In the Hide

How the Natural World Saved My Life

Gordon Buchanan

$50

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Witness Books
06 February 2025

The natural world, country life & pets; Wildlife: general interest; Travel writing

Published to coincide with a UK-wide speaking tour - his biggest to date - the emotionally honest and powerful memoir of beloved natural history presenter and cameraman Gordon Buchanan

Our estate was built on land claimed from fields - we were at the foot of those rolling Kilpatrick hills, but over the roof of the school you could see more green fields and woods. I felt grateful to be on the edge of all that countryside - there was a magnetic pull towards what I thought that wild was, or could be. 'One day, I'm going to walk to those hills and woods,' I'd think to myself.

Soon, it would become a sanctuary.

Gordon Buchanan is probably the best-known natural history cameraman the BBC has ever produced. From wild snow wolf packs in Ellesmere and polar bears in Svalbard to leopards in Mumbai and equine therapy in Mongolia, he has filmed in the world's most far-reaching places for over 30 years. His dedication to his craft means he often spends weeks inside a cramped camera hide, tolerating extreme sleep deprivation and poor living conditions, all in search of that one extraordinary shot.

But dangerous animals were not the only thing he was hiding from.

In the Hide is Gordon's emotionally honest and raw account of a challenging childhood in Dumbarton and on Mull, and the escape and solace he found - and continues to find - in the natural world around him. An intimate and inspiring account of resilience in the face of hardship, In the Hide marks the arrival of a bold new voice in nature writing.

By: Gordon Buchanan
Imprint: Witness Books
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 240mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 40mm
Weight: 750g
ISBN: 9781529144260
ISBN 10: 1529144264
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 06 February 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Gordon Buchanan is an award-winning presenter and wildlife cameraman, his credits including the Planet Earth and Frozen Planet series and, as presenter, the popular Family & Me series of documentaries. He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2020 for services to conservation and wildlife filmmaking. Gordon lives in Glasgow with his wife and family. In the Hide is his first book.

Reviews for In the Hide: How the Natural World Saved My Life

""A stunning and moving account of a life that shaped one of the most authentic voices for nature"" * Liz Bonnin * ""The qualities that make Gordon Buchanan a great wildlife filmmaker are those that make this a terrific book - a love of storytelling, genuine expertise in his chosen field, relentless curiosity and above all a deep humanity that comes from knowledge of pain as well as of joy. The book combines all of the above, his extraordinary wildlife encounters are the fascinating backdrop to a searingly honest account of his personal struggles.” * Alastair Campbell *