Devorgilla Days, Kathleen Hart
Devorgilla Days, Kathleen Hart
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
Club: $12.49

Devorgilla Days
finding hope and healing in Scotland's book town

Author: Kathleen Hart

Narrator: Lucy Paterson

Unabridged: 8 hr 25 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: John Murray

Published: 05/27/2021


Synopsis

'We all need a Devorgilla Cottage somewhere in our hearts' - Kirsty Wark
'Beautifully written' - Alexander Armstrong

A memoir of recovery, resilience and starting over in Wigtown, book capital of Scotland.

This is a story about uncovering the things that really matter, and discovering what makes us feel alive. It is a story about finding that inner strength and resilience, and never giving up hope.

Eight years ago, Kathleen Hart was diagnosed with breast cancer. Further complications led to a protracted recovery and months spent in hospital, where Kathleen had to learn how to walk again. While recuperating, she came across a small whitewashed cottage for sale in Wigtown, Scotland. Driving hundreds of miles on nothing more than a few photographs and an inkling, she bought it that very same day, and named it Devorgilla after the formidable 13th century Scottish princess.

Devorgilla Days is the story of how Kathleen left behind her old life to begin again in Scotland's book capital. From renovating her cottage to exploring the seemingly quiet, but actually bustling town, she encounters a whole community of book lovers, beekeepers, artists and writers - and Lobster Fishermen. Kathleen starts wild swimming, a ritual that brings peace and clarity to her mind as her body heals. And, with the support of her virtual worldwide community who know her as PoshPedlar on Instagram, she rebuilds her life again.

Heartwarming and deeply moving, Devorgilla Days is an inspiring tale of one woman's remarkable journey, a celebration of community, and a call-to-arms for anyone who has ever dreamt of starting over.

(P)2021 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

About Kathleen Hart

Kathleen Hart was educated at a convent school in Cheshire before experimenting with various occupations from air hostess to antiques dealer, but her favourite so far is author. She does her best writing in a whitewashed cottage in Scotland where she keeps bees, swims in the sea and every day encourages thousands of her PoshPedlar Instagram followers to 'make room for the magic'.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Heather on May 26, 2021

Outstanding! Feel bereft as I’ve finished it and I want more. Absolutely brilliant. More thorough review to follow.........more

Goodreads review by Rachel on April 09, 2021

Devorgilla Days by Kathleen Hart is an excellent book that is part memoir, part naturalist essays, part journal that I can say will confidently be one of the best books that I have ever read. Honestly. This is the story of one woman, Kathleen, that moves to a small village in western Scotland in the......more

Goodreads review by Katie on April 25, 2025

If you loved The Saltpath you will like this book. A story of health struggles interlinked with amazing descriptions of Scotland. Set in an area I know well and describes a lot of areas I would like to explore further. Hold On Pain Ends......more

Goodreads review by Penelope on March 11, 2021

'Devorgilla Days' is an absolute tonic for the soul. A beautiful book about starting again and not giving up when life has dealt you a tough hand. Kathleen Kent is a wonderful author, she has a very intimate way of writing that draws you in and fills your head with beautiful pictures of the people a......more

Goodreads review by Claire on February 27, 2021

I was so looking forward to reading this, based as it is in Wigtown, Scotland’s book town and I was absolutely not disappointed. What a wonderful read, in the words of the author, ‘it’s a pared down,stress less existence, the edited version ;a much-needed holiday for my head.’ Forget shop till you dr......more


Quotes

We all need a Devorgilla Cottage somewhere in our hearts and in our imaginations. This is a book about survival and renewal and sheer willpower.

So beautifully written and so enchanting I feel quite bereft having reached the end... So many achievements all wrapped in one beautiful narrative. It's heaven.

A magical and beautifully written memoir and so evocative of Wigtown and its landscape. Ruth Hogan, author of THE KEEPER OF LOST THINGS

From renovating her cottage to exploring the seemingly quiet, but actually bustling town, she encounters a whole community of book lovers, beekeepers, artists and writers and lobster fishermen throughout the book. Furthermore, Kathleen starts wild swimming, a ritual that brings peace and clarity to her mind as her body heals. Irish Times