Overview
An evocative journey through geology and landscape, seen through the eyes of one of Scotland's most beloved poets and storytellers. Blending lyrical prose with personal reflection, Kenneth Steven explores mountains and glens, rivers and rugged coasts in search of gemstones, rocks and crystals. He discovers gold glinting in Highland burns, agates nestling in riverbeds, and aquamarines, amethysts, garnets, amber and pearls in wild places where others rarely roam. Beguiled by their forms, colors, textures and sometimes glittering brilliance, he finds the thrill of unearthing natural riches more precious and delightful even than the gems themselves. Stone by stone, he considers the origins and allure of these treasures, revealing not only their geological stories but their place in history and imagination. Steven's deep connection to the land shines through as he interprets the meaning and magic, inviting readers to see both the landscape and its hidden gems with fresh wonder. This book is a celebration of Scotland's rugged beauty and the quiet, enduring fascination of its rocks and gemstones.
Full Product Details
Author: Kenneth Steven
Publisher: Saraband / Contraband
Imprint: Saraband / Contraband
Edition: Paperback original
ISBN: 9781916812628
ISBN 10: 1916812627
Pages: 144
Publication Date: 15 January 2026
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
Availability: In Print
Limited stock is available. It will be ordered for you and shipped pending supplier's limited stock.
Reviews
Earlier titles: ""A warmly inclusive and decidedly secular series of essays about what it means to make a pilgrimage in the early years of the 21st century."" The Scotsman ""A poetic voice of great sensitivity."" Alexander McCall Smith ""Kenneth Steven has a ready sensitivity to the beauty of small moments."" The Herald ""Kenneth has a rare gift of being able to transmute the mundane into the mesmerizing, in a kind of poetic alchemy."" Countryman ""Kenneth Steven is a bard in the richest and fullest sense of the word."" Carl McColman, author of Eternal Heart
Author Information
Kenneth Steven is a widely acclaimed poet, novelist and children's writer who has published more than 25 books. His BBC Radio 4 documentary on the island of St Kilda won him a Sony Award, and he has contributed several series of spoken-word pieces for the BBC Radio 3 programme The Essay. His novel The Well of the North Wind (SPCK, 2016) was a spiritual tale set on 6th-century Iona, and 2020 was longlisted for The Portico Prize. His non-fiction book Beneath the Ice (Saraband, 2016) tells the story of the Arctic Sami people. Another collection of essays describing contemporary pilgrimages in nature, Atoms of Delight, can also be found in the In the Moment series.
