A Kent author who walked 1,000 miles in the footsteps of a lone wolf has been shortlisted for one of the world’s most prestigious literary awards.
In 2022, Ramsgate resident Adam Weymouth trekked through the Alps to northern Italy following the route taken by a wolf whose migration a decade earlier led to a remarkable resurgence in the animal’s numbers.
As many as 17 wolf packs are now thought to roam northern Italy since Slavc made his now famous journey in 2011. Picture: Adam WeymouthAdam Weymouth in Slavc’s den during his 1,000-mile trek. Picture: Adam Weymouth
Adam’s book, Lone Wolf, traces the journey and examines the environmental and political changes facing the wild corners of Europe.
“It’s the true story of a wolf that was born in the south of Slovenia, a wolf that ended up being called Slavc,” said Adam, 41.
“In 2011, at 18 months old, Slavc set out on this epic thousand-mile walk.
“He crossed Slovenia, Austria, and ended up becoming one of the first wolves back in the northeast Italian Alps in about 100 years.
Adam Weymouth encountered stunning vistas on his journey. Picture: Adam WeymouthAdam Weymouth’s new book, Lone Wolf, has been shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction. Picture: Adam Weymouth
“There he bumped into a female wolf who was on a walkabout of her own.
“The only two wolves for thousands of square miles found each other, and when they bred, they became the first wolf pack back in these mountains for a couple of centuries.”
Adam says ten years on, 17 wolf packs are now thought to roam the area.
His book – which has been shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford prize for non-fiction – explores how wolves are returning to the Alps and how people are navigating those changes.
Lone Wolf explores how wolves are returning to the Alps and how people are navigating those changes. Picture: Adam WeymouthAdam Weymouth walked 1,000 miles researching his new book, Lone Wolf. Picture: Adam Weymouth
Asked about the stand-out moment of the five-month expedition – which he completed over several legs – the dad-of-two added: “Being a wolf, he mostly stuck to the mountains, so the paths were 3,000 metres high, all through the really high Austrian Alps and then down through the Dolomites, which were just staggeringly beautiful.
“It was a good path to follow just because wolves are kind of avoiding people – generally, he went through some of the most beautiful landscape in Europe.”
“I went back there several times over the course of a year just to see, kind of in different seasons and following the stories of a couple of farmers.
“They’re living alongside the wolves now.”
Adam Weymouth trekked through from Slovenia through the Alps to northern Italy following the route taken by a wolf named Slavc. Picture: Adam WeymouthRamsgate author Adam Weymouth’s book ‘Lone Wolf’ has been shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction. Picture: Chris Boulton
The writer says he uses Margate’s Faith and Strangers restaurant, venue and workspace as a place to get writing done and enjoys cycling along the Thanet coast to help his thinking process.
“I love living in Thanet,” he continued.
“It’s really nice to be able to kind of get out on the beach and just, yeah, clear the mind and have a walk before you go back to work.
“I find there’s so much kind of on the doorstep as well that is so fascinating to write about in Kent – there’s so many stories here.”
‘Lone Wolf’ traces the journey and examines the environmental and political changes facing the wild corners of Europe
The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction, formerly the Samuel Johnson Prize, is an annual British book prize for the best non-fiction writing in the English language.
The hardback Lone Wolf from Penguin Books is currently available to buy, with the paperback expected in June next year.