Hermit by Jade Angeles Fitton

 Finished this interesting book.

When Jade's partner leaves the barn that they moved into just weeks before, he leaves a dent in the wall and her life unravelled. Numbed from years in the destructive relationship, she faces an uncertain future and complete solitude. Slowly, with the help of Devon's salted cliffs and damp forested footpaths, Jade comes back to life and discovers the power of being alone.

Through conversations with other hermits across the world, Fitton sheds light on an extraordinary and misunderstood way of living which has survived into the 21st century - from monks, to hikikomori, and the often ignored female hermit.

Lyrically written, this is an inspirational story of recovery, of finding home and of celebration of solitude in the natural world.

Jade is originally from Devon and after living and working in London for several years as a writer and journalist she and her violent partner moved from London back to Devon when he couldn't afford to live in London. They rented a remote barn conversion on Exmoor, but he continued to be angry and violent and drinking too much and finally left after getting a job back in London.

It was then that she realised just how controlling he had been and she starts to enjoy being alone in the wild landscape, even though she has no transport and relies on her mother to fetch her for shopping once a month.

She writes about other people who have enjoyed being alone in various places especially Hope Bourne whose book about her life in an old caravan on Exmoor  - Wild Harvest - I have mentioned before on the blog two years ago. The post is HERE.

When she can no longer afford the rent of the barn she moved into a holiday let cottage in Croyde, north Devon where she had grown up. She works as a cleaner for the owner while still trying to write and get published.

Later Jade got married to someone - not much description of how they met - who understood her need to sometimes be alone. They went out to live and work on Lundy Island just off the Devon coast and a lot of the book is descriptions of the beauty and wildness of a place that was very quiet through lockdowns.

At the end of the book she is offered a job abroad.

 

This is a poor review as I'm not really sure about what I thought of this book, having never been in a violent relationship I couldn't imagine how it went on so long. The interesting parts were about other hermits in history and the descriptions of Lundy during lockdown.

At least it's good to know that I'm not odd because I'm alone and don't crave company at all! 

Thank you to everyone who commented about Leeks yesterday and some more comments about the scrapbooks too.

Back Tomorrow

Sue