Precis lanserat – Is a River Alive?

SHORTLISTED FOR BLACKWELL’S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR CONSERVATION WRITING 2025SHORTLISTED FOR THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2026From celebrated writer Robert Macfarlane comes this brilliant, perspective-shifting new bookwhich answers a resounding yes to the question of its title.At its heart is a single, transformative idea: that rivers are not mere matter for human use, but living beingswho should be recognized as such in both imagination and law. Is a River Alive? takes the reader on an exhilarating exploration of the past, present and futures of this ancient, urgent concept.The book flows first to northern Ecuador, where a miraculous cloud-forest and its rivers are threatened by goldmining.Then, to the wounded rivers, creeks and lagoons of southern India, where a desperate battle to save the lives of these waterbodies is under way.And finally, to north-eastern Quebec, where a spectacular wild riverthe Mutehekau or Magpieis being defended from death by damming in a river-rights campaign.At once Macfarlanes most personal and most political book to date, Is a River Alive? will open hearts, spark debates and lead us to the revelation that our fate flows with that of riversand always has.2025 BOOK OF THE YEAR ACCORDING TO SPECTATOR, I PAPER, ECONOMIST, ESQUIRE, TIMESHORTLISTED FOR THE EDWARD STANFORD TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR 2026SHORTLISTED FOR THE SHERBORNE PRIZE FOR TRAVEL WRITING 2026LONGLISTED FOR THE RSL ONDAATJE PRIZE 2026