Il mondo che verrà

by Robert Macfarlane, Johnny Flynn, Emily Sutton (Illustrator)

Un padre e un figlio si addentrano nel bosco per una lunga passeggiata. Come seguendo il filo di un sogno, il loro viaggio li porta a scoprire un paesaggio in continua evoluzione, esplorare un mondo che è sempre nuovo, ricco, generoso, e che promette un futuro pieno di speranza. È questo il cuore de "Il mondo che verrà", frutto dell’eccezionale collaborazione di tre artisti: il celebre naturalista e scrittore Robert MacFarlane, il musicista e attore Johnny Flynn e l’illustratrice Emily Sutton. "Il mondo che verrà" nasce come una canzone (Flynn e MacFarlane hanno composto insieme un album dedicato al paesaggio naturale nel 2023, The moon also rises), e il libro conta proprio sul ritmo e sulla musicalità del testo per esprimere al meglio l’emozionante poesia del suo contenuto. Nel paesaggio che muta e cambia nel tempo, proprio come accade ai due protagonisti nel viaggio della loro vita, si percepisce un canto nuovo, un futuro fatto ancora di sole e di fiori, di silenzio e di tuono, di ore condivise, di una speranza che cresce e che viene resa così visibile, quasi da toccare con mano grazie alle dettagliate e splendide illustrazioni di Emily Sutton. Una luminosa metafora della vita che scorre, un libro che condensa nelle sue pagine l’armonia della natura, della parola e della musica.
Età di lettura: da 5 anni.

Genres: Picture Books, Poetry, Childrens, Nature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 3, 2024

About the author

Robert Macfarlane is a British nature writer and literary critic.

Educated at Nottingham High School, Pembroke College, Cambridge and Magdalen College, Oxford, he is currently a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and teaches in the Faculty of English at Cambridge.

Robert Macfarlane is the author of prize-winning and bestselling books about landscape, nature, people and place, including Mountains of the Mind: A History of a Fascination (2003), The Wild Places (2007), The Old Ways (2012), Holloway (2013, with Stanley Donwood and Dan Richards), Landmarks (2015), The Lost Words: A Spell Book (with the artist Jackie Morris, 2017) and Underland: A Deep Time Journey (2019). His work has been translated into many languages, won prizes around the world, and his books have been widely adapted for film, television, stage and radio. He has collaborated with artists, film-makers, actors, photographers and musicians, including Hauschka, Willem Dafoe, Karine Polwart and Stanley Donwood. In 2017 he was awarded the EM Forster Prize for Literature by the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Reviews

[val · Rating 5 out of 5]

As expected, I am giving this book a 100000/10. Let's face it-- I love Johnny Flynn, so my personal affection for him quite literally obliterates the chance of this review being anything close to objective. But I want you all to know that I'm very serious in saying that there's a beautifully poetic loveliness to this book; it's based on one of the title tracks from Johnny and Rob's 2021 collab album "Lost In The Cedar Wood," so I'd been enamoured by the text before I'd even cracked the spine. That being said, Emily Sutton's vibrant and vivacious illustrations add a touch of magic to Johnny and Rob's words, making this a perfect picture book that I would've really enjoyed as a kid.

(P.S. I love Johnny Flynn so much. The obsession is starting to scare me a little bit; I was a bit too excited to find this at the bookstore today.)

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a long time fan of both Robert and Johnny's work individually, I'm a huge fan of their collaborations. They've released a couple of brilliant albums together and I've been lucky enough to see the songs brought to life on stage. Now, one of my favourite songs from the pair arrives in book format. Did I dream this up? I may have.

'The World To Come' is a picture-book version of a song of the same name, brought to life through Emily Sutton's instantly recognisable illustrations. I'm fairly sure I was destined to love the book, but the illustrations are truly the icing on the cake. I took a first read while listening along to the song (and may have cried - shhhhh!) and I can't wait to dive back into the story many more times, taking in new details in each of the pages.

The song has followed me around for years - it is somewhat of a walking soundtrack. I'll often be found humming the line "there's a blackbird perched, in the branches of the silver birch". I'm so glad that the song, through the book, can find a new audience. Fan's of Robert's work (especially of The Lost Words and The Lost Spells with Jackie Morris) will find a lot to love here, and the book is beautifully published by Magic Cat.

Huge thanks to Rob and Magic Cat for getting a copy sent to me to read in advance of publication. I adore this and can't wait to get recommending it across the festive season and beyond.

[Sara Arezes · Rating 3 out of 5]

It reminds me of The Little Prince, in the sense that I was misled into thinking it was a children's book.
As a Johnny Flynn fan, I appreciate the concept, and you can never go wrong with a beautiful poem accompanied by heartwarming illustrations. However, what I don't appreciate is the fact that this book is not of general interest, neither to children nor particularly to grown-ups, but almost strictly to the sphere of the author's fan community. A relevant work should live beyond its creator, and I believe this one doesn't.

[Anneke W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure magic 💚 The illustrations make the words even more powerful.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

The artwork was beautiful and colorful, but the story was a bit hard to follow. I am not sure this one would go over very well with young readers, when I compare it to other picture books I have read. I also don’t think I know who Johnny Flynn is!

[jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually pick books from the new picture books shelf at my library because I like the art, and this remains the main attraction here. I should be honest that three things hindered me in loving this book as the authors intended: 1) I read it on July 6, 2025, days after one of what I see as one of the least hopeful days in American history; 2) the "world to come" as depicted in this book does not match my optimism about the environment, and 3) I know nothing about the collaborations of Robert MacFarlane and Johnny Flynn. As I saw before posting my review, this appears to be ome kind of fan project that emerges out of their music.

The (rhyming) lyrical optimism is matched by the great illustration work by Emily Sutton A man walks with his young son through various natural settings, and what you can see over time is that "the world to come" is the son's growing up to be a father himself, that circle of life point. And that works for me, and probably will for most adults, but I kinda doubt kids would like it very much, for the kinda abstract writing and the embedded point of the story. Though Sutton's art will be great to look at any age. So it's not about political hope, but about hope in growing up. A lof of people obviously love it, as we can see from the pretty high rating.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant and very colourful advert for examining the joys of the outdoor life, but one that is probably preaching to the converted, a comment that someone in the household levelled at Mr Macfarlane's latest book, concerning rivers. Here a father and son take a walk through nature, enjoying it all – and then before you know it the father is an old man, the son no longer a child and no longer the youngest generation on the page. But still the new birth, the life and the hope of nature is there for all to enjoy. Like I say, this is on message, and probably will encourage very few to step out and see the world. Also, the rhyming scheme just jumps from style to style far too regularly for me to have really enjoyed it. Three and a half stars.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would love to read this to a group, to see if they would soon understand what was happening! Robert Macfarlane and Johnny Flynn use brief words of poetry to start the story, taking a man and a boy into a forest for a walk. They explore, notice birds singing, come across a group of musicians, one with an accordion, are caught in a rainstorm, and more! Emily Sutton's illustrations fill the pages, colors abound in this gorgeous place. All of a sudden, it'll be delightful for readers to notice, the boy is changing, growing up! That's all you need to know, except find this book and enjoy every page!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful book - pictures do the heavy lifting.
However, I can't imagine what a child would make of the words - they didn't seem to form a narrative - may be they're better when sung?
Can't help thinking this was published on the back of the 'names' of the authors rather than the quality of content. Missed opportunity?

[R.C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those gorgeous picture books that I can't help but think will be most appreciated by adults. I think it's lovely, yes, but will a child? But it's nonetheless beautiful--and the illustrations equally so, if a bit raucous, giving the poetry another level of vibrant life on the page.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Restful , gentle , lyrical & just a whole beautiful package , this stunning #picturebook that takes us on long walk through ever changing landscapes is a joy to read. The illustrations are incredibly detailed & deserve to be pored over again & again

[Iskra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stunning illustrations make this an excellent book for classrooms and library displays. It walks the reader through nature and its beauty, seen through the eyes of three generations. The pictures are more persuasive than the words.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lyrical journey of a caregiver and child through nature and time.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illustrations are gorgeous. I didn't love the text. I could picture reading this to kids and the blank stares that I would get in return.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wished I could have given this book more than a five out five! A wonderful book.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read aloud it's even more beautiful . . .

[LudmilaM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetic and reflective

[Trudy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully written, and beautifully illustrated picture book, telling of the magic of nature. Highly recommend for readers and listeners of all ages. A must for followers of Robert Macfarlane!!

[Elena Cherubin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magnifiche illustrazioni

[Ivan Monckton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful words and pictures.