The Living Mountain
A Celebration of the Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland
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The Living Mountain
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Narrated by:
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Tilda Swinton
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Robert MacFarlane
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Jeanette Winterson
About this listen
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.
©2019 Nan Shepherd (P)2019 Canongate Books LtdListeners also enjoyed...
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)
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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5 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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1 person 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
- Jimmy Mc Donnell
- 05-11-19
Nature writing at it's very best.
On my third listen of the LIving Mountain. Tilda Swinton's narration is understated, insightful, nuanced and maintains a rhythm entirely suited to the prose. If you have spent much time walking landscapes and observing life therein this book will take you on a dream like journey that I hope you will find as engrossing as I did. Enjoy.
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8 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
- Louis
- 23-03-22
A revelation
Heart-stoppingly beautiful and infinitely wise love letter to the Cairngorms, read sensitively by TS. Must listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Dr. N. WOODRUFF
- 29-04-22
Inspirational and challenging
I found that I could not stop reading the book, each chapter exposed a new understanding
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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
- Ralph Taylor
- 20-04-23
A beautiful account of wild Scotland and superbly read!
I fail to understand negative reviews of this book. Presently listening to it on a deckchair on sunny Spring day in early April. I regularly go to Scotland and have walked the hills with a sense of awe. There aren’t many books that capture the euphoric sights sounds and smells as this book. The reader does a superb job!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Cinnamon gal
- 17-06-24
Just beautiful
This book truly does take you on an exploration in every way.
A gentle and beautiful read/listen to the unfolding of nature in all its raws splendor and in an unsentimental manner.
I feel I have looked into the micro and macro of not only this mountain range but the unlimited and timelessness of all natures splendor.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bunnyhunt
- 09-03-20
A remarkable book !
I have a treasured copy of this book which I return to again and again for comfort and inspiration. Tilda Swinton was the perfect choice to produce the audible version and I will treasure this as much as the paperback. In this age of mass tourism where we feel the need to go everywhere and see everything this book is a lesson in how to slow down and really experience the world around us .
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Manonim
- 24-03-21
Stunning
A beautifully written and engaging book, which is wonderfully narrated; an enrapturing log of awe, beauty and senses
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Chanty
- 16-10-20
Perfect
Tilda Swinton is the perfect narrator for this book. Super calming, poetic and beautiful.
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