Acclaimed author Raynor Winn is well known for her bestselling memoir “The Salt Path.” Today, she’s at the center of such a scandal as new allegations have emerged regarding her racist past. The author, whose real name is Sally Walker, reportedly took approximately £64,000 from an estate agency and property surveyor where she worked as a bookkeeper. This was the arresting incident that led to her incarceration. It raised serious doubts about her honesty and the truthfulness of the life-changing journey she chronicled in her best-selling memoir.
Winn’s personal struggles became public knowledge when she and her husband, Moth, went on a transformative 630-mile walk along the South West Coast Path. Their real journey started when they lost their place to live in June 2013. Shortly thereafter, Moth was diagnosed with corticobasal degeneration (CBD), a rare neurodegenerative disorder. The couple’s journey became an endurance test. Beyond that, it acted as a productive outlet for them to relieve the emotional distress they were going through.
The Salt Path beautifully relates the old woman’s remarkable physical and spiritual journey—which she shared with Moth—through this huge and tumultuous life change. Since the release of her debut memoir, Winn has published two more books — The Wild Silence and Landlines. The fourth, ON WINTER HILL, should be out in October, though it’s hard to say with any certainty that it will be published. Michael Joseph, the publisher, has not responded to questions about whether the book will continue to be published during this developing story.
Winn’s seriously questionable financial history only deepens the story. Once the couple purchased a house in France in 2007, their financial security began to rapidly collapse. They had a hard time paying back money borrowed against the loan that estate agency borrowed money from. This mistake eventually resulted in their home being foreclosed upon.
Environmental and justice advocates, as well as Congressional watchdogs, are closely examining the allegations. Among them, Michelle Hu, a professor of clinical neurosciences at Oxford University. Hu expressed skepticism regarding Moth’s diagnosis of CBD, stating, “I’ve never looked after anyone that’s lived that long.” Such skepticism pretty much begs the question as to what narrative threads were weaved into “The Salt Path” and its following adaptations.
Despite this controversy, the film adaptation of “The Salt Path,” produced by Number 9 Films and Shadowplay Features, has been described as a faithful representation of the book. The production company stated, “The film is a faithful adaptation of the book that we optioned.” They argued in part that at the time they bought the book’s film rights, there were no known claims on the book. This clean slate made them feel comfortable with their decision. The other serious allegations made in the Observer pertain directly to the book and are otherwise a topic for the author Raynor Winn alone. At the time of optioning the book, no one was aware of any claims against it. The process of acquiring the rights to the book and producing and distributing the film involved rounds of diligent due diligence on our part and their part.
As this unique and ambitious experiment continues to develop, the public’s perception of Winn and what she’s doing should change dramatically. Readers who were comforted and uplifted by the words of “The Salt Path” may now have to contend with a loss of faith in its truthfulness. In the meantime, questions remain about the future of “On Winter Hill,” with fans waiting for answers from Michael Joseph.