Robert Macfarlane is a British nature writer and literary critic renowned for his prize-winning and bestselling works exploring landscape, nature, and human connection to place. His acclaimed books include "Mountains of the Mind: A History of a Fascination," "The Wild Places," "The Old Ways," and "Underland: A Deep Time Journey." His collaborations, such as "The Lost Words: A Spell Book" with artist Jackie Morris and "Holloway" with Stanley Donwood and Dan Richards, showcase his interdisciplinary approach. Macfarlane's works have been translated into multiple languages and adapted across various media, cementing his reputation as a leading voice in contemporary nature writing.
Educated at Nottingham High School, Pembroke College, Cambridge, and Magdalen College, Oxford, Macfarlane is a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he teaches English. His writing blends lyrical prose with deep ecological and cultural inquiry, examining humanity's relationship with the natural world. Themes of memory, history, and exploration permeate his work, which often incorporates collaborations with artists, musicians, and filmmakers.
Macfarlane's contributions to literature have earned global recognition, including the EM Forster Prize for Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2017. His innovative projects, such as "The Lost Words," which revitalizes vanishing natural vocabulary, demonstrate his commitment to environmental advocacy through art. Continually expanding his oeuvre, Macfarlane remains a influential figure in both literary and academic circles.