Captivating account offers vivid snapshots of a British landscape

AT A time when there is a heightened interest in nature, walking and time spent outdoors as a balm for the soul, books inviting us to take a closer look at our connection with the natural world are perhaps needed more than ever.

Jini Reddy’s refreshing book Wanderland is about her search for the magical in Britain’s landscape. The book, part memoir, nature and travel writing, takes the reader on a journey around Britain in search of the wild and the mystical.

Reddy begins her journey in the spirit of serendipity – uncovering a Labyrinth in Cornwall, which leads her to a Cornish cliff-top maze. She continues to follow her heart and chance conversations to destinations from Lindisfarne Hastings, Derbyshire and Iona to Glastonbury. En-route to these places she encounters people with diverse spiritual beliefs, including a Shaman in Herefordshire, who inspires her to have a conversation with the land.

Not only is the book about searching for magic in the landscape, it is an inner journey of finding ways to feel at home.

Born in London to Indian parents from South Africa, and brought up in Canada, Reddy often feels like an outsider, particularly in natural spaces where there are few people of colour.

This sense of not belonging often shows up on Reddy’s journey when legends and myths, which connect many people to places, are not a part of her story. And therefore, themes of identity and belonging are central to this book.

Wanderland is an engaging journey and joyful book of charming descriptions. Reddy has created a fresh and muchneeded narrative, which evokes a sense of magic while finding your place in the world. This book is a rare treat offering vivid snapshots of nature and glimpses into her childhood.

This captivating account led to a deserving short-list for the 2020 Wainwright Prize. It is highly recommended for anyone with an interest in travel, spirituality and nature.