Craftland: A Journey Through Britain's Living Past

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING 2026

SHORTLISTED FOR THE NERO NON-FICTION BOOK AWARD 2025

SHORTLISTED FOR WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025

A BBC RADIO 4 AND SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE WEEK

Connect with Britain’s extraordinary heritage and be awakened to the beauty all around you with this Sunday Times bestselling journey to Craftland – by award-winning historian and broadcaster James Fox.

‘Inspiring’ Sunday Times ‘Wonderful’ Michael Morpurgo ‘Enchanting’ Amol RajanFor generations, what we made with our hands shaped who we were. The skills and knowledge passed down to us built our communities and defined our regions. And if you know where to look, they still do.

In Craftland, James Fox seeks out Britain’s last great craftspeople – those who are keeping our vanishing trades and traditions alive. Through them, we witness not only the living past but a deeper, more connected way of living today: one that is not yet lost and might still shape our future.

This soul-stirring journey shows that Britain is still a craft land, if only we have eyes to see it.

‘Brimming with fresh news and seasoned with hope … I read it in two gulps with delight’ Andrew Marr ‘This extraordinary book will leave you awestruck and inspired’ Xand van Tulleken ‘Superb … I read the book with admiration not only for the remarkable subjects individually, but also the human spirit that unites them all’ New Statesman ‘If you want to know about Britain and yourself, read this book … tremendous’ Spectator ‘Beautiful, eye-opening and surprisingly moving – a treat to treasure’ Lucy Worsley ‘Superbly written and completely absorbing’ Tracy Chevalier ‘A book that shimmers with love for a dwindling world’ Guardian ‘A joy’ Edmund de Waal ‘A richly satisfying read’ Times Literary Supplement

Author: James Fox
Format: Paperback
Pages: 368
Publisher: Vintage Publishing
Published: 24 September 2026
ISBN: 9781529924176