“The Salt Path,” a moving memoir from 2018 by Raynor Winn, chronicles the journey of a British couple in their 50s who, after losing their home, walked hundreds of miles along the coast of southwest England. The book quickly became a bestseller and was later adapted into a film.
However, the author is facing scrutiny over alleged fabrications in her story. Recent reports, including accounts from her former employer, claim that Winn embezzled approximately £64,000 (around $86,000) while working as a bookkeeper in the mid-2000s. The couple’s home was sold off to settle debts incurred from an investment in a failed business venture.
During this challenging period, Winn’s husband, Moth, was diagnosed with corticobasal degeneration (CBD). To cope with their financial difficulties, they borrowed £100,000 from a family friend, but when that friend encountered their own financial issues, debt collectors seized the Winns’ home.
Critics have raised doubts about Moth’s diagnosis, asserting that some medical experts were skeptical of his CBD claim. Reports also indicate that the couple owned property in France during their supposed homelessness, complicating their narrative.
In response to the allegations, Winn acknowledged past mistakes during a tumultuous pre-recession time and expressed regret over her actions. She defended her story, stating that the home in France was an “uninhabitable ruin” and clarified that Moth’s condition had progressed slowly, allowing them to find solace in walking.
Following the controversy, Winn has postponed her fourth book, “On Winter Hill,” which was slated for release this October. Publishers have expressed concern for the couple’s well-being amid these allegations, and representatives for the film adaptation affirmed that there were no known issues with the book during its production.