Geography of Heaven: Travels to the Hereafter

Join us for a special afternoon with one of Britain's foremost travel writers, Rory MacLean, as he shares the story behind his latest book, Geography of Heaven: Travels to the Hereafter.

The author of more than a dozen books, including the UK top-ten bestsellers Stalin's Nose and Under the Dragon, Rory is renowned for weaving together travel, history and the human experience. His books have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and curator of the annual Sherborne Travel Writing Festival.

In Geography of Heaven, Rory reflects on a deeply personal journey that took him across continents and through cultures, exploring humanity's enduring search for meaning, connection and what may lie beyond death. Blending travel writing, memoir and insights from neuroscience, the book offers a moving exploration of grief, hope and the enduring power of love.

The book has received widespread acclaim. Robert Macfarlane describes it as "extraordinary and intensely moving", Colin Thubron calls it "an epic of travel", while Jay Griffiths praises it as "a magnificent, heartfelt love story and a quest both ancient and entirely original."

Author Claire Gilbert writes:

"This is an astonishing book. It tells of the determination of love, its capacity to transcend earth, its refusal to stop before the membrane between the lovers is breached and truth – real, felt, undeniable, unmanufactured truth – emerges."

Whether you are drawn to travel, spirituality, philosophy or simply remarkable storytelling, this promises to be a fascinating and thought-provoking afternoon. There will also be an opportunity to meet Rory after the talk and have your copy of Geography of Heaven signed.