From the Thames to the Tigris, the Ure to the Euphrates, rivers have flowed through the history of humanity, shaping our civilisations and sustaining our species. Robert Macfarlane and Elif Shafak illuminate the life-giving force of rivers, the stories they have inspired, and explore the crucial question of how humans can coexist with the natural world on which our survival depends.

From the Epic of Gilgamesh to the gods of old, from the ancient Euphrates to the Thames of today, from lost rivers buried deep beneath our feet to the revival of nature on our own doorsteps, Elif and Robert reveal the intricate tapestry woven from human and natural history, and the resilience of nature, memory, and storytelling. On the cusp of today's chaos, in a world balanced between hope and despair, Elif and Robert reveal how we can fight against apathy, insist upon hope, and protect the natural world around us for generations and stories to come.

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