Portrait of author, Simon Winchester, subtly smiling at the camera and wearing a tweed jacket, white shirt and blue tie.

28 Feb

Simon Winchester: The Breath of the Gods

A meditation on humankind’s relationship with something that cannot be seen, only felt, The Breath of the Gods is the astonishing new work by the prolific Simon Winchester. Sweeping and deeply perceptive, it traces humanity’s attempts to understand, harness and transform the world’s atmosphere, and considers how a changing climate is reshaping it before our eyes.

With host Michael Williams, Winchester journeys through the literature, history, science and poetry of the wind – from its generative and cataclysmic power to its presence in myths and folktales and its foundational role in global trade, transport and energy. He examines a world in which the winds, once steady companions, are now rendered volatile by human activity – a reminder of our fragile place within the natural order.

Presented in partnership with RMIT University