First published 2024
Years ago, James Rebanks encountered an elderly woman living alone on a remote Norwegian island, tending wild eider ducks and collecting their down through an ancient trade. Unable to forget her fierce independence, he eventually wrote asking to return. She agreed, warning him to bring work clothes and sturdy boots as her health was declining. Rebanks traveled to the Arctic edge to witness her final season on the island. The book follows their months together, from the harsh winter work of building wooden shelters for the ducks through the bright summer harvest when the birds leave behind precious down like scattered treasure. Through this intimate portrait of a disappearing way of life, Rebanks discovers that both the woman and her world differ completely from his initial assumptions. What starts as his personal escape transforms into an unexpected education in understanding himself and finding forgiveness.
Genres: biography, nature, contemporary, adult, memoir, cultural-studies
Vibes: contemplative, intimate, lyrical, meditative, poignant, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family, personal-transformation
Setting: Norway, Arctic
Period: Contemporary
292 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books Ltd
Content warnings: death