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The Edge of Silence
In Search of the Disappearing Sounds of Nature
Brief Description
Acclaimed nature writer Neil Ansell has suffered from progressive hearing loss his whole life. As his world is becoming ever more silent, he suddenly hears something quite unexpected—the haunting call of the great northern diver. It is this extraordinary experience which makes him realise that there...
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The Edge of Silence
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See moreThe Edge of Silence isa profoundly moving and poignant book that explores the author's hearing loss as he journeys in search of endangered British native species. Neil's journey takes him to the mountaintops and islands of the Scottish Highlands to the marshes of England and the hills of Wales.
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Description
Acclaimed nature writer Neil Ansell has suffered from progressive hearing loss his whole life. As his world is becoming ever more silent, he suddenly hears something quite unexpected—the haunting call of the great northern diver. It is this extraordinary experience which makes him realise that there might still be remarkable sounds in nature within his reach, if he can only find himself in the right place at the right time.
This moving book charts Neil's mission to hear rare and elusive creatures that he had not previously encountered. This journey takes him from the mountaintops and islands of the Scottish Highlands to the marshes of England and the hills of Wales. Many of these species are in grave danger of extinction, so the future Neil faces, devoid of their distinctive calls, is one we all must fight to prevent.
The Edge of Silence includes encounters with:
- Great northern diver (Nether Lochaber, Scottish Highlands)
- Ptarmigan (Ardgour, Scottish Highlands)
- Little Grebe (Ardgour, Scottish Highlands)
- Bittern (Morecambe Bay, Lancashire)
- Natterjack toad (The Wirral)
- Red-throated diver (Ardgour, Scottish Highlands)
- Corncrake (Coll)
- Snipe (Coll)
- Black grouse (North Wales)
- Greenshank (Ardgour, Scottish Highlands)
- Puffin (Canna and Sanday)
- Storm petrel (Mousa, Shetland)
- Whimbrel (Shetland)
- Red kite (Perthshire)
- Otter (Sunart, Scottish Highlands)
- Manx shearwater (Rum)
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781780279565
Publisher: Birlinn General
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 07 August 2025
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Birlinn Ltd
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 25.0mm
Width: 138.0mm
Height: 216.0mm
Weight: 347g
Pages: 240
About the Author
Neil Ansell has written for The Guardian, The New Statesman and The Big Issue, and has been an award-winning journalist with the BBC. His previous books include Deep Country, Wilderness and The Circling Sky, which was shortlisted for the 2018 Wainwright Golden Beer and Highland Book Prize.
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