Through conversations with other hermits across the world, Fitton sheds light on the myriad – and often misunderstood – ways of living alone: from monks to hikikomori, and the largely ignored female hermit. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously.

I could have gone into more detail about my parents’ break-up and losing our family home, and the catastrophic aftershock, but it didn’t feel like it was vital to the story. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. The story is interesting and Jade's observations on nature are poetic and lyrical, she really captures the essence of what it is to walk alone and really "see" nature. Bought as an audiobook as I believed that the story was about someone living as a hermit who was sharing their experiences.

While clearly not a hermit in the traditional sense, as we learn from information interspersed throughout the story about hermits past and more present (including Norwich’s own Mother Julian, who I am intrigued by), I think the author (with her phone, the internet and a husband etc) could perhaps be considered a modern version. Editorial director for non-fiction Zennor Compton acquired world rights in an exclusive submission from Max Edwards at Aevitas Creative Management.

As another reviewer Louise Mullins has stated though, Jade never really lives in true isolation and therefore can't really identify as a hermit. Through conversations with other hermits across the world, Fitton sheds light on the myriad - and often misunderstood - ways of living alone: from monks to hikikomori, and the largely ignored female hermit.

But you can't really start self-identifying as a hermit when you don't actually live out in the wilds alone, cut off from civilisation. Fitton takes us with her as she learns to live alone, left by her partner as he moves out of their secluded barn, just weeks after they moved in. A very good thing was it didn’t put me off dreaming of wild solitude, if anything it made me more interested in experiencing it – I just have to convince everyone else it’s a good idea now (and maybe learn some essential life skills). Through conversations with other hermits across the world, Fitton sheds light on the myriad - and often misunderstood - ways of living from monks to hikikomori, and the largely ignored female hermit. The backdrop of beautiful North Devon, stunning Lundy Island and briefly London, felt very familiar having spent lazy childhood summers on Exmoor and even, coincidentally, in the village where the author spent her childhood.