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A heartfelt hymn to the sea and an unforgettable introduction to one of the most gifted nature writers of the new generation
The seas cover over two-thirds of our planet and yet most of us live our lives on land, creatures of a different element, at once fascinated and terrified by the beauty and power of these great bodies of water. There are some, though, who go to sea, who get to know its many moods – the tranquil and mirror-like, the raging and ripple-swept – and who bring back with them their stories of wonder and warning. Hannah Stowe is one such sea-goer and one such storyteller.
Drawing on her expertise as a marine biologist and sailor, and her experiences in the North Sea, the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the North Sea, the Celtic Sea, and the Caribbean, Move Like Water is an exploration of the human relationship with the sea, the powerful impression it has made on our culture, and the terrible damage we have inflicted upon its ecosystems. In shimmering, fluid prose, Stowe introduces us to five keystone marine creatures – the sperm whale, the humpback whale, the orca, the albatross and the firecrow – encouraging us to fall in love with the seas as she has, to appreciate their majesty and their vulnerability.
Hannah Stowe graduated with a BSc Hons in Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology from Plymouth University, and is currently studying for an MSc in Marine Conservation. She is also an artist and yoga teacher. She currently lives in Dresden.
"Elegant, enthralling [...] There are plenty of books about the sea, but few, if any, have the lyrical, almost visceral intensity of this one [...] Stowe's shimmering prose – and her exquisite line drawings – make us feel the majesty of the sea and its creatures. It also reveals their terrifying vulnerability"
– Daily Mail
"A haunting evocation of [the sea's] power and beauty, and an exploration of its wildlife [...] [Stowe's] prose is beautiful, conjuring the storybook setting of her upbringing, the salt spray of the sea and the wonder of travelling alongside whales and sea birds while also imparting scientific knowledge"
– Western Mail
"The shelves are awash with sea books. But Stowe is different. She doesn't just watch and describe the sea; she's part of it. It surges inside her and crashes out onto the page. The book's drenched with salt water. It fizzes, clicks, booms and screams. Tremendous"
– Charles Foster, author of Cry of the Wild and A Little Brown Sea
"Let Hannah's captivating prose transport you on a journey across the waves, feeling the wind and salt on your skin, and always watching out for the tantalising glimpse of a whale. You will be enthralled by her personal story, invigorated by her energy and determination, and persuaded to think deeply about the ocean, its living treasures and the human troubles they face"
– Dr Helen Scales, author of The Brilliant Abyss and Scientists in the Wild: Galapagos
"Exquisite in its intelligence and boundless in the fetch of its wave"
– Jay Griffiths
"Inspiring [...] Hannah Stowe recounts her lifelong love affair with the sea and illuminates the complexities of our relationship with ocean ecosystems [...] An urgent call to address the damage we're doing to the oceans, and a siren song to the beauty and power of the sea"
– Lulah Ellender, author of Grounding
