Podcast: Play in new window | Embed Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Spotify | Android | TuneIn | RSS | More
Nick Hunt takes us across landscapes that should not be there, wildernesses found in Europe yet seemingly belonging to far-off continents: a patch of Arctic tundra in Scotland; the continent’s largest surviving remnant of ancient forest in Poland and Belarus; Europe’s only true desert in Spain; and the fathomless grassland steppes of Hungary. From snow-capped mountain range to dense green forest, desert ravines to threadbare, yellow open grassland, these oddities transport us to faraway regions of the world.
Nick joins me today to talk about these spaces, which he document in his new book Outlandish (John Murray Press 2021). We also talk about travel writing’s relationship with nature writing and address a critique of the genres as being too egocentric.
Connect with Nick Hunt on Twitter and his homepage.
Purchase Nick Hunt’s book Outlandish
If you live in the United States or the United Kingdom, we urge you to purchase your travel books from Bookshop, an online store that supports independent bookstores. Whether you use Bookshop or you decide to purchase your travel books from Amazon, please use our links. If you use our links to make a purchase, we will receive a few cents commission at no additional cost to you. These funds help keep the podcast alive and ad-free.
More episodes & support
Please consider supporting the show with a few dollars a month, less than a cup of coffee, to help keep our show alive and advertisement-free.
You can also support the show by leaving a positive review on Apple Podcasts or in your favorite podcasting app, subscribing to the show, and following us on Twitter & Instagram.
Lastly, consider using our affiliate links to purchase your books. If you use our links to make a purchase, we will receive a few cents commission at no additional cost to you. These funds help keep the podcast alive and ad-free.
Finally, join the Travel Writing World newsletter to receive your free copy of The Travel Writer’s Guidebook. You will also receive quarterly dispatches & reports with podcast interviews, travel writing resources, & book recommendations. Thanks for your support!
Listen to the episode on YouTube
Listen to the episode on YouTube on the Travel Writing World channel. Remember to subscribe to the channel.
Intro music
Peach by Daantai (Daantai’s Instagram)
Disclaimer
*Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means that, at no additional cost to you, this website will earn a very small commission if a purchase is made using these links. Also, “as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases” using the Amazon links on this site.
Thank you!
15 comments
Great book and guest. Yet more places I have never been to or even heard of, and may only have time to see through the writers eyes. Yet another call to action on the urgent need for climate mobilization.
Hi, Geoffrey. Thanks for listening and commenting. I’ll announce the winner in the episode after next. Good luck!
Geoffrey, you won! Please send an email with your mailing address to info (at) travelwritingworld.com.
Excellent interview! It’s always interesting to hear Nick’s thoughts on how the future of travel (and travel writing) might look from the standpoint of ecological consciousness and sustainability; I know he’s been thinking and writing about that topic for years.
Thanks for listening, Patrick. And thanks for the comment. The winner will be announced in the episode after next. Good luck!
Sorry, Patrick. Geoffrey won. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Great interview! I was surprised to hear that all those wildernesses places were available in Europe. Adding them to my travel list 🙂 I am new to this podcast, glad I can listen to this interview and learn more about our world and travel writing. Jeremy Bassetti keep up the good work!
Thanks, Daniela! I’ll announce the winner soon (if not on next episode, the following).
Sorry, Daniela. Geoffrey won. Thanks for leaving a comment.
I really enjoyed this episode, so I wanted to leave a comment to, first, thank Jeremy and Nick for recording this conversation and, second, try my hand at winning the free copy of Outlandish. 🙂
Hi, Whitney. Thanks for listening! Did you leave a review on Apple lately? If so, thank you! I’ll announce the winner soon (if not on next episode, the following).
Sorry, Whitney. Geoffrey won. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Intriguing conversation about imagination, place, and ecology in the crossroads between travel writing and nature writing.
Hi again, Ryan. Thanks for listening and commenting. I’ll announce the winner soon (if not on next episode, the following). Hope you’re doing well!
Sorry, Ryan. Geoffrey won. Thanks for leaving a comment.