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Autumn: The Story of a Season
An atmospheric memoir of the season of change from the no. 1 bestselling novelist Kate Mosse
'A beautifully written exploration of nature, memory and life itself. Wonderfully mellow, a golden read' MATT HAIG
'Profoundly captivating, a beautiful book that lingers in the mind.' ELIF SHAFAK
'When the leaves turn to copper and there is dew on the grass in the early morning, I still have that same spike of expectation and anticipation'
In Autumn, Kate Mosse celebrates the season of shifting light and crisp mornings. This magical journey through the turning year captures the ever-changing colours of the autumn landscape, the crunch of leaves underfoot, the drift of migrating birds and the last warmth of the sun.
Starting in her own garden, Kate leads us out to the misty Fishbourne marshes of her childhood, with their vast skies and wading birds, and into ancient yew forests/ steeped in myth and mystery. We travel across the harvest fields, follow the river bends of the Ouse and the Lavant, and join the crowds at Lewes on Bonfire Night, where the air crackles with flame and torchlight.
Exploring nature, folklore, memory and history, Autumn is a love letter to Sussex and an atmospheric portrait of the season from one of our most celebrated writers.
'A beautifully written exploration of nature, memory and life itself. Wonderfully mellow, a golden read' MATT HAIG
'Profoundly captivating, a beautiful book that lingers in the mind.' ELIF SHAFAK
'When the leaves turn to copper and there is dew on the grass in the early morning, I still have that same spike of expectation and anticipation'
In Autumn, Kate Mosse celebrates the season of shifting light and crisp mornings. This magical journey through the turning year captures the ever-changing colours of the autumn landscape, the crunch of leaves underfoot, the drift of migrating birds and the last warmth of the sun.
Starting in her own garden, Kate leads us out to the misty Fishbourne marshes of her childhood, with their vast skies and wading birds, and into ancient yew forests/ steeped in myth and mystery. We travel across the harvest fields, follow the river bends of the Ouse and the Lavant, and join the crowds at Lewes on Bonfire Night, where the air crackles with flame and torchlight.
Exploring nature, folklore, memory and history, Autumn is a love letter to Sussex and an atmospheric portrait of the season from one of our most celebrated writers.
- GenresNonfictionNatureMemoir
115 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2026
About the author
Kate Mosse
92 books3,442 followersKate Mosse is an international bestselling author with sales of more than five million copies in 42 languages. Her fiction includes the novels Labyrinth (2005), Sepulchre (2007), The Winter Ghosts (2009), and Citadel (2012), as well as an acclaimed collection of short stories, The Mistletoe Bride & Other Haunting Tales (2013). Kate’s new novel, The Taxidermist’s Daughter is out now.
Kate is the Co-Founder and Chair of the Board of the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction (previously the Orange Prize) and in June 2013, was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to literature. She lives in Sussex.
Kate is the Co-Founder and Chair of the Board of the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction (previously the Orange Prize) and in June 2013, was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to literature. She lives in Sussex.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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August 29, 2026Love you, Kate Mosse. Wonderful, can’t wait for event.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A gorgeous piece of atmospheric history, memoir and nature that'll have you longing for the Downs, the gabled valleys and the mythos that lurks beneath cobbled alleys across Sussex. Filled with fauna, flora, discovery both internally and externally; Mosse excels at crafting a piece that'll have you reaching for cable-knit jumpers, chilly nights and the crunch of leaves beneath your feet.
As someone who works in the wonderful town of Lewes, I learnt myself from a nice concise dissection of the infamous Bonfire Nights history, the history of buildings dotted around our whimsical town, and learned so much about local areas histories as well. An ode to Sussex and the vivacity and warmth of the South.
This was a lovely keen read filled with vivid writing that I'm sure is only improved by the artistic pieces styled alongside (my copy currently is pre-illustration, but having seen one of them, I look forward to seeing the rest). This made me look forward to my favorite season even more!
One I will recommend to all Autumn-adorer's, Sussex fanatics or well-seasoned traveller. This is a lovely addition to the seasonal Hodder & Staughton collection.
As someone who works in the wonderful town of Lewes, I learnt myself from a nice concise dissection of the infamous Bonfire Nights history, the history of buildings dotted around our whimsical town, and learned so much about local areas histories as well. An ode to Sussex and the vivacity and warmth of the South.
This was a lovely keen read filled with vivid writing that I'm sure is only improved by the artistic pieces styled alongside (my copy currently is pre-illustration, but having seen one of them, I look forward to seeing the rest). This made me look forward to my favorite season even more!
One I will recommend to all Autumn-adorer's, Sussex fanatics or well-seasoned traveller. This is a lovely addition to the seasonal Hodder & Staughton collection.
September 13, 2026
Kate Mosse says the following about this book......
"On many walks, and train and plane journeys while I was writing Autumn, I let the book show me what it might be – not a daily diary or a journal, not a comprehensive guide to Sussex folklore nor a nature guide to the season, but rather a personal almanac of thoughts, sights, facts, mythologies, memories. I allowed the past to speak to the present, and the present to inform the past."
I enjoyed reading this. It's another of those marvellous books with snippets of history, or customs and folklore woven in to a very personal account. Details of the walks Kate Mosse does in her local area are really interesting. From my fairly brief encounters with Sussex, it seems to be a lovely county but then I like most places in the UK.
A very good and pleasant read. 4-stars for me. Again, if the subject piques your interest, do read it. You'll feel like you could do with spreading out an OS map and looking up some of the places, or following the walks. It would be well worth it.
"On many walks, and train and plane journeys while I was writing Autumn, I let the book show me what it might be – not a daily diary or a journal, not a comprehensive guide to Sussex folklore nor a nature guide to the season, but rather a personal almanac of thoughts, sights, facts, mythologies, memories. I allowed the past to speak to the present, and the present to inform the past."
I enjoyed reading this. It's another of those marvellous books with snippets of history, or customs and folklore woven in to a very personal account. Details of the walks Kate Mosse does in her local area are really interesting. From my fairly brief encounters with Sussex, it seems to be a lovely county but then I like most places in the UK.
A very good and pleasant read. 4-stars for me. Again, if the subject piques your interest, do read it. You'll feel like you could do with spreading out an OS map and looking up some of the places, or following the walks. It would be well worth it.
September 11, 2026
This gorgeous memoir was so soothing. I urge readers to listen to the audiobook! I’m moving to the area soon and am relatively unfamiliar with a lot of Sussex, however, ‘Autumn’ completely eased my mind about calling a new county home.
Mosse’s descriptions of nature are wonderful. I felt myself transported on brisk walks during my favourite season. The tidbits of history, folklore and myth weaved in were so interesting and engaging - just a delight from beginning to end!
Mosse’s descriptions of nature are wonderful. I felt myself transported on brisk walks during my favourite season. The tidbits of history, folklore and myth weaved in were so interesting and engaging - just a delight from beginning to end!
September 10, 2026
Probably my favourite of the seasons series, unsurprisingly perhaps, as 🍂 autumn is my preferred season, for all it's wistful melancholy, or perhaps because of it! This combines history, folklore, literature and nature in a very personal account of this transitional season.
September 16, 2026
This is a beautiful book and reminds the reader to slow down, and take the pleasure that the seasons offer.
Review of advance copy received from Publishers Weekly
I love the way Kate Mosse writes about the places she loves and holds most dear. Whether it’s Sussex or Carcassonne in France, she has a wonderful ability to bring a place to life so vividly that I find myself feeling melancholy for somewhere I’ve never even been. She makes you want to pack a bag and go exploring.
I also loved the little pieces of history woven throughout the story. There’s something fascinating about discovering the history of regions in your own country that you’ve never heard before — and I now have plenty of things to Google!
Another beautiful, atmospheric read from Kate Mosse. Thank you, Kate, for giving me another splendid journey through places, history and the magic of autumn.
I also loved the little pieces of history woven throughout the story. There’s something fascinating about discovering the history of regions in your own country that you’ve never heard before — and I now have plenty of things to Google!
Another beautiful, atmospheric read from Kate Mosse. Thank you, Kate, for giving me another splendid journey through places, history and the magic of autumn.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews