The Book of Beasts

Published by Chatto & Windus, August 2026

A modern bestiary with an ancient heart: meet twelve emblematic animals and restore your relationship with the natural world.

The bear deities, Artio and Artaius, who’ll rise from sleep; the salmon of wisdom who gifts understanding of the universe’s past, present and future; the Lion Man carved 40,000 years ago. Join Elizabeth Sulis Kim as she travels across the globe and through time, from our deep past into the future, bringing together the animals which have captivated us for millennia.

Steeped in folklore, mythology, magic and religion, The Book of Beasts tells the story of our shapeshifting relationships with animals, from reverence to persecution, friendship to fear, awe to indifference. It asks us what we actually know about the creatures we share this world with – and offers us a different way of living together.

What people are saying about The Book of Beasts:

'This beautifully written book considers the relationship between humans and animals through the whole of time and across the planet ... a work of scholarship and passionate personal engagement ... [it is] ultimately an examination of the place of human in the world, past and present.'

Ronald Hutton, author of The Witch

‘In The Book of Beasts, the unique connection we have to other animals is explored through vital Indigenous wisdom alongside folklore and mythology from ancient to modern times… Elizabeth Sulis Kim nudges us to re-enchant the world by recognizing the magic and mystery of wild creatures... I found this book to be highly captivating, deeply emotional and beautifully nuanced’

Chelsea Wolfe, musician

In this powerful and beautifully written book, Elizabeth Sulis Kim explores humanity’s relationship with animals across history and cultures. She weaves together archaeology, mythology, religion, ecology, and psychology to show how the stories we create about animals shape our understanding of humanity, and how changing those stories could help change our world.

-- Melanie Joy, PhD, bestselling author of Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows

“Riveting, insightful and folkloric, this book is a gift for those who seek to deepen their relationship to the natural world. THE BOOK OF BEASTS charms both the scholar and the mystic, taking the reader on a transformative journey into the wilderness, to meet the creatures who call it home. Within its pages, we become Elizabeth Sulis Kim’s familiar, uncovering animal truths, myths and legends at her side, each one revealed by her deft hand.”

 - Rebecca Ferrier, author of The Salt Bind 

The Art of Folklore

To be published by Frances Lincoln (Quarto) in March 2027