About this Event
Explore folklore, ritual, cultural history and possible alternative visions of Britain through this pop-up book club, reading and discussing Zakia Sewell's lively, affectionate and thought provoking book Finding Albion.
Your ticket includes a hardback copy of Finding Albion (RRP £25!) and a drink from our cafe.
Be sure to collect your copy of Finding Albion ahead of time, read at home, then join us on Saturday 5th Dec at 2pm ready to discuss the book and its themes, and enjoy a drink from our cafe while you chat.
To bring you this pop-up session, Booka is collaborating with Oswestry's very own Ritual Revivalist Group, the Wren Revival - mentioned in Zakia's book! This book club is one in an exciting programme taking place in the run up to Wren Day, which takes place on the last weekend before Christmas, just ahead of the Winter Solstice.
Read on about Finding Albion...
**LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2026*
*'I've been waiting for a book like this.' FLORENCH WELCH
'Hopeful and inspiring, Finding Albion is a vital quest for more authentic stories of Britain.' CAROLINE LUCAS
'Finding Albion is the book we all need in 2026.' WEIRD WALK
'A profoundly inspiring meditation upon the lost soul of Britain... I loved every word.' MATTHEW GREEN
Zakia Sewell is on a quest for another Britain. Traversing the length and breadth of our island from Somerset to Scotland, she's seeking out a different story - one that lies beyond divisive national myths and symbols.
In Finding Albion, Zakia uncovers an alternative spirit of Britain that is vividly alive today. It is found in otherworldly folk songs, ancient legends, Celtic seasonal rites and mystic stone circles that punctuate our landscape. Her journey begins as the sun rises on the spring equinox over Glastonbury Tor, where she meets neopagans reclaiming traditions from our pre-Christian past.
At summer's peak at Notting Hill Carnival she hears cultural echoes that passed along the slave trade routes from the Caribbean. On All Hallow's Eve she encounters the ghosts of Empire that are still haunting the nation, and in the depths of a Cornish winter she asks if today's new folk revival could unite our increasingly divided country?Finding Albion brings a hopeful story of Britain out from the shadows, giving us a deeper sense of who we are, and heralding the promise of a brighter future.
Event venue & nearby stays
Booka Bookshop, 26-28 Church Street, Oswestry, United Kingdom
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.