A great friend of mine, who knows these things, described Kathleen Jamie as 'perhaps the best British contemporary poet'. I don't pretend to her depth of knowledge, but for me, this collection is peerless. A profound understanding of human beings as a part of the whole living world underpins Jamie's vision> Her language moves easily between the earthy and the ethereal. She's a bit like Mary Oliver for grown-ups - she has a broader vision and is less prone to sentiment. Every image is authentic and precise, every poem, accessible yet profound, spiritual without being sentimental or religious.