The Leopard and the Moon: A Journey in Dolpo, Nepal

In September 2016, at the age of 65, Nigel Roberts embarked on a two-month trek through Dolpo, one of the most remote regions in Nepal.

Following the route taken by Peter Matthiessen (The Snow Leopard) and George Schaller (Stones of Silence) over forty years before him, Nigel was driven by a wish to make sense of illness and tragedy in his family, and to better understand his part in those traumatic events.

A quest for clarity and candor, The Leopard and the Moon weaves together three different journeys: a demanding physical hike, an emotional reckoning, and Nepal’s own trajectory across four tumultuous decades.

“A glittering memoir of his walk in the Himalayas-within which is a story of family tragedy, perseverance and love, told with vast insight and grace.”

– MEG ROSOFF, winner of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award and author of How I Live Now, Jonathan Unleashed and The Great Godden

“I am honored to have read your manuscript. It is excellent… Your evocative writing retrieved many memories of the brilliant and cold landscape.”

– GEORGE SCHALLER, field biologist, conservationist and author of The Year of the Gorilla, The Serengeti Lion and Stones of Silence

NIGEL ROBERTS worked for thirty years for the World Bank, much of that time based in Kenya, Ethiopia, Nepal, West Bank and Gaza, and Australia. Since retiring, he has advised governments in Somalia, Myanmar and Afghanistan on managing the economics of war and instability. He lives in Virginia with his wife, Sarah, and his grandson, Alex.