Patrick Barkham was born in 1975 in Norfolk and is Natural History Writer for the Guardian. He is the author of The Butterfly Isles, which was shortlisted for the Ondaatje Prize; Badgerlands, which was also shortlisted for the Ondaatje Prize and the Wainwright Prize, and Coastlines. He lives in Norfolk.
[A] wonderfully warm-hearted social, natural and above all literary history of the islands that surround the larger island of Britain... a thing of real beauty [with] lucid, meticulous prose... It's rare to read a book as good-spirited as this, where the narrative voice is so eager, inquisitive but non-judgemental, the worldview so benevolent and open-hearted... Brimming with nature, literature and the eccentric life of the islanders Barkham meets, this is a fitting tribute to the strangeness and beauty of our British isles--Alex Preston Financial Times An extraordinary book--Steve Wright BBC Radio 2 Barkham is blessed with a talent far rarer in nature writers than a corncrake in Surrey - he has a wonderful sense of humour and can be very funny... He also has an eye for the quirky and counterintuitive in the human world... Islander is a charming and attractive book... his shrewd study of the islander mentality [...] could stand for the entire country--Hugh Thomson Spectator Barkham, a lovely, fluid writer [...] has a wonderful eye for detail... This is poetry--Marcus Berkmann Daily Mail Barkham's place writing makes the book's setting a joy... This insightful and beguiling book is a great guide and tribute to our [islands]--Horatio Clare Observer Barkham's vibrant travel book [...] unearths a rich vein of history... Full of fascinating detail, his book succeeds superbly in conveying the difficulties and allure of island living--Ian Critchley Sunday Times Lively... memorable... As an accomplished writer of natural history, Barkham is at his best in this book on flora and fauna--Ian Jack Guardian This vibrant journey round some of Britain's many islands is full of fascinating detail