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THE BEDSIDE BOOK OF BIRDS by GRAEME GIBSON - HC w/DJ - IL.- An Avian Miscellany
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Condition:
“Very good condition, no writing, rips or damage, minimal shelf wear if any”
Very Good
A book that has been read and does not look new, but is in excellent condition. No obvious damage to the book cover, with the dust jacket (if applicable) included for hard covers. No missing or damaged pages, no creases or tears, no underlining or highlighting of text, and no writing in the margins. Some identifying marks on the inside cover, but this is minimal. Very little wear and tear. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections.
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- Buy it nowTHE BEDSIDE BOOK OF BIRDS by GRAEME GIBSON - HC w/DJ - IL.- An Avian Miscellany
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US $5.97 (approx £4.49) USPS Media MailTM.
Located in: Blue Ridge, Georgia, United States
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Estimated between Sat, 9 Aug and Fri, 15 Aug
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eBay item number:316749634417
Item specifics
- Condition
- Very Good
- Seller notes
- “Very good condition, no writing, rips or damage, minimal shelf wear if any”
- Features
- Illustrated
- Original Language
- English
- ISBN
- 9780385514835
About this product
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
ISBN-10
0385514832
ISBN-13
9780385514835
eBay Product ID (ePID)
45422677
Product Key Features
Book Title
Bedside Book of Birds : an Avian Miscellany
Number of Pages
384 Pages
Language
English
Publication Year
2005
Topic
Subjects & Themes / Nature, Subjects & Themes / Plants & Animals, Birdwatching Guides
Illustrator
Yes
Genre
Literary Criticism, Nature, Art
Format
Hardcover
Dimensions
Item Height
1.4 in
Item Weight
32.1 Oz
Item Length
9.5 in
Item Width
6.7 in
Additional Product Features
Intended Audience
Trade
LCCN
2005-047068
TitleLeading
The
Dewey Edition
22
Reviews
A "Globe and Mail Best" Book of the Year "The most compulsively readable of a clutch of bird-themed books out this autumn. Taking in everything from classic nature-writing to poetry via folklore and Mayan creation myths, The Bedside Book Of Birds is by no means for 'twitchers' only." --"Daily Mail (London) "The perfect book for armchair ornithologists with an eye for words as well as feathers." --"The Daily Telegraph (London) "A wonderful collection of poetry and prose, folk tales and myths, which pay tribute to our feathered friend. . . . A perfect Christmas present, even for non-anoraks." --"Mail on Sunday (UK) "Anyone who has watched birds, studied them, given them the least attention, will find this a treat. It is a compilation of writings that celebrate themany ways people have engaged with birds - made companions of them, mythologised them, hunted and eaten them. There's an account of a mocking thrush drinking from Charles Darwin's hand on the voyage of the Beagle, and of a woman in Ohio who incubated 50 hens' eggs by laying them alongside the body of her dying, fevered husband. This book is well worth buying for the illustrations alone." --"New Scientist "The beauty of the writing and the illustrations contained in The Bedside Book of Birds is matched by the beauty of the physical book itself. Great pains have been taken by the author and the publisher to make this book a work of art, and they have succeeded marvellously." --"The Globe and Mail "The most spectacular bird book of the year." --"The Globe and Mail ""An astoundingly beautiful book . . . featur[ing] some of the most sublime writings to be found on the subject." --"TheGlobe and Mail "The Bedside Book of Birds is a superb gift, a compulsive must-have, for the bird-lover, the storyteller, and the anthropologist in the family. As a collection it is exemplary of how fascination can re-order the world. Readers will be thinking feathered thoughts for days and they will be happier." --"The Calgary Herald "This book in the hand is worth two on the shelf." --"The Calgary Herald "A beautiful volume, sumptiously illustrated." --"The Vancouver Sun "[Gibson]'s book is a stunner. The wealth of imagery and the range of intelligence are grand, the kinds of relationships with birds he sets out nearly bewildering.... It's what I'll take to bed tonight to incite my dreams." --Barry Lopez "Gibson's own graceful and erudite essays tell of the pleasure, fear, confusion, or hope that birds inspire, and their imperiled place in nature." --"The Oprah Magazine "Gibson's preambles are as satisfying as the texts and accompanying illustrations." --"Library Journal, A Globe and Mail Best Book of the Year "The most compulsively readable of a clutch of bird-themed books out this autumn. Taking in everything from classic nature-writing to poetry via folklore and Mayan creation myths, The Bedside Book Of Birds is by no means for 'twitchers' only." - Daily Mail (London) "The perfect book for armchair ornithologists with an eye for words as well as feathers." - The Daily Telegraph (London) "A wonderful collection of poetry and prose, folk tales and myths, which pay tribute to our feathered friend. . . . A perfect Christmas present, even for non-anoraks." - Mail on Sunday (UK) "Anyone who has watched birds, studied them, given them the least attention,will find this a treat. It is a compilation of writings that celebrate themany ways people have engaged with birds - made companions of them,mythologised them, hunted and eaten them. There's an account of a mocking thrush drinking from Charles Darwin's hand on the voyage of the Beagle, and of a woman in Ohio who incubated 50 hens' eggs by laying them alongside the body of her dying, fevered husband. This book is well worth buying for the illustrations alone." - New Scientist "The beauty of the writing and the illustrations contained in The Bedside Book of Birds is matched by the beauty of the physical book itself. Great pains have been taken by the author and the publisher to make this book a work of art, and they have succeeded marvellously." - The Globe and Mail "The most spectacular bird book of the year." - The Globe and Mail " An astoundingly beautiful book . . . featur[ing] some of the most sublime writings to be found on the subject." - The Globe and Mail " The Bedside Book of Birds is a superb gift, a compulsive must-have, for the bird-lover, the storyteller, and the anthropologist in the family. As a collection it is exemplary of how fascination can re-order the world. Readers will be thinking feathered thoughts for days and they will be happier." - The Calgary Herald "This book in the hand is worth two on the shelf." - The Calgary Herald "A beautiful volume, sumptiously illustrated." - The Vancouver Sun "[Gibson]'s book is a stunner. The wealth of imagery and the range of intelligence are grand, the kinds of relationships with birds he sets out nearly bewildering…. It's what I'll take to bed tonight to incite my dreams." -Barry Lopez "Gibson's own graceful and erudite essays tell of the pleasure, fear, confusion, or hope that birds inspire, and their imperiled place in nature." - The Oprah Magazine "Gibson's preambles are as satisfying as the texts and accompanying illustrations." - Library Journal, AGlobe and MailBestBook of the Year "The most compulsively readable of a clutch of bird-themed books out this autumn. Taking in everything from classic nature-writing to poetry via folklore and Mayan creation myths,The Bedside Book Of Birdsis by no means for 'twitchers' only." -Daily Mail(London) "The perfect book for armchair ornithologists with an eye for words as well as feathers." -The Daily Telegraph(London) "A wonderful collection of poetry and prose, folk tales and myths, which pay tribute to our feathered friend. . . . A perfect Christmas present, even for non-anoraks." -Mail on Sunday(UK) "Anyone who has watched birds, studied them, given them the least attention,will find this a treat. It is a compilation of writings that celebrate themany ways people have engaged with birds - made companions of them,mythologised them, hunted and eaten them. There's an account of a mocking thrush drinking from Charles Darwin's hand on the voyage of the Beagle, and of a woman in Ohio who incubated 50 hens' eggs by laying them alongside the body of her dying, fevered husband. This book is well worth buying for the illustrations alone." -New Scientist "The diversity of the book's offerings is testament to Gibson's superb researching skills, and the final product reflects well upon his aesthetic sense, resulting in a wonderful marriage of word and image. The breadth and depth of the offerings are impressive, and each visit between the covers will leave you inspired and a little wiser. I cannot think to ask more of a book. It will entertain and enlighten birder and non-birder alike, and it will occupy a prominent position on the bookshelf, close to hand." -Nova Scotia Birds "The beauty of the writing and the illustrations contained inThe Bedside Book of Birdsis matched by the beauty of the physical book itself. Great pains have been taken by the author and the publisher to make this book a work of art, and they have succeeded marvellously." -The Globe and Mail "The most spectacular bird book of the year." -The Globe and Mail "An astoundingly beautiful book . . . featur[ing] some of the most sublime writings to be found on the subject." -The Globe and Mail "The Bedside Book of Birdsis a superb gift, a compulsive must-have, for the bird-lover, the storyteller, and the anthropologist in the family. As a collection it is exemplary of how fascination can re-order the world. Readers will be thinking feathered thoughts for days and they will be happier." -The Calgary Herald "This book in the hand is worth two on the shelf." -The Calgary Herald "A beautiful volume, sumptiously illustrated." -The Vancouver Sun "[Gibson]'s book is a stunner. The wealth of imagery and the range of intelligence are grand, the kinds of relationships with birds he sets out nearly bewildering…. Gorgeous…. It's what I'll take to bed tonight to incite my dreams." -Barry Lopez From the Hardcover edition., "The beauty of the writing and the illustrations contained in The Bedside Book of Birds is matched by the beauty of the physical book itself. Great pains have been taken by the author and the publisher to make this book a work of art, and they have succeeded marvellously." -The Globe and Mail "The most spectacular bird book of the year." -The Globe and Mail "An astoundingly beautiful book . . . featur[ing] some of the most sublime writings to be found on the subject." -The Globe and Mail "The Bedside Book of Birds is a superb gift, a compulsive must-have, for the bird-lover, the storyteller, and the anthropologist in the family. As a collection it is exemplary of how fascination can re-order the world. Readers will be thinking feathered thoughts for days and they will be happier." -The Calgary Herald "This book in the hand is worth two on the shelf." -The Calgary Herald "A beautiful volume, sumptiously illustrated." -The Vancouver Sun "[Gibson]'s book is a stunner. The wealth of imagery and the range of intelligence are grand, the kinds of relationships with birds he sets out nearly bewildering…. Gorgeous…. It's what I'll take to bed tonight to incite my dreams." -Barry Lopez, "[Gibson]'s book is a stunner. The wealth of imagery and the range of intelligence are grand, the kinds of relationships with birds he sets out nearly bewildering.... Gorgeous.... It's what I'll take to bed tonight to incite my dreams." --Barry Lopez, "The most compulsively readable of a clutch of bird-themed books out this autumn. Taking in everything from classic nature-writing to poetry via folklore and Mayan creation myths, The Bedside Book Of Birds is by no means for 'twitchers' only." -Daily Mail (London) "The perfect book for armchair ornithologists with an eye for words as well as feathers." -The Daily Telegraph (London) "A wonderful collection of poetry and prose, folk tales and myths, which pay tribute to our feathered friend. . . . A perfect Christmas present, even for non-anoraks." -Mail on Sunday (UK) "Anyone who has watched birds, studied them, given them the least attention,will find this a treat. It is a compilation of writings that celebrate themany ways people have engaged with birds - made companions of them,mythologised them, hunted and eaten them. There's an account of a mocking thrush drinking from Charles Darwin's hand on the voyage of the Beagle, and of a woman in Ohio who incubated 50 hens' eggs by laying them alongside the body of her dying, fevered husband. This book is well worth buying for the illustrations alone." -New Scientist "The beauty of the writing and the illustrations contained in The Bedside Book of Birds is matched by the beauty of the physical book itself. Great pains have been taken by the author and the publisher to make this book a work of art, and they have succeeded marvellously." -The Globe and Mail "The most spectacular bird book of the year." -The Globe and Mail "An astoundingly beautiful book . . . featur[ing] some of the most sublime writings to be found on the subject." -The Globe and Mail "The Bedside Book of Birds is a superb gift, a compulsive must-have, for the bird-lover, the storyteller, and the anthropologist in the family. As a collection it is exemplary of how fascination can re-order the world. Readers will be thinking feathered thoughts for days and they will be happier." -The Calgary Herald "This book in the hand is worth two on the shelf." -The Calgary Herald "A beautiful volume, sumptiously illustrated." -The Vancouver Sun "[Gibson]'s book is a stunner. The wealth of imagery and the range of intelligence are grand, the kinds of relationships with birds he sets out nearly bewildering…. Gorgeous…. It's what I'll take to bed tonight to incite my dreams." -Barry Lopez, A "Globe and Mail "Best" "Book of the Year "The most compulsively readable of a clutch of bird-themed books out this autumn. Taking in everything from classic nature-writing to poetry via folklore and Mayan creation myths, The Bedside Book Of Birds is by no means for 'twitchers' only." --"Daily Mail" (London) "The perfect book for armchair ornithologists with an eye for words as well as feathers." --"The Daily Telegraph" (London) "A wonderful collection of poetry and prose, folk tales and myths, which pay tribute to our feathered friend. . . . A perfect Christmas present, even for non-anoraks." --"Mail on Sunday" (UK) "Anyone who has watched birds, studied them, given them the least attention, will find this a treat. It is a compilation of writings that celebrate themany ways people have engaged with birds - made companions of them, mythologised them, hunted and eaten them. There's an account of a mocking thrush drinking from Charles Darwin's hand on the voyage of the Beagle, and of a woman in Ohio who incubated 50 hens' eggs by laying them alongside the body of her dying, fevered husband. This book is well worth buying for the illustrations alone." --"New Scientist" "The beauty of the writing and the illustrations contained in The Bedside Book of Birds is matched by the beauty of the physical book itself. Great pains have been taken by the author and the publisher to make this book a work of art, and they have succeeded marvellously." --"The Globe and Mail" "The most spectacular bird book of the year." --"The Globe and Mail" """An astoundingly beautiful book . . . featurÝing¨ some of the most sublime writings to be found on thesubject." --"The Globe and Mail" "The Bedside Book of Birds is a superb gift, a compulsive must-have, for the bird-lover, the storyteller, and the anthropologist in the family. As a collection it is exemplary of how fascination can re-order the world. Readers will be thinking feathered thoughts for days and they will be happier." --"The Calgary Herald" "This book in the hand is worth two on the shelf." --"The Calgary Herald" "A beautiful volume, sumptiously illustrated." --"The Vancouver Sun" "ÝGibson¨'s book is a stunner. The wealth of imagery and the range of intelligence are grand, the kinds of relationships with birds he sets out nearly bewildering.... It's what I'll take to bed tonight to incite my dreams." --Barry Lopez "Gibson's own graceful and erudite essays tell of the pleasure, fear, confusion, or hope that birds inspire, and their imperiled place in nature." --"The Oprah Magazine" "Gibson's preambles are as satisfying as the texts and accompanying illustrations." --"Library Journal", A Globe and Mail BestBook of the Year "The most compulsively readable of a clutch of bird-themed books out this autumn. Taking in everything from classic nature-writing to poetry via folklore and Mayan creation myths, The Bedside Book Of Birds is by no means for 'twitchers' only." - Daily Mail (London) "The perfect book for armchair ornithologists with an eye for words as well as feathers." - The Daily Telegraph (London) "A wonderful collection of poetry and prose, folk tales and myths, which pay tribute to our feathered friend. . . . A perfect Christmas present, even for non-anoraks." - Mail on Sunday (UK) "Anyone who has watched birds, studied them, given them the least attention,will find this a treat. It is a compilation of writings that celebrate themany ways people have engaged with birds - made companions of them,mythologised them, hunted and eaten them. There's an account of a mocking thrush drinking from Charles Darwin's hand on the voyage of the Beagle, and of a woman in Ohio who incubated 50 hens' eggs by laying them alongside the body of her dying, fevered husband. This book is well worth buying for the illustrations alone." - New Scientist "The beauty of the writing and the illustrations contained in The Bedside Book of Birds is matched by the beauty of the physical book itself. Great pains have been taken by the author and the publisher to make this book a work of art, and they have succeeded marvellously." - The Globe and Mail "The most spectacular bird book of the year." - The Globe and Mail " An astoundingly beautiful book . . . featur[ing] some of the most sublime writings to be found on the subject." - The Globe and Mail " The Bedside Book of Birds is a superb gift, a compulsive must-have, for the bird-lover, the storyteller, and the anthropologist in the family. As a collection it is exemplary of how fascination can re-order the world. Readers will be thinking feathered thoughts for days and they will be happier." - The Calgary Herald "This book in the hand is worth two on the shelf." - The Calgary Herald "A beautiful volume, sumptiously illustrated." - The Vancouver Sun "[Gibson]'s book is a stunner. The wealth of imagery and the range of intelligence are grand, the kinds of relationships with birds he sets out nearly bewildering…. It's what I'll take to bed tonight to incite my dreams." -Barry Lopez "Gibson's own graceful and erudite essays tell of the pleasure, fear, confusion, or hope that birds inspire, and their imperiled place in nature." - The Oprah Magazine "Gibson's preambles are as satisfying as the texts and accompanying illustrations." - Library Journal, AGlobe and MailBestBook of the Year "The most compulsively readable of a clutch of bird-themed books out this autumn. Taking in everything from classic nature-writing to poetry via folklore and Mayan creation myths,The Bedside Book Of Birdsis by no means for 'twitchers' only." -Daily Mail(London) "The perfect book for armchair ornithologists with an eye for words as well as feathers." -The Daily Telegraph(London) "A wonderful collection of poetry and prose, folk tales and myths, which pay tribute to our feathered friend. . . . A perfect Christmas present, even for non-anoraks." -Mail on Sunday(UK) "Anyone who has watched birds, studied them, given them the least attention,will find this a treat. It is a compilation of writings that celebrate themany ways people have engaged with birds - made companions of them,mythologised them, hunted and eaten them. There's an account of a mocking thrush drinking from Charles Darwin's hand on the voyage of the Beagle, and of a woman in Ohio who incubated 50 hens' eggs by laying them alongside the body of her dying, fevered husband. This book is well worth buying for the illustrations alone." -New Scientist "The beauty of the writing and the illustrations contained inThe Bedside Book of Birdsis matched by the beauty of the physical book itself. Great pains have been taken by the author and the publisher to make this book a work of art, and they have succeeded marvellously." -The Globe and Mail "The most spectacular bird book of the year." -The Globe and Mail "An astoundingly beautiful book . . . featur[ing] some of the most sublime writings to be found on the subject." -The Globe and Mail "The Bedside Book of Birdsis a superb gift, a compulsive must-have, for the bird-lover, the storyteller, and the anthropologist in the family. As a collection it is exemplary of how fascination can re-order the world. Readers will be thinking feathered thoughts for days and they will be happier." -The Calgary Herald "This book in the hand is worth two on the shelf." -The Calgary Herald "A beautiful volume, sumptiously illustrated." -The Vancouver Sun "[Gibson]'s book is a stunner. The wealth of imagery and the range of intelligence are grand, the kinds of relationships with birds he sets out nearly bewildering…. It's what I'll take to bed tonight to incite my dreams." -Barry Lopez "Gibson's own graceful and erudite essays tell of the pleasure, fear, confusion, or hope that birds inspire, and their imperiled place in nature." -The Oprah Magazine "Gibson's preambles are as satisfying as the texts and accompanying illustrations." -Library Journal, A "Globe and Mail "Best" "Book of the Year " The most compulsively readable of a clutch of bird-themed books out this autumn. Taking in everything from classic nature-writing to poetry via folklore and Mayan creation myths, The Bedside Book Of Birds is by no means for 'twitchers' only." -- "Daily Mail" (London) " The perfect book for armchair ornithologists with an eye for words as well as feathers." -- "The Daily Telegraph" (London) " A wonderful collection of poetry and prose, folk tales and myths, which pay tribute to our feathered friend. . . . A perfect Christmas present, even for non-anoraks." -- "Mail on Sunday" (UK) " Anyone who has watched birds, studied them, given them the least attention, will find this a treat. It is a compilation of writings that celebrate themany ways people have engaged with birds - made companions of them, mythologised them, hunted and eaten them. There's an account of a mocking thrush drinking from Charles Darwin's hand on the voyage of the Beagle, and of a woman in Ohio who incubated 50 hens' eggs by laying them alongside the body of her dying, fevered husband. This book is well worth buying for the illustrations alone." -- "New Scientist" " The beauty of the writing and the illustrations contained in The Bedside Book of Birds is matched by the beauty of the physical book itself. Great pains have been taken by the author and the publisher to make this book a work of art, and they have succeeded marvellously." -- "The Globe and Mail" " The most spectacular bird book of the year." -- "The Globe and Mail" "" "An astoundingly beautiful book . . . featur[ing] some of the most sublime writings to be found on the subject." -- "The Globe and Mail" " The Bedside Book of Birds is a superb gift, a compulsive must-have, for the bird-lover, the storyteller, and the anthropologist in the family. As a collection it is exemplary of how fascination can re-order the world. Readers will be thinking feathered thoughts for days and they will be happier." -- "The Calgary Herald" " This book in the hand is worth two on the shelf." -- "The Calgary Herald" " A beautiful volume, sumptiously illustrated." -- "The Vancouver Sun" " [Gibson]'s book is a stunner. The wealth of imagery and the range of intelligence are grand, the kinds of relationships with birds he sets out nearly bewildering... . It's what I'll take to bed tonight to incite my dreams." -- Barry Lopez " Gibson's own graceful and erudite essays tell of the pleasure, fear, confusion, or hope that birds inspire, and their imperiled place in nature." -- "The Oprah Magazine" " Gibson's preambles are as satisfying as the texts and accompanying illustrations." -- "Library Journal", "[Gibson]'s book is a stunner. The wealth of imagery and the range of intelligence are grand, the kinds of relationships with birds he sets out nearly bewildering…. Gorgeous…. It's what I'll take to bed tonight to incite my dreams." -Barry Lopez
Dewey Decimal
598
Synopsis
This unprecedented and enchanting treasure trove of paintings, drawings, poems, essays, and scientific observations beautifully captures the interest and emotions birds evoke., From "The Bedside Book of Birds ~ Stevenson remembered the story of a monk who had been distracted from his copy-work by the song of a bird. He went into the garden to listen more closely, and when he returned, after what he thought were only a few minutes, he discovered that a century had gone by, that his fellow monks were dead and his ink had turned to dust. The song of the bird had given him a taste of Paradise, where an instant is as a hundred years of earthly time. Was the same true of time in hell, Stevenson asked himself. Alberto ManguelIn this stunning assemblage of words and images, novelist and avid birdwatcher Graeme Gibson has crafted an extraordinary tribute to the venerable relationship between humans and birds. Birds have ever been the symbols of our highest aspirations. As divine messengers, symbols of our yearning for the heavens, or avatars of glorious song and colour, they have stirred our imaginations from the moment we first looked into the sky. Whether as the Christian dove, or Quetzalcoatl--the Aztec Plumed Serpent--or in Plato's vision of the human soul growing wings and feathers, religion and philosophy have looked to birds as representatives of our better selves--that part of us not bound to the earth. With the passion of a birdwatcher and hoarder of words, Gibson has spent fifteen years collecting the literary and artistic forms our affinity for birds has taken over the centuries. Birds appear again and again in mythology and folk tales, and in literature by writers as diverse as Ovid, Thomas Hardy, Kafka, Thoreau and T.S. Eliot. They've been omens, allegories, disguises and guides; they've been worshipped, eaten, feared and loved. Nordoes Gibson forget the fascination they hold for science, as the Galapagos finches did for Darwin. Birds figure charmingly and tellingly in the work of such nature writers as Gilbert White, Peter Matthiessen, Farley Mowat and Barry Lopez. Gorgeously illustrated, woven from centuries of human response to the delights of the feathered tribes, "The Bedside "Book of Birds is for anyone who is aware of birds, and for everyone who is intrigued by the artistic forms that humanity has created to represent its soul., In this stunning assemblage of words and images, novelist and avid birdwatcher Graeme Gibson has crafted an extraordinary tribute to the venerable relationship between humans and birds. Birds have ever been the symbols of our highest aspirations. As divine messengers, symbols of our yearning for the heavens, or avatars of glorious song and colour, they have stirred our imaginations from the moment we first looked into the sky. Whether as the Christian dove, or Quetzalcoatl-the Aztec Plumed Serpent-or in Plato's vision of the human soul growing wings and feathers, religion and philosophy have looked to birds as representatives of our better selves-that part of us not bound to the earth. With the passion of a birdwatcher and hoarder of words, Gibson has spent fifteen years collecting the literary and artistic forms our affinity for birds has taken over the centuries. Birds appear again and again in mythology and folk tales, and in literature by writers as diverse as Ovid, Thomas Hardy, Kafka, Thoreau and T.S. Eliot. They've been omens, allegories, disguises and guides; they've been worshipped, eaten, feared and loved. Nor does Gibson forget the fascination they hold for science, as the Galapagos finches did for Darwin. Birds figure charmingly and tellingly in the work of such nature writers as Gilbert White, Peter Matthiessen, Farley Mowat and Barry Lopez. Gorgeously illustrated, woven from centuries of human response to the delights of the feathered tribes, The Bedside Book of Birds is for anyone who is aware of birds, and for everyone who is intrigued by the artistic forms that humanity has created to represent its soul. From The Bedside Book of Birds ~ Stevenson remembered the story of a monk who had been distracted from his copy-work by the song of a bird. He went into the garden to listen more closely, and when he returned, after what he thought were only a few minutes, he discovered that a century had gone by, that his fellow monks were dead and his ink had turned to dust. The song of the bird had given him a taste of Paradise, where an instant is as a hundred years of earthly time. Was the same true of time in hell, Stevenson asked himself. Alberto Manguel, In this stunning assemblage of words and images, novelist and avid birdwatcher Graeme Gibson has crafted an extraordinary tribute to the venerable relationship between humans and birds. Birds have ever been the symbols of our highest aspirations. As divine messengers, symbols of our yearning for the heavens, or avatars of glorious song and colour, they have stirred our imaginations from the moment we first looked into the sky. Whether as the Christian dove, or Quetzalcoatl the Aztec Plumed Serpent or in Plato s vision of the human soul growing wings and feathers, religion and philosophy have looked to birds as representatives of our better selves that part of us not bound to the earth. With the passion of a birdwatcher and hoarder of words, Gibson has spent fifteen years collecting the literary and artistic forms our affinity for birds has taken over the centuries. Birds appear again and again in mythology and folk tales, and in literature by writers as diverse as Ovid, Thomas Hardy, Kafka, Thoreau and T.S. Eliot. They ve been omens, allegories, disguises and guides; they ve been worshipped, eaten, feared and loved. Nor does Gibson forget the fascination they hold for science, as the Galapagos finches did for Darwin. Birds figure charmingly and tellingly in the work of such nature writers as Gilbert White, Peter Matthiessen, Farley Mowat and Barry Lopez. Gorgeously illustrated, woven from centuries of human response to the delights of the feathered tribes, "The Bedside" "Book of Birds "is for anyone who is aware of birds, and for everyone who is intrigued by the artistic forms that humanity has created to represent its soul. From "The Bedside Book of Birds "Stevenson remembered the story of a monk who had been distracted from his copy-work by the song of a bird. He went into the garden to listen more closely, and when he returned, after what he thought were only a few minutes, he discovered that a century had gone by, that his fellow monks were dead and his ink had turned to dust. The song of the bird had given him a taste of Paradise, where an instant is as a hundred years of earthly time. Was the same true of time in hell, Stevenson asked himself. Alberto Manguel"
LC Classification Number
QL676.B454 2005
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