopsis
Inspired by her uncle, Lisa Samson has communed with trees since her childhood. Tragically, a disease from mainland Europe now poses a very serious threat to the ash tree’s survival. Epitaph for the Ash explores how barren our landscape could become without the ash’s familiar branches protruding from limestone scars and chalky cliff faces. The trees’ grave prognosis takes on a personal resonance when, in the course of writing this book, Lisa is diagnosed with a brain tumour. While she receives treatment, and learns to walk and talk again, Lisa finds solace once more in the natural world. She continues to research her beloved forests, which once sheltered a wealth of flora and fauna, seeking out the possibilities that modern science might provide for their survival. Taking us from the lowlands of Norfolk to northernmost reaches of the British Isles, Lisa's book is a celebration of the deep cultural and historical significance of the ash. As Lisa contemplates her own mortality, and the trees’ likely fate emerges, Epitaph for the Ash offers up a rallying cry to treasure these remarkable woodlands while we still can, before it is too late.
About xigxag and the x-book®
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
Our x-book® format is the only fully integrated listen-and-read experience available. See the text on screen as you listen, look up words, take notes, search within the book, and share quotes. It is especially useful for accessibility, language learning, and getting more from non-fiction. Look for the purple x-book® ribbon on the cover, or filter your search by "x-book" to find them.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.