Join “A Drink with the Idler” as we chat to farmer and writer John Lewis-Stemple about exploring Britain’s wild landscapes after dark. 

At night the senses become reordered. Hearing, touch, smell are privileged over vision. It is after dark that we humans become more sensitive to nature, more ‘animal’. But the lights of the modern world are obliterating any meaningful connection to the night. We have lost touch with its wonders as well as its terrors.

Join us as we chat to farmer and award-winning historian and nature writer John Lewis-Stempel, about his new book Night Life: Walking Britian’s Wild Landscapes After Dark, an enchanting follow-up to Nightwalking. John has written for the likes of The Sunday Express, Country Life, The Times, The Independent, The Guardian, and, notably, The Idler’s newest issue.

In Night Life, he ventures out into the night, wondering his familiar farmland where his family have lived for more than 700 years. We will be discussing the natural world after dark and its rarely seen spectacles and curiosities. John shows us why the night is precious, and what it is to be human in the dark.

The discussion between John and Idler editor Tom Hodgkinson will be followed by a live Q&A when you will be given the chance to ask John your own questions.

We’ll have a philosophical “Thought for the Week” from Dr Mark Vernon and the event will be hosted by Idler Academy director Victoria Hull.

This is an online event. It should be like meeting up in the pub for an interesting conversation. We leave the meeting open at the end so you can carry on chatting.

John Lewis-Stempel is a farmer and award-winning historian and nature writer, who still farms on the land in Herefordshire where his family have lived for more than 700 years. The author of books including The Wild Life, Meadowland, Where Poppies Grow, The Running Hare, The Secret Life of the Owl and The Wood, Lewis-Stempel has twice been the recipient of the prestigious Wainwright Prize for nature writing

Tom Hodgkinson is editor of the Idler and author of the best-selling manuals, How to Be Idle and How to Be Free. Other publications include a book on parenting, the Ukulele Handbook and a manual for creative entrepreneurs, Business for Bohemians.

Dr Mark Vernon is a psychotherapist, writer, broadcaster, and teacher. He presents several Idler Academy online courses. He has a PhD in philosophy, and degrees in theology and physics. His most recent books include The Idler Guide to Ancient Philosophy (Idler Books), Love: All that Matters (Hodder) and Jung: How to Believe (Guardian Shorts) – and he has books on friendship, belief and the good life too. Mark can often be heard on Radio 4’s Moral Maze. He began his professional life as a priest in the Church of England. For more, visit markvernon.com.

Victoria Hull is director of the Idler Academy, producing the Idler’s live and online events and courses.