Listen to a sample
The Secret World of Twilight
- Author
- Sally Coulthard
- Narrator
- Sally Coulthard
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Publish Date
- 12 March 2026
- Run Time
- 6 hours 27 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
Every day, just before sunrise and straight after sunset, magic happens. Dawn and dusk – those fleeting, half-lit hours – are when the ordinary becomes extraordinary. Skies flare with colour, landscapes shift in mood and an unseen cast of creatures emerges from the shadows. Welcome to twilight.
In THE SECRET WORLD OF TWILIGHT, author and smallholder Sally Coulthard invites us into this magical in-between realm, where seductive night-blooming flowers open, secretive mammals stir, giant moths reign and fantastical sea creatures ride the tide. Twilight profoundly affects human life too – but in our age of electric light and closed doors, we’ve almost forgotten how to see it.
Blending natural history, folklore and memoir, Coulthard reveals twilight as a vital, liminal force: one that has inspired awe for millennia and still has the power to illuminate our daily lives.
Critics Review
-
In this beautifully observed and carefully researched book, Sally Coulthard reveals hidden secrets and wonders as she gently draws us into the fleeting worlds of dusk and dawn. Not only have I been enchanted by the mysteries and magic Sally writes about in THE SECRET WORLD OF TWILIGHT, but I now appreciate how very important these liminal hours are to the creatures and plants whose lives they shape, and transform. What a wonderful, captivating book – I loved it!
Brigit Strawbridge Howard, author of DANCING WITH BEES
-
Sally Coulthard turns dusk and dawn into the richest of treasure troves; an enthralling and refreshing reminder of the power of light, dark and nature’s magic
Arthur Parkinson
-
Sally Coulthard has written a lyrical, moving evocation of the in-between time of twilight. She interweaves intimate reflections from her own life in the countryside with fascinating narratives of the historical, environmental and cultural importance of the liminal moment at the end of day and night. Rich in detail and ranging from crepuscular plants to the near darkness of the deep sea, the book sounds as a plea to remember and protect the magical moments of dusk and dawn
Kat Hill, Wainwright Prize shortlisted author of BOTHY
-
From bats and sunstones to Krakatoa twilights, star jelly and so much inbetween the in-between, Sally Coulthard’s atmospheric hymnal to the waking world, and the dusky one that wakes when we retire, is arresting and joyful. Beautifully written, it’s a revelation that invites us to see the half-light anew and fall back in love with the world, and the everyday alchemy of its dimmed, glowing edges. I loved it. Give it to everyone you know!
Nicola Chester, award-winning author of ON GALLOWS DOWN and GHOSTS OF THE FARM
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
Sally Coulthard argues in this charming book that we should eschew artificial lighting and learn once again how to slow down and rejoice in this magical interlude
Country Life
-
Coulthard's evocative nature writing is interspersed with well-researched science and historical anecdotes … [she] is a keen and talented observer of the twilight hours
The TLS
-
The evocative nature writing is interspersed with well-researched science and historical snippets ... Together they help remind us of the physical and cultural importance of these fleeting but richly detailed times of day
Scottish Wildlife
-
A poetic study of half light
HortWeek
-
Sally’s personal journey into the magical spaces of dusk and dawn is magical and we’re lucky to be invited in
Scarborough News
-
Charming
Nature
-
THE SECRET WORLD OF TWILIGHT is a fascinating journey into a twilit world, increasingly destroyed by streetlights and 24-hour supermarkets. This eloquent, compelling book had me standing outside in wonder at both dusk and dawn, relishing the wealth of science, nature and history that combine during these precious, mysterious moments of our day. An enchanting inducement to turn off your living room lights, and go outside into the gloaming
author of WHAT SHEEP THINK ABOUT THE WEATHER
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Sally Coulthard
- Narrator
- Sally Coulthard
- Duration
- 6 hours 27 minutes
- Release Date
- 12 March 2026
- ISBN
- 9781035923243
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Genre
- Wildlife: general interest
Synopsis
Bloomsbury presents The Secret World of Twilight: A Natural History of Dusk and Dawn, written and read by Sally Coulthard.Every day, just before sunrise and straight after sunset, magic happens. Dawn and dusk – those fleeting, half-lit hours – are when the ordinary becomes extraordinary. Skies flare with colour, landscapes shift in mood and an unseen cast of creatures emerges from the shadows. Welcome to twilight.In THE SECRET WORLD OF TWILIGHT, author and smallholder Sally Coulthard invites us into this magical in-between realm, where seductive night-blooming flowers open, secretive mammals stir, giant moths reign and fantastical sea creatures ride the tide. Twilight profoundly affects human life too – but in our age of electric light and closed doors, we’ve almost forgotten how to see it.Blending natural history, folklore and memoir, Coulthard reveals twilight as a vital, liminal force: one that has inspired awe for millennia and still has the power to illuminate our daily lives.
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.