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 ___________
