'The Salt Path' is a book that captured the hearts of millions. Now it's
mired in controversy
[July 12, 2025]
By PAN PYLAS
LONDON (AP) — “The Salt Path” is a memoir of resilience and courage that
captured the hearts of millions and was subsequently adapted for the big
screen, with actors Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs taking the lead
roles.
But now, the book and the film are mired in a controversy that could see
them suffer that very modern phenomenon — being canceled.
On Friday, publisher Penguin Michael Joseph agreed with author Raynor
Winn to delay the publication of her next book, “On Winter Hill" from
this October after “intrusive conjecture” about her husband’s health.
The delay is the latest blowback from a bombshell report in Sunday's The
Observer newspaper in the United Kingdom that claimed there was more to
the 2018 book than met the eye — that key elements of the story had been
fabricated.
Author Raynor Winn stands accused of betraying the trust of her readers
and of reaping a windfall on the back of lies. Winn accepts “mistakes”
were made, but that the overarching allegations were “highly
misleading.” She has sought legal counsel.
The book
Winn's book tells how she and her husband of 32 years, Moth Winn — a
well-to-do couple — made the impulsive decision to walk the rugged 630
miles (around 1,000 kilometers) of the South West Coast Path in the
southwest of England after losing their house because of a bad business
investment.
Broke and homeless, the memoir relays how the couple achieved spiritual
renewal during their trek, which lasted several months and which saw
them carry essentials and a tent on their back.
The book also recounts how Moth Winn was diagnosed with the extremely
rare and incurable neurological condition, corticobasal degeneration, or
CBD, and how his symptoms had abated following the walk.
It sold 2 million copies, became a regular read at book clubs, spawned
two sequels and the film adaptation, which was released this spring, to
generally positive reviews.
On its website, publisher Penguin described the book as “an
unflinchingly honest, inspiring and life-affirming true story of coming
to terms with grief and the healing power of the natural world.
Ultimately, it is a portrayal of home, and how it can be lost, rebuilt,
and rediscovered in the most unexpected ways.”
That statement was released before the controversy that erupted last
Sunday.
The controversy
In a wide-ranging investigation, The Observer said that it found a
series of fabrications in Raynor Winn's tale. It said the couple’s legal
names are Sally and Timothy Walker, and that Winn misrepresented the
events that led to the couple losing their home.
The newspaper said that the couple lost their home following accusations
that Winn had stolen tens of thousands of pounds from her employer. It
also said that the couple had owned a house in France since 2007,
meaning that they weren't homeless.
[to top of second column]
|
A copy of "The Salt Path", by Raynor Winn is on display in a book
store, in London, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
 And perhaps more damaging, the
newspaper said that it had spoken to medical experts who were
skeptical about Moth having CBD, given his lack of acute symptoms
and his apparent ability to reverse them.
The book's ability to engender empathy from its readers relied on
their personal circumstances. Without those hooks, it's a very
different tale.
The response
As a writer of what was represented as a true story, Winn had to
attest to her publisher that the book was a fair and honest
reflection of what transpired.
Any memoir may have omissions or hazy recollections.
But making things up is a clear no-no.
In the immediate aftermath, Winn made a brief comment on her website
about the “highly misleading” accusations and insisted that the book
"lays bare the physical and spiritual journey Moth and I shared, an
experience that transformed us completely and altered the course of
our lives. This is the true story of our journey.”
She fleshed out her response on Wednesday, describing the previous
few days have been “some of the hardest of my life,” while
acknowledging "mistakes” in her business career.
She also linked documents appearing to show Moth had been diagnosed
with CBD, and described how the accusations that Moth made up his
illness have left them “devastated.”
After the allegations were published, Penguin said it undertook "the
necessary pre-publication due diligence,” and that prior to The
Observer story, it hadn't received any concerns about the book’s
content.
The long-term
It'll be interesting to see how the book's sales and the film's box
office receipts are affected by the controversy. Those should start
emerging in the coming days.
In addition, there are questions now as to whether the film will
find a U.S. distributor and whether Winn, in particular, will face
compensation claims, potentially even from readers.
Winn was meant to be in the western England town of Shrewsbury on
Friday on the Saltlines tour, a “words and music collaboration”
between her and folk band The Gigspanner Big Band.
Her legal team said that Winn is “deeply sorry to let down those who
were planning to attend the Saltlines tour, but while this process
is ongoing, she will be unable to take part.”
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
