When There Were Birds
The forgotten history of our connections
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Narrated by:
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John Telfer
About this listen
A landmark book that charts humanity's changing relationship with birds—from the ancient Egyptians to the twenty-first century
No other group of animals has had such a complex and lengthy relationship with humankind as birds. They have been kept in cages as pets, taught to speak and displayed as trophies. More practically, they have been used to tell the time, predict the weather, foretell marriages, provide unlikely cures for ailments, convey messages and warn of poisonous gases.
When There Were Birds is a social history of Britain that charts the complex connections between people and birds, set against a background of changes in the landscape and evolving tastes, beliefs and behaviours. It draws together many disparate, forgotten strands to present a story that is an intriguing and unexpectedly significant part of our heritage.
©2022 Roy and Lesley Adkins (P)2021 Hachette Audio UKCritic reviews
"A marvellously original slice of social history." (Daily Mail, Book of the Week)
"The facts and folklore of birdlife, and man's equivocal relationship with birds, are dissected in admirable detail in this handsome new book." (Sunday Times)
Recommended for all bird lovers
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