Book Review: ‘Finding Albion’ by Zakia Sewell

Book Title: Finding Albion
Author: Zakia Sewell
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Number of Pages: 288
ISBN: 139973590X
Date Published: Mar. 19, 2026

Book Review

Longlisted for the Women’s Prize in Non-fiction category, “Finding Albion” by Zakia Sewell is a charming and hopeful journey across Britain that looks for a new way to understand the country. Instead of focusing on the usual symbols of empire that can hurt people, Sewell travels from Scotland to Cornwall to find older folk customs, pagan traditions, and radical history. The book is structured around the pagan calendar, starting at Glastonbury Tor on the spring equinox and following the seasons through Beltane, Samhain, and other festivals.

The story mixes ancient myths with modern life in a very interesting way. Sewell explores the old legend of Albion, which was once a lawless land with giants until a Trojan hero named Brutus renamed it Britain. She also traces how British folk traditions traveled along slave trade routes and can be heard today at events like the Notting Hill Carnival. This mix shows how culture passes down through time and connects different communities across the nation.

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The honest look at Britain’s dark colonial past while still offering hope for the future makes the book different and special. Zakia does not ignore the terrible chapters of empire; instead, she says we must face them to find a better identity. She meets neopagans reclaiming old practices and learns about working-class resistance remembered in folk songs, creating a more inclusive story of who we are. The writing is joyful and pleasurable even when discussing heavy topics.

In the end, “Finding Albion” is a refreshing book that feels both fresh and vital. It offers a new mythology for Britain that can bring people together instead of dividing them. By making old traditions feel alive again and finding connections between past and present, Zakia Sewell gives readers a sense of identity that goes beyond toxic symbols. This is a fascinating wander through Britain’s hidden spirit that anyone who loves stories about place and culture will enjoy.

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