20 Great River-Related Book Recommendations from The Rivers Trust Movement
From our shelves to yours, here are 20 of our team’s top well-thumbed book recommendations that celebrate or shine a light on the watery thread that connects us all – rivers.
25/11/24
Blog
Nature has long been the muse of artists, and rivers have wound their way through many a book – from literary classics to contemporary fiction and even beloved children’s stories, our connection with rivers has inspired many a writer (and so too, many a reader!). As we celebrate 20 years of The Rivers Trust, we cast around our Movement of now 65 local Rivers Trust for their favourite river-related books. So, from our shelves to yours, here are 20 of our team’s top well-thumbed book recommendations that celebrate or shine a light on the watery thread that connects us all – rivers:
1. Mudlark, by Lara Maiklem – Tom Gall, Data Analyst
I highly recommend Mudlark: In Search of London's Past Along the River Thames - I love how prevalent rivers are in human history, from the earliest civilizations, they’ve provided fresh water, fertile land, and natural routes for exploration. This fantastic book goes through the history of the River Thames as told through objects found along its banks and shores, each telling a unique story of London’s past.
2. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, by Paul Torday – Tom Aplin, Trent Rivers Trust Partnership and Engagement Manager
I've been reading "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" by Paul Torday very slowly over the past couple of months as an easy-read river-related book. Being new to Trent Rivers Trust, it's been insightful to see the fictional story play out to real-world institutions and ideas, and it's a good reminder of the impact we have as humans on the natural state of our rivers and how they operate. I've not checked out the film adaptation yet, but it may be the next stop once i've finished the book
3. A Sleepwalk on the Severn, by Alice Oswald – Katie Jones, Severn Rivers Trust Communications & Giving Lead
This is a beautifully poetic exploration of the River Severn, told through the voices of those the narrator meets along her journey. Oswald’s lyrical prose brings the river’s natural rhythms to life, making it a deeply immersive read.
4. To the River, by Oliva Laing – Alison Archer, Thames21 Head of Fundraising
To the River by Olivia Laing is an account of the writer's mission to walk the River Ouse from source to sea, setting out one midsummer morning. She becomes aware of the river's significance to its immediate and wider communities, both now and through history, as well as connecting deeply to Virginia Woolf's final days and hours. A brilliant memoir/essay that works on many levels.
5. Kings of the Yukon by Adam Weymouth – Josh Jones, The Rivers Trust Senior Technical Analyst
Journey down the Yukon in an open-top canoe. A stunning portrait of a river, this book is so much more than a travelog about the plight of salmon in the Yukon. Reading about a wilderness and a society I might never experience is just as good as being there when the writing is this good!
6. The Little Grey Men, by B.B. – Duncan Glen, Northumberland Rivers Trust CEO
As a child, Little Grey Men had a huge influence on me. The Folly Brook flowed into my consciousness and has stayed there ever since, the writing is spare and lyrical without becoming too "flowery." I only read the sequel, Down The Bright Stream because it is so sad and, bearing in mind it was written in the 1940s remarkably prophetic.
7. The Pull of the River, by Matt Gaw – Martha Meek, River Waveney Trust Director
A beautifully written and poetic book about exploring the rivers on your own doorstep. The language is lovely and the journey through the different parts of the UK bring the rivers to life, the good and the bad, the beautiful and the industrial.
8. The Flow, by Amy-Jane Beer – Josh Jones, The Rivers Trust Senior Technical Analyst
This book reminds me of the reasons why I love exploring new places. Just within this tiny island of ours, there are so many stories, lives, and places connected with water. Now I want to snorkel in a chalk stream!
9. Wild Waters: The Magic of Ireland's Rivers, by Richard Nairn – Joanna Braniff, The Rivers Trust All-Ireland Advocacy & Communications Manager
This is an enchanting journey through Ireland’s waterways. Combining ecological insights, historical anecdotes, and personal experiences, Nairn unveils the beauty and significance of rivers in shaping landscapes and lives. A compelling read for river enthusiasts, it deepens appreciation for these vital ecosystems and the need to protect them.
10. Waterlog, by Roger Deakin – Ella Scharff, The Rivers Trust Project officer
Roger Deakin’s Waterlog is a classic. It makes you want to jump in the nearest bit of water and get a 'frog's eye view'. I loved the history and breadth of water ecosystems across the British Isles!
11. Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame – Sarah Wigley, Westcountry Rivers Trust Data & Evidence Officer
Wind in the Willows is a classic. Primarily aimed at children, but also enjoyed by adults. The descriptions of the river (and the countryside surrounding it) are beautiful and captivating. For example, Mole's first impressions of a river - "Never in his life had he seen a river before – this sleek, sinuous, full-bodied animal, chasing and chuckling, gripping things with a gurgle and leaving them with a laugh... All was a-shake and a-shiver – glints and gleams and sparkles, rustle and swirl, chatter and bubble... a babbling procession of the best stories in the world, sent from the heart of the earth to be told at last to the insatiable sea.”
12. Local, by Al Humphreys – Emma Brisdion, The Rivers Trust Marketing & Campaigns Lead
Al explores the map around his home, in a celebration of the adventure and nature connection that can be found just beyond our front doors. Through his cycles through woodland, navigations of busy roads, joyful swims in rivers, and many a flask of coffee enjoyed in the fresh air, Al, who happens also to be a Rivers Trust Ambassador, takes you on a journey through the beauty of – and threats faced by – his local British landscape.
13. Down by The River, by H.E. Bates – Lorna Mann, The Rivers Trust Project Communications Officer
This is a particularly nice book for those from or living in the Midlands as it features the Rivers Nene & Ouse, but is also wonderful anyone who loves descriptive and immersive writing about rural England. It was originally published in 1937, so it also makes for an interesting comparison of how much the countryside has changed.
14. Wild Fell, by Lee Schofield – Monique Speksnyder, West Cumbria Rivers Trust Project Officer
Wild Fell by Lee Schofield is not specifically about rivers, but the re-meandering of the Beck is an important part of the whole restoration process. What's more important - it's well written, engaging, and gives you ideas.
15. The Adventures of Scout, by The3engineers – Hannah Banton, The Rivers Trust Technical Analyst
The Scout books are a brilliant educational resource as well an enjoyable read with your children. They are engaging and funny and wonderfully illustrated which really brings the important environmental message and learning to life. A good place to start is the first book in the Adventures of Scout series called Stop Dropping Litter, which follows Scout's journey while exploring the problem of litter on her local beach. She learns the source is human activity and the delivery of such materials is through our rivers. I really enjoyed how Scout wanted to do something to help and went about finding a solution with the characters working together. I thought the messaging was important and inspiring for young people.
16 Wolf-Men and Water Hounds: The Myths, Monsters and Magic of Ireland and Tree Dogs, Banshee Fingers and Other Irish Words for Nature, by Manchán Magan – Joanna Braniff, The Rivers Trust All-Ireland Advocacy & Communications Manager
Books are like chocolates—you can't stop at just one! That’s why I recommend two companion treasures by The Rivers Trust ambassador, Irish author Manchán Magan: Wolf-Men and Water Hounds: The Myths, Monsters and Magic of Ireland and Tree Dogs, Banshee Fingers and Other Irish Words for Nature. Beautifully illustrated and steeped in Irish folklore, language, and magic, these enchanting books spark wonder and a deep connection to nature. Timeless and informative, they make the perfect Christmas gifts for adults and children alike! Also, look out for Manchán's new book, Rewilding the Mind, and his many other unique and inspiring publications.
17. Hidden Nature, by Alys Fowler – Alison Archer, Thames21 Head of Fundraising
Hidden Nature is a memoir in which, for reasons she at first can't understand, she feels compelled to explore her new home city, Birmingham, by the newly-opened up canals in an inflatable kayak. Her explorations of this new, watery world allow her to explore herself and come to a realisation about her core identity. Personal, authentic and magical.
18. Taming the Flood, by Jeremy Purseglove – Jonathan Louis, Forth Rivers Trust Co-Director
I recently found Taming the Flood interesting. It gave a bleak outlook on the old drainage boards and what they have done to our rivers but finished with a few extra paragraphs on the change that has been seen over the years highlighting the positive work of the network and others.
19. I am Oliver the Otter, by Pam Ayres – Jillian Johnston, Ballindery Rivers Trust
In this delightful tale, Oliver the Otter introduces young readers to his charming life in the rivers and streams of the English countryside. With playful illustrations and engaging rhymes, the book follows Oliver's adventures as he swims, dives, and frolics with his otter friends. Through his eyes, children learn about the beauty and importance of river ecosystems and the animals that inhabit them. The fact pages included at the end, show that an otter’s plight is true and that we have a responsibility to look after our rivers.
20. Grounded, by James Canton – Lewis Coupland, Trent Rivers Trust Catchment Restoration Officer
We are taken back thousands of years to try and grasp what our ancestors saw as sacred, in both rituals and locations across the landscape, and how this changed over time. Watercourses meant far more than just a resource for drinking, fishing, and bathing. The notion that the journey of life is akin to that of a river flowing from birth at its source to death where it meets the sea, is evident through their ritual deposits in streams and burial mounds constructed on the inside of the bends of meanders. It is clear that rivers were seen as sacred and that we have lost touch with them in far more ways than we knew.
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