In All Weathers: A Journey Through Rain, Fog, Wind, Ice and Everything In Between

For many of us there are two types of weather: good (sunny) or bad (anything else), and our likelihood of venturing outside is governed by that simplistic judgement. But inclement weather can be beautiful, sublime – even fun. It transforms the light, textures and colours of a landscape, allowing new worlds to emerge – shrouded in fog, splintered by ice and refreshed by rain. It influences our mood and behaviour. It has inspired poets and artists, seeped into our language and folklore, and fundamentally shaped our way of life on these isles. In All Weathers takes us from the howling winds of Skye to the fen-sucked fogs of East Anglia, as Matt Gaw embarks on a series of walks across Britain – through rain, fog, wind, ice and snow – to look again at our most widely accessed experience of the natural world. He explores the science of weather, the ways it is changing, its impact on our psychology and culture, and how we can embrace it as a positive presence in our lives. It's time to throw open the doors, window and soul to the inspiring wildness of weather.

About the Author :
Matt Gaw is a writer, journalist and naturalist who lives in Bury St Edmunds, and is the author of the acclaimed The Pull of the River: A Journey into the Wild and Watery Heart of Britain (E&T, 2017). His work has been published in the Guardian, the Telegraph and the Times. He works with Suffolk Wildlife Trust, edits Suffolk Wildlife, and currently writes a monthly country diary for the Suffolk Magazine.

Review :
‘Beautifully written, wonderfully immersive and utterly life-affirming. This book glows with a rare light.’ Julian Hoffman   ‘Gorgeously immersive and exposing. Matt Gaw’s writing is lucid and illuminating, but with a subtle sensuality and creatureliness that means we almost walk in his skin. A journey of reconnection when we have never needed it more.’ Amy-Jane Beer, author of The Flow    ‘In All Weathers is a beautiful book, a shimmer of unexpected ways of seeing and experiencing the world, shining with detailed insight and attentive understanding. Wild, oppressive and inclement weathers have found a wonderfully gentle champion in Matt Gaw – these are explorations to delight every walker and refresh any reader.’ Horatio Clare, author of Heavy Light    ‘Elegant, learned and thoughtful, this book vindicates our obsession with the weather.’ Katherine May, author of Enchantment    ‘Matt’s vivid, personal journey through weather will inspire you to welcome and embrace even the dullest, dampest, shiver-inducing-est of conditions. Uplifting and full of wonder.’ Lev Parikian, author of Taking Flight    ‘A brilliant, bracing, elucidating book. Wonderfully researched and written.’ Stephen Rutt, author of The Eternal Season  ‘Matt Gaw’s descriptions of walking through rain, fog, ice and snow and wind … buffet the reader along in exhilaration … a more than usually cheerful book about weather’ Country Life   ‘In his glorious ode to the inclement, author and teacher Matt Gaw reveals how all weathers transform our relationship with the natural world – the secret is to open your senses and immerse yourself’ The Observer magazine   ‘In All Weathers pulls off the trick of shining a fresh light on our much-maligned climate, and Gaw’s contention that we should force ourselves to go outside in all types of weather is a persuasive one.’ Mail on Sunday   ‘an exhilarating and lyrical celebration of everything nature throws at us Brits.’ Saga magazine   ‘I was taken aback by the exquisite descriptions of inclement weather and Gaw’s phrasing allows for us to develop an appreciation for rain, wind, fog and ice. I have never known weather be described quite like this. In short, it’s beautiful!’ Chelsea at Waterstones Lichfield ‘A well-crafted ode to the intermittency of British weather’ Isaac Nowell, Times Literary Supplement ‘In a lyrical exploration of Britain’s wild climate, Matt Gaw walks through rain, fog, ice and wind, reframing bad weather as a source of inspiration and connection’ iNews