At the beginning of the 1980s Neil Ansell lived in a series of squats and derelict buildings across London. Becoming part of a floating community of rough sleepers and volunteers, who found purpose in providing companionship and support for one another. But Britain was changing - this was the decade of the individual and soon we would be told that 'there was no such thing as society.' Out of his experiences Ansell has woven a beautifully told tale, interleaving the streets of the capital with journeys through the wilds of Jura (a Norse word for deer island), building a powerful and moving meditation on belonging. This is the first paperback edition of the highly praised memoir.

'His story is remarkable in the frankness of the telling and the moving complexity of the teller' The Times 'Written with real feeling and a dose of dark wisdom.' TLS

Neil Ansell lived for several years in the Simon Community in London, before finally finding a home in Wales. He now lives in the Scottish Highlands. His other books are Deep Country, The Last Wilderness and The Circling Sky.