WINNER OF BOOK OF THE YEAR NARRATIVE NON-FICTION BRITISH BOOK AWARDS 2021 Rediscover the
natural world with the multi-award winning phenomenon and youngest ever major literary prize
winner in UK history. 'Miraculous memoir . . . profoundly moving' Observer 'Dara is an
extraordinary voice and vision: brave poetic ethical lyrical' Robert Macfarlane 'It's a
diary but essentially timeless . . . It's really really special' Chris Packham ALSO WINNER OF:
THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING 2020 AN POST IRISH BOOK AWARD FOR NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
2020 BOOKS ARE MY BAG READERS AWARDS FOR NON-FICTION 2020 SHORTLISTED FOR: WATERSTONES BOOK
OF THE YEAR 2020 & LONGLISTED FOR: THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE 2020 ___________ 'This diary
chronicles the turning of my world from spring to winter at home in the wild in my head.'
Evocative raw and lyrical this startling debut explores the natural world through the eyes of
Dara McAnulty an autistic teenager coping with the uprooting of home school and his mental
health while pursuing his life as a conservationist and environmental activist. Shifting from
intense darkness to light recalling his sensory encounters in the wild - with blackbirds
whooper swans red kites hen harriers frogs dandelions Irish hares and more - McAnulty
reveals worlds we have neglected to see in a stunning world of nature writing that is a future
classic. Diary of a Young Naturalist is a powerful and scintillating portrayal of the beauty of
the natural world as it shines a light on autism and of overcoming severe anxiety. It is a
story of the binding love of family and home and how we can help each other through the most
difficult of times. ___________ BIG ISSUE BOOK OF THE YEAR HAY FESTIVAL BOOK OF THE YEAR A
TIMES NATURE BOOK OF THE YEAR 'An extraordinary diary' The Times 'A torrent of pure unmediated
fervour . . . This is writing at its wild and unruly best' Dr Rachel Clarke 'Diary of a Young
Naturalist is not only one of the finest pieces of modern nature writing produced on this
island in recent years McAnulty is one of our best young writers in any genre' Irish
Independent 'An exceptional new voice. Dara McAnulty celebrates nature in such a fresh way and
illuminates our understanding of autism' Martha Kearney chair of the Baillie Gifford Prize
2020 'One of the most talented and passionate writers of our era' Steve Silberman
award-winning author of NeuroTribes ___________
