The Golden Mole: and Other Living Treasure: ''A rare and magical book.'' Bill Bryson

'Exquisite and timely.' Maggie O'Farrell
'A rare and magical book. I didn't want it to end.' Bill Bryson
'A witty, intoxicating paean to Earth's wondrous creatures.' Observer
'A total miracle.' Max Porter

** SHORTLISTED FOR WATERSTONES AND FOYLES BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS **

** Longlisted for the Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing **

The world is more astonishing, more miraculous and more wonderful than our wildest imaginings. In this passionately persuasive and sharply funny book, Katherine Rundell tells us how and why.

A lavishly illustrated collection of the lives of some of the Earth's most astounding animals, The Golden Mole is a chance to be awestruck and lovestruck - to reckon with the beauty of the world, its fragility, and its strangeness.

A swift flies two million kilometres in its lifetime. That's far enough to get to the moon and back twice over - and then once more to the moon. A pangolin keeps its tongue furled in a pouch by its hip. A Greenland shark can live five hundred years. A wombat once inspired a love poem.

'Rundell's pen is gold-tipped.' Sunday Times
'I love everything about this book: it is a rare little treasure.' Joanna Lumley
'Beautifully written.' Monty Don