A Conspiracy of Ravens by Bill Oddie

A Conspiracy of Ravens by Bill Oddie

‘A murder of crows’, ‘a charm of goldfinches’, ‘an ostentation of peacocks’: collective nouns for British birds have existed since at least the mid fifteenth century. They are thought to originate in texts about hunting, but have since evolved into evocative, witty and literary expressions, each striving to capture the very essence of the animal they describe. Some are portentous – ‘a conspiracy of ravens’ perfectly evokes this sinister bird – others convey sound, such as ‘a murmuration of starlings’ or ‘a chattering of choughs’. Yet more reflect with a flourish the beauty of the bird itself: what could be more celebratory than ‘a crown of kingfishers’, or ‘an exaltation of larks’? The best of these imaginative expressions are collected here, illustrated with charming woodcuts by Thomas Bewick, the renowned naturalist engraver of the eighteenth century. Featuring songbirds, aquatic birds, birds of prey and garden favourites, this beautifully presented book will delight both bird-lovers and word-lovers in equal measure.

Bill Oddie is a birdwatcher, broadcaster, television presenter, writer, musician and conservationist. Thomas Bewick (1753 – 1828) was an English engraver and natural history author.

SKU	Non disponible
ISBN 13	9781851244096
ISBN 10	1851244093
Titre	A Conspiracy of Ravens
Auteur	Bill Oddie
État	Non disponible
Type de reliure	Hardback
Éditeur	Bodleian Library
Année de publication	2014-09-12
Nombre de pages	120
Note de couverture	La photo du livre est présentée à titre d'illustration uniquement. La reliure, la couverture ou l'édition réelle peuvent varier.
Note	Non disponible