Book Review: The World To Come

'Beautifully charming and lyrical, this is an evocative ode to our natural environment and the wildlife that call it home.' - Our Isles

The World to Come (Magic Cat Publishing) follows the path taken by a father and young son through the natural environment, winding their way through woodlands, parklands, canals and riversides, and identifying the surrounding wildlife. As the book progresses, the father and son age, and towards the end of the book (spoiler alert), we discover the son brings along his child to explore the same paths alongside grandad, the father and son now inspiring the next generation to explore and appreciate the surrounding nature as they have done.

Robert Macfarlane and Johnny Flynn's considered words skip, jump and thread through the book, mellifluous and energetic as the nature that they inspirit; the kingfisher 'flashes', a 'lick' of the wind and the 'swishes' of willow.

Emily Sutton's illustrations are truly magical, pulling you into every scene, almost as though you are one such part of it; a pigeon perching on a high branch, peering down onto a woodland floor, or a frog sitting, waiting deep inside a riverside hedge before plopping into the rushing waters below. Each scene is thriving with colour, life and nature at it's most vigorous, almost frothing at the seams.

Together, the words and illustrations are harmonious and halycon-like, painting an idyllic view of our natural environment and the wildlife that still populates our skies, fields, hedgerows and trees. For anyone who has opened their eyes to what is happening to nature, they will be able to understand the main sentiment running through the book - indeed seeing the wood through the trees - is one of hope. Hope for a more wildlife-soaked and fertile natural world, where humanity is deeply connected to it.

In a world where 73% of its wildlife populations have declined in a mere half a century, it is clear to understand that our creatives are as important as our conservationists, scientists and or researchers in evoking the need to improve biodiversity and reverse climate change, inspiring global communities to protect and regenerate our precious natural ecosystems.

In The World to Come, Macfarlane, Flynn and Sutton have produced a wonderful example of how important the arts and the power of storytelling can evoke a sense of appreciation and conservation for the natural world and the wildlife that calls it home, and of course, the intrinsic role we have in shaping it's future.

Photographs by Angus D. Birditt @angusdbirditt of The World To Come (Magic Cut Publishing)