Robert Macfarlane’s New Book Asks a Question He Couldn’t Ignore: Is a River Alive?

Robert Macfarlane’s new book asks a question he couldn’t ignore: Is a river alive?

The author and naturalist visited three rivers (including one in Canada) to explore what it means to give the waterways the same rights as people

Book review: Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane

Is a River Alive by Robert Macfarlane Jon Gower In the poet Harri Webb’s poem ‘The Nightingales’ he sings of the myriad rivers of Wales, from those that run free, white and wild, such as the Rhiangoll, Tarrell and Crawnon that cut through Bannau Brycheiniog to those whose flow is stultified behind dams such as  ‘Elan, Claerwen, Fyrnwy/Or Tryweryn of the Shame.’ He also tells of the polluted watercourses of ‘Black Rhymni, sullen Ogwr, dirty Ebbw/…