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	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781851244096
ISBN 10	1851244093
Title	A Conspiracy of Ravens
Author	Bill Oddie
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Bodleian Library
Year published	2014-09-12
Number of pages	120
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable