Book excerpt: An inspirational story of adventure and bravery, of a young woman living a primitive, nomadic life in the wilds of the South Island. 'Woman in the Wilderness is an intriguing and mesmerizing book.' Ben Fogle It tells how one woman learned to dig deep and push the boundaries in order to discover what really matters in life. Miriam is a young Dutch woman living in the heart of the mountains with her New Zealand husband. She lives simply in a tent or hut, and survives by hunting wild animals and foraging edible plants, relying on only minimal supplies. For the last six years she has lived this way, through all seasons, often cold, hungry and isolated in the bush. She loves her life and feels free, connected to the land, and happy. There's a lot of drama out there in the wild, and Miriam knows how to spin a good yarn. This is a gripping and engaging read reminiscent of both adventure writing like Wild and nature writing like H is for Hawk, and is perfect for anyone exploring the idea of living a more authentic, real life. 'My life is free, random and spontaneous. This in itself creates enormous energy and clarity in body and mind.' Miriam Lancewood