Unforeseen circumstances such as a sudden illness, bereavement, separation or job loss can derail a life. Periods of turmoil can be a source of imbalances and fears. You may already be teetering on the edge of the cliff, but for Katherine May, winter really begins when her husband falls ill, her son stops attending school and her own health problems lead her to quit an overly demanding job. In a moving personal narration, Katherine May recounts in the book ‘In Winter’ (Tea, 272 pages, 16.80 euros), just a few days in the bookstore, not only how she faced this painful period, but also how she learned to embrace the unexpected opportunities that winter has offered her.
Light can emerge from many sources: solstice celebrations and dormice hibernating, reading CS Lewis and Sylvia Plath, swimming in icy waters, and sailing arctic seas. Small glimmers of lightness in which Katherine May finds the strength to accept sadness, the nourishment of deep rest, the joy of the silent beauty of the cold season and the encouragement to understand life as cyclical, non-linear. An invaluable book for dealing with the difficulties that arise before the start of a new season and for changing our attitude towards our fallow times.
Katherine May is an author of fiction and non-fiction books. His articles and essays by her have appeared in numerous magazines including The Times and Cosmopolitan. After the international success of D’Inverno, published in 25 countries, Katherine May has also launched a very popular podcast, The Wintering Sessions, in which she talks to her guests and listeners about their winter life, or their seasons darker. She lives with her husband and son on the seafront in Whitstable, England, and she loves the outdoors.