Elizabeth-Jane Burnett and Aidan Meighan in Conversation - Taunton

Join us for a fantastic evening discussing nature writing through fact and fiction with Elizabeth-Jane Burnett, author of Splendour, and Aidan Meighan, author of Folklore of Trees.
Splendour by Elizabeth-Jane Burnett
A moving tale of resistance and renewal, from the acclaimed author of Twelve Words for Moss.
Two friends, Kenjo and Leah, swoosh through the lush forests at the edge of their village in Kenya. Imitating hornbills and lying on the mossy boulders that line the river, the young girls are watched over by a canopy of ancient trees, whose roots reach into the past, present and future.
But this glittering countryside is quickly becoming a haunting. As the armed rebellion against the British colonial regime intensifies, the forest is subsumed in a destructive conflict, disturbing the profound balance of life it nourishes and knowledge it preserves. Forced from their homes, the friends are separated by oceans and decades. Like the branches that once sheltered them, they may be twisted and buckled by violence, but they will also, somehow, endure.
This tale of courage, survival and restoration captures the healing - and destructive - power of time and unearths the hidden traces it leaves behind.
The Folklore of Trees by Aidan Meighan
Uncover the myths, legends and secrets of the world's most iconic trees.
Did you know that laurel is said to protect against snakebites and shield against witchcraft? Or that yews are often planted near graveyards to keep the devil out? Across cultures and centuries, trees hav stood as guardians of life, inspiring stories that connect us to nature, spirituality and tradition.
The Folklore of Trees brings these tales together in a stunning, giftable hardback featuring a foreward by acclaimed naturalist, Chris Packham. Inside, you'll explore 36 legendary species from around the globe, each paired with an intricate illustration and rich cultural context.

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Host or Publisher Waterstones