100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ

Overnight NZ-wide delivery on in-stock orders πŸš€

Kings of the Yukon

An Alaskan River Journey
4.09 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 1,390 ratings, 186 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Kings of the Yukon by Adam Weymouth is an adventurous account of a 2,000-mile canoe journey down the Yukon River. The author explores the rich cultural and ecological tapestry along the river, focusing on the salmon's migration and the people who depend on it. This book seamlessly combines travel narrative, history, and environmental insight.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK Please add to wishlist to be notified when back in stock

Sorry, we're currently out of stock of Kings of the Yukon. Please add to your Wishlist and we'll send you an email as soon as it's back in stock.

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate thrilling adventure stories, detailed explorations of nature, and captivating travel writing. Following an epic journey down the Yukon River, it beautifully weaves together environmental insights and human stories.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Kings of the Yukon by Adam Weymouth is a breathtaking narrative that takes readers on an enthralling journey by canoe across the majestic wilderness of the Yukon River. This odyssey spans over 2,000 miles from Canada through the Yukon Territory to Alaska, concluding at the Bering Sea. In this immersive debut, Weymouth offers a riveting exploration of one of North America's most remote and stunningly beautiful regions.

The core of Weymouth’s expedition is his quest to understand the plight of the king salmon, a species whose numbers have alarmingly dwindled in recent years. Each year, these resilient fish migrate the entire length of the Yukon River to reach their ancestral spawning grounds. However, their fate is increasingly uncertain due to the encroachment of modernity and environmental changes, posing a significant impact on the traditions and livelihoods of the Yukon's native inhabitants who have relied on the salmon for generations.

Throughout his four-month canoe journey, Weymouth immerses himself in the culture and lives of the people who call the Yukon home. His evocative portraits capture the essence of a region and its population facing profound change. Through interviews and personal observations, he narrates stories of resilience, tradition, and the interconnectedness of life along the river. These searing portraits serve as an elegy to a disappearing world where nature and human cultures are deeply entwined.

Weymouth's writing shines with lyrical beauty, perfectly conveying the awe-inspiring landscapes and the poignant realities of the Yukon's residents. His powerful narrative voice and keen eye for detail make Kings of the Yukon an extraordinary account of adventure, natural history, and cultural heritage. This compelling work not only documents a unique journey but also raises critical questions about conservation, tradition, and the future of our natural world.

An exceptional debut that earned Weymouth a shortlist nomination for the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award, Kings of the Yukon is an unforgettable exploration of the Yukon River and a testament to the enduring spirit of its people. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the intricacies of wilderness, the challenges facing our environment, and the poignant beauty of human connection to nature.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Acclaimed for its lyrical writing and acute ecological and political insights, Kings of the Yukon by Adam Weymouth is compared to the works of great travel writers. It is noted for its vivid descriptions and deep connection to the natural world, particularly focusing on the intertwined fates of the Yukon River, its salmon, and the people reliant on them. Weymouth's debut has been praised as a striking combination of adventure story, natural history, and art.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141983790

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 June 2019

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 132.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 217g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Adam Weymouth's work has been published by a wide variety of outlets including the Guardian, the Atlantic and the New Internationalist. His interest in the relationship between humans and the world around them has led him to write on issues of climate change and environmentalism, and most recently, to the Yukon river and the stories of the communities living on its banks. He lives on a 100-year-old Dutch barge on the River Lea in London. This is his first book.

Also by Adam Weymouth

View all
  • Lone Wolf
    From the winner of the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award comes an epic walk across the Alps in the footsteps of a wolf, throwing unique light on Europe's mountainous hinterlands at a moment of political and environmental change. In 2011, a young wolf named Slavc set out from Slovenia. Tracked by GPS, he travelled a thousand miles...
    Hardback
    $5000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Lone Wolf
    Pre-order
    Lone Wolf
    From the winner of the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award comes an epic walk across the Alps in the footsteps of a wolf, throwing unique light on Europe's mountainous hinterlands at a moment of political and environmental change. In 2011, a young wolf named Slavc set out from Slovenia. Traced by GPS, he travelled a thousand miles...
    Paperback
    $3000
    Pre-order
    Out 13 Oct 2026

More from Travel & Adventure

View all
  • The Salt Path
    The bestselling true story of the couple who lost everything and embarked on a journey not of escape but salvation, soon to be a major motion picture starring Golden Globe winning Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs. Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years, is terminally ill, the couple lose their home and their livelihood. With...
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Lonely Planet Japan
    #1 Bestselling guidebook to Japan "Classic. Comprehensive. Crucial." - Library Journal Lonely Planet's local travel experts reveal all you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime to Japan. Discover popular and off the beaten track experiences from visiting Yoshino for Japan's most famous cherry-blossom-viewing festival to sipping sake at a 300-year-old brewery in Niigata, and exploring the...
    Paperback
    $4100
    Elsewhere:
    $4499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Maintenance: Of Everything
    The first in-depth exploration of maintenance and a powerful argument for its civilisational importance from the author of How Buildings Learn and creator of the Whole Earth Catalog. Maintenance is what keeps everything going. It's what keeps life going. Yet it's also easy to shirk or defer until the thing breaks, the system falters, and everything stops. The apparent paradox...
    Hardback
    $7999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Abroad in Japan
    The hilarious number one bestselling memoir from YouTube sensation Chris Broad, a Brit trying to assimilate into life in Japan as he unravels the wonders and eccentricities of one of the world's most mysterious cultures. When Englishman Chris Broad landed in a rural village in northern Japan, he wondered if he'd made a huge mistake. With no knowledge of the...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Cat's Tales
    Once upon a time, the enchanting creature that is the cat infiltrated our lives – and our folklore. Cats have a long association with the supernatural – from being worshipped as gods in ancient Egypt to vilified as witches’ familiars in Europe – and they appear in countless fairy tales throughout history. Every part of the world has its own...
    Hardback
    $3099
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Penguin Lessons
    Now a major film, this is the true story of an unlikely friendship between a flightless bird and a teacher out of his depth. When schoolteacher Tom Michell pulls a penguin from an oil slick off the coast of Uruguay, he has no idea what to do. Back at his apartment, Tom cleans him, but upon returning to the beach,...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Rambling Man
    THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING HILARIOUS NEW BOOK FROM THE NATION'S FAVOURITE COMEDIAN, BILLY CONNOLLY "Being a Rambling Man was what I always wanted to be, to live the way I damn well pleased. I've met the weirdest and most wonderful people who walk the Earth, seen the most bizarre and the most fantastic sights - and I've rarely come across...
    Paperback
    $2299
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    22% off
    Lonely Planet Pocket Lisbon
    Lonely Planet's Pocket Lisbon is your guide to the city's best experiences and local life - neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Experience the city's most scenic tram routes, find the best pastΓ©is de nata and discover the winding backstreets of Alfama; all with your trusted travel companion. Uncover the best of Lisbon and make the most of your trip! Inside Lonely Planet's...
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Cozy Bookshops: Colouring Book
    Cozy Bookshopsβ€”your ultimate escape into a world of bookish bliss and mindful relaxation in 46 adorable scenes, from the coziest book nooks. Wander labyrinthine bookshelves, sink into soft armchairs by roaring fireplaces, and lose yourself in snug, atmospheric corners. Escape, relax, and unwind with this colouring book for all skill levels and bring your own personality. The possibilities are endless!...
    Paperback
    $2000
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    22% off
    Lonely Planet Pocket Porto
    Lonely Planet's Pocket Porto is your guide to the city's best experiences and local life, neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Experience the historic Se cathedral, marvel at the stunning Palacio da Bolsa, and visit peacocks in Jardim do Palacio de Cristal, all with your trusted travel companion. Uncover the best of Porto and make the most of your trip! Inside Lonely Planet's...
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Auto Biography
    From one of the world's most popular motor journalists, a highly entertaining, clued-up and panoramic guide to cars. A highly entertaining, clued-up and panoramic guide to cars by Mat Watson, the world's most followed car journalist on social media. Mat Watson knows everything there is to know about cars. In his 25-year career as a motor journalist, he has driven...
    Hardback
    $4600
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Brilliant Maps
    With a foreword by Tim Harford Which nations have North Korean embassies? Which region has the highest number of death metal bands per capita? How many countries have bigger economies than California? Who drives on the 'wrong' side of the road? And where can you find lions in the wild? Revelatory, thought-provoking and fun, Brilliant Maps is a unique atlas...
    Paperback
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.