Stone Lands: A Journey through Britain's Ancient Places -Fiona Robertson

(**Please note that this event has been rescheduled to Friday 4th July**)

'There is something about the extreme longevity of standing stones that I find very comforting. Whatever people get up to, the stones have seen it all before. However long our personal span on this planet – 80 years, or 50, or eight – they will outlast us. These millennia-old witnesses to the sound and the fury of human existence put it all into perspective. Touching an ancient, weather-scored pillar of granite, sandstone or quartz can make the drama of life seem, if only for a moment, small and far away.'

A few months after discovering that her beloved husband, Stephen, had incurable cancer, Fiona Robertson began to write this book. A long-time megalith enthusiast, she found the ancient stones resonated with her more profoundly than ever as she faced the prospect of losing him. Set upright thousands of years ago, the megaliths are symbols of endurance and survival, standing in contrast to our ephemeral human lives. Infused with folklore, legend and mystery, they enchant the landscape and bring magic to our modern world.

Journeying across a number of 'stone lands', from West Penwith and Avebury to the Lake District and Orkney, this book uncovers the magic and rich history of Britain's most incredible megaliths – and what they mean in the shadow of personal pain. This enthralling memoir is woven delicately around great grief but is ultimately about embracing life, joy and ancient wonder.

Join our talk for a luminous reminder of what it means to exist on this earth.

Stone Lands is beautifully illustrated inside with stunning black and white line drawings by the illustrator and printmaker Philip Harris.