The Swan: A Biography
The Swan: A Biography
With beautiful illustrations throughout, this eye-opening biography reveals the hidden secrets of one of Britain's best-known birds.
The Mute Swan is not so much a bird, as a national treasure: the avian equivalent of Sir David Attenborough or the Queen. These huge and stately creatures are part of our urban and rural landscapes, a constant presence on lakes, rivers and ponds throughout Britain. Yet despite their familiarity, they are often misunderstood; and while many people love swans, others fear them.
Swans also feature in myths and legends, art and literature, dance and music, not just in Britain but all around the world. Stephen Moss delves into the facts and fiction about these charismatic birds, describes their seasonal life cycle and examines their central role in our history and culture. He also includes stories about 'wild swans' - Whooper and Bewicks - that visit us in winter; and the Black Swan of Australia.
Author : Stephen Moss
Edition : Square Peg, Hardback, 216 pages
ISBN : 9781529110371
Weight: 487g
Dimensions: 206 x 22 x 140mm
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“Art thou the bird whom Man loves best, The pious bird with the scarlet breast, Our little English Robin…” - William Wordsworth, The Redbreast Chasing the Butterfly
In twelve, exquisite chapters, natural history expert Stephen Moss transports us across the robin’s brief but glorious life.
This is Britain’s favourite bird played out in full. It is an animal of contrasts; the born survivor, so pretty in feather and song, but fiercely territorial. This is a bird given to courage, its modest stature belying its ability to defend its turf.
Beautifully presented with illustrations lifted from over a century of our shared culture, The Robin: A Biography is both a monthly chronicle of the bird’s life and also an investigation into why it symbolises so much. From being the gardener’s friend to its position in our folklore, Moss reveals this creature to be less a creature of the field as a mirror to ourselves.
Why Novel North recommends
‘This is a wonderfully endearing month by month account of a year in the life of a robin, accompanied with beautiful illustrations. Stephen Moss shares some of the quirky places robins have been found nesting, as well as well as many tidbits you’ll find yourself eagerly recounting to others and looking out for in the coming months.’
Author : Stephen Moss
Edition : Vintage Publishing, Hardback, 208 pages
ISBN : 9781910931318
Weight: 464g
Dimensions: 206 x 138 x 24mm
In The Swallow Stephen Moss documents a year of observing the swallow close to home and in the field to shed light on the secret life of this extraordinary bird. We trace the swallow's life cycle and journey, including the epic 12,000-mile round trip it takes every year, to enable it to enjoy a life of almost eternal sunshine, and the key part the swallow plays in our traditional and popular culture.
With beautiful illustrations throughout, this captivating year-in-the-life biography reveals the hidden secrets of this charismatic and beautiful bird.
Author : Stephen Moss
Edition : Vintage Publishing, Hardback, 208 pages
ISBN : 9781529110265
“He who shall hurt the little wren
Shall never be beloved by men.”
William Blake, Auguries of Innocence
Following in the footsteps of The Robin: A Biography, The Wren: A Biography is a wonderfully charming and beautifully bound book taking us through the year in the life of Britain’s most common and loudest in proportion to its size bird. Living both in our gardens and in remote locations across the nation, this tiny bird, weighing no more than roughly 2 sheets of A4 paper, has been popular in our cultural and literary history for many a year.
Author : Stephen Moss
Edition : Square Peg imprint of Penguin Books, 208 pages
ISBN : 9781910931936