Raynor Winn/Sally Walker issues Statement

Actually I don’t think there is a difference between what is happening in politics and the Salt Path goings on.

The issues Colls mentioned are fundamentally about greed, contempt for others and over-riding self interest, as are the Walkers actions.

I’ve been heartened that there are still many, many people who are shocked by her deceit and greed. Perhaps our society is not as moribund as I thought when people were defending her right to steal and lie.

That’s what politics is, isn’t it. The kind of society in which we want to live. Greed and deceit matter in every case.

I don't think they'll ever be trusted with the truth again, it's annoying, a lot of us took it on face value

I was reminded recently of the Watergate scandal of 1974. Ex-president Nixon published his memoirs some time later and the response from some quarters was "Don't buy books from crooks". The same advice could apply to Sally/Raynor's books.

Incidentally and irrelevantly, Nixon's crimes pale into insignificance compared with all the things Trump get up to.

Interesting article in today’s Observer following their original last Sunday.

observer.co.uk/culture/books/article/fact-and-fiction-raynor-winn-wont-talk-to-us-but-heres-what-she-said-about-our-story

Actually I don’t think there is a difference between what is happening in politics and the Salt Path goings on
That’s ok then Lathyrus !!!
two wrongs don’t make a right old saying but true

BlueBelle

*Actually I don’t think there is a difference between what is happening in politics and the Salt Path goings on*
That’s ok then Lathyrus !!!
two wrongs don’t make a right old saying but true

I absolutely can’t see how you think I was saying it’s ok🤔

My whole attitude, (for which I have been heavily castigated on other Salt Path threads) is that lying, deceit, self-interest and greed are wrong - whatever the circumstances.

Other people might believe that it’s wrong n the big issues of life but quite understandable and justifiable in everyday life, but I don’t see it like that.

Having read more articles it does seem correct that Moth had some sort of neurological condition because one article said he had been struggling with the work that he did. But, like many such conditions, there are no tests for such things so it’s down to the doctors to make a diagnosis on the symptoms presented to them.

MayBee70

Having read more articles it does seem correct that Moth had some sort of neurological condition because one article said he had been struggling with the work that he did. But, like many such conditions, there are no tests for such things so it’s down to the doctors to make a diagnosis on the symptoms presented to them.

Yes but today's Observer article says that at the same time that he was telling their benefactor he didn't have long to live, she was saying that a brain scan showed there was no longer any damage (and attributing this miracle to their walk).

I did read the Salt Path 2 or 3 years ago and really enjoyed it. I can be quite naive at times, but whilst reading the book, I did find it difficult to comprehend how Moth, with his very serious and life-limiting health condition, could walk all those miles every day, live rough (in tents) and survive on hardly any decent food. I did think about seeing the film - I shalln’t bother now. Nor shall I read any more of Raynor/Sally’s books. Best wishes to them both, but I won’t waste any more of my precious time on your stories.

Totally agree honeyrose

The Observer published a follow up to their article as well as an interview with the landlord of the farm that the Walkers/Winns lived on observer.co.uk/culture/books/article/fact-and-fiction-raynor-winn-wont-talk-to-us-but-heres-what-she-said-about-our-story

I enjoyed the book and the film. The book is well written, no literary masterpiece but despite it's fairly simple story it is good enough to carry the reader along without too much effort. The photography in the film is stunning. I know quite a few stretches of The Salt Path well and she wrote accurately about it, she is not without talent as a writer, she would not have found a publisher it it was poorly written. I worked in publishing for 20 years so I'm not completely without experience.
In the book she glosses over how they found themselves homeless, certainly I wasn't sure of the facts behind it as they were not discussed in any detail in the book. Probably a convenient omission but hardly a hanging offence! She has produced medical evidence of Moth's medical condition that confirms a neurological condition so tbh I think this hate fest is a completely over the top. I read the story as a fictional autobiography, which used the writer's personal story as a base for a novel so didn't expect the book to be an absolutely truthful account. fwiw all autobiographies are written from the writer's perspective so it's naive to imagine any of them stick scrupulously to proven facts.

Very interesting article, the result of proper research, and shows how mendacious and duplicitous Sally Walker remains.
Sorry I wasted money on buying her book.
I found my notes from Reading group (2020).
Apparently I admired her caustic comments about people they met, her ear for dialogue, the fluent writing, the descriptions of places and wild camping, after a shaky start(?).

I questioned whether they could really exist on that diet, the coincidences at the end, and tellingly, "would liked to have known more about their backgrounds....how did they get into such a mess with their investments?"
I had also pencilled in at the top, "physical conditions gave them a focus? Foolhardy, arrogant, irresponsible?" but think those were the thoughts of a critic.

All the hype and curiosity has made the Salt Path top of the Times best seller paperbacks, for this week.
More royalties for them, they should give them to a charity, perhaps the CBS one.

The book was published by Penguin as Non-Fiction, and in subsequent interviews the couple gave claimed it was a true account.
Amazing how some people are prepared to defend other people's blatant mistruths. Makes you doubt everything they write.

I'm amazed that it was assumed that posters might have been guilty of doing similar things therefore should not cast stones!

I'm sure I'm not without sin but stealing and lying?
Some people, of course, cannot help themselves because they live in a fantasy world. Walter Mitty characters - we encountered one for a time a few years ago. Some were taken in but not all of us.

When the film came out I watched an interview in which "Raynor" stated that they had lost their home due to an unwise business decision and Gillian Anderson, sitting next to her, said, very forcibly "you didn't make a bad decision, you were conned".
I should think Gillian feels she has been conned now.

"Amazing how some people are prepared to defend other people's blatant mistruths. Makes you doubt everything they write." Eazybee is this aimed at me? If it is, can I ask you to read my post again. I have not defended Winn, merely said how I approached the book as an autobiographical novel. You have said "would liked to have known more about their backgrounds....how did they get into such a mess with their investments?", I've made a similar comment about it being glossed over. I read the book as simply, couple lose their home, husband has a horrible diagnosis and they walk the Salt Path and find ways to cope and it makes a readable book that I enjoyed. Nothing more and nothing less. I'm really not sure how that earns me or anyone else for the matter your comment above!

foxie48 have you read the Observer articles?
I think everyone accepts that autobiographies won't tell the whole story but The Salt Path was marketed as being "unflinchingly honest" and it wasn't. Some readers were inspired by 2 apparently blameless people triumphing over adversity. Others who have the more usual version of Moth's illness were given hope and made to feel they could recover if they just kept active. They now realise that was false hope. One benefactor was so moved by their story that he allowed them to live at his farm - but now believes he was well and truly duped by them. The employer Winn stole from lost all of his faith in people and has now died.
Perhaps these aren't "hangable offences" but they aren't trivial either

J52

All the hype and curiosity has made the Salt Path top of the Times best seller paperbacks, for this week.
More royalties for them, they should give them to a charity, perhaps the CBS one.

Depressing but inevitable. I expect the film is doing better too following the revelations.

Perhaps Sally and Tim Walker should start by paying back the money they owes to the many people and organisations they have defrauded over the years as well as donating to charity.

I wonder where her children are in all this. I think it is a good thing that they have been able to stay out of the limelight and I hope they are able to continue to do so.

eddiecat78 No I haven't read the article but I really object to the suggestion that I am some how dishonest and not to be trusted on the basis of a post. You have agreed with me that not writing in detail about the events that led to them becoming homeless is not a "hanging offence" but I have not said it is trivial because I really don't know the circumstances of exactly why they did become homeless. As far as I am aware Winn's husband is ill but that the illness has progressed slowly and perhaps he's had periods of remission, I don't know that either as I'm not his doctor. If I am willing to defend anything, I guess it's my right to say I read the book, watched the film and I enjoyed them both.

Magenta8

J52

All the hype and curiosity has made the Salt Path top of the Times best seller paperbacks, for this week.
More royalties for them, they should give them to a charity, perhaps the CBS one.

Depressing but inevitable. I expect the film is doing better too following the revelations.

Perhaps Sally and Tim Walker should start by paying back the money they owes to the many people and organisations they have defrauded over the years as well as donating to charity.

I wonder where her children are in all this. I think it is a good thing that they have been able to stay out of the limelight and I hope they are able to continue to do so.

I read an article where her son was discussed. Apparently when they were so skint he was posting on Facebook that he was off somewhere abroad on holiday as his fab parents had paid for him.

Here’s a bit about her tattoo artist daughter. raynor/sally still saying in 2021 that they were evicted.

www.penguin.co.uk/discover/articles/raynor-winn-lockdown-hope

I've reached the conclusion that she's a fantasist...

I think I’ve been in a coma 😅 as it was on my list to watch and I’ve missed all the controversy