We are delighted to welcome Dr James Canton who will be talking to us about his new book 'Grounded', how he found the writing process, his inspiration for the book, his research methodology, and much more.

This event is perfect for history, prehistory, and archaeology fanatics.

To book your place please click here.

About the book~

For thousands of years, our ancestors held a close connection with the landscapes they lived in. They imbued it with meaning: stone monuments, sacred groves, places of pilgrimage. In our modern world we have rather lost that enchantment and intimate knowledge of place. James Canton takes us on a journey through England seeking to see through more ancient eyes, to understand what landscape meant to those that came before us. We visit stone circles, the West Kennet long barrow, a Crusader round church and sites of religious visions. We meet the Dagenham Idol and the intricately carved Lion Man figure.

We find artefacts buried in farmers' fields. There is history and meaning encoded into the lands and places we live in, if only we take the time to look. Our natural world has never been under more threat. If we relocate our sense of wonder, veneration, and awe in the landscapes we live in, we might just be better at saving it.

About the author~

Dr James Canton is the Director of Wild Writing at the University of Essex. He has written for the Guardian, reviews for the TLS and Caught by the River, and is a regular on television and radio.

“My writing has been mainly concerned with the ties between nature, literature, and the environment. I find myself frequently entranced with exploring the distant past. My latest book Grounded  took me on a journey through England, considering the private markers in the landscape which are sacred to individuals and which connect us to the people from our past.”