Recommendations from our site
“The wolf, Slavc, goes on a journey from Slovenia, across bits of Austria, into Italy. You’ve got the drama of following this wolf and, along the way, the author talks to farmers, to hunters, to people who don’t want to see the wolf return. When you realize how wolves kill their prey…those poor cows, it’s quite dramatic. He talks to lots of different people to give you a picture of the politics of conservation. Should we re-wild? Should we have more large carnivores roaming the European landscape again? He’s very evenhanded and allows everyone their voice. He’s very good at describing these rural communities which are completely forgotten about. That also allows him to get into the politics of populism. One of the mayors he talks to in a small Italian town—who’s on the populist right—uses opposing the return of the wolf as a way of getting elected. A lot of people are frightened of these animals roaming around, killing their livestock. So Adam Weymouth does a lot in the book, and he does it with grace and lightness, and he pulls you through. Because if you’d asked me, ‘Do you want to read a book about the politics of conservation and whether EU subsidies should direct the countryside towards rewilding?’ I would have said no, but I did.” Read more...
The Best Nonfiction Books of 2025: The Baillie Gifford Prize Shortlist
Robbie Millen, Journalist
