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Bird School - by  Adam Nicolson (Hardcover) - 1 of 1

Bird School - by Adam Nicolson (Hardcover)

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About this item

Highlights

  • An intimate exploration of the lives of birds and their interactions with man, by a preeminent naturalist.
  • About the Author: Adam Nicolson is the author of many books on history, landscape, and great literature.
  • 448 Pages
  • Nature, Animals

Description



About the Book



"An intimate exploration by a master naturalist of the lives of birds and their interactions with man"--



Book Synopsis



An intimate exploration of the lives of birds and their interactions with man, by a preeminent naturalist.

Close to Adam Nicolson's home in Sussex, there is a forgotten field overrun by bracken and thicketed by brambles. It is the haunt of deer and many birds--nightingales, the occasional cuckoo, ravens, robins, owls, and in summer, the sweet-singing warblers that come north from Africa to breed in English woods.

Wanting to look and listen, to return to "bird school" and see what it might teach him, Nicolson built a small shed among the trees, a kind of man-sized birdhouse he calls an "absorbatory," complete with nesting boxes and bird feeders. Cocooned inside season after season, he got to know the birds: where they nest, how they sing, how they mate and fight, what preys on them, what they are like as living things.

Woven through with philosophy, literature, science, and a sense of wonder, always conscious that this is an age in which the natural world is under siege, Bird School pulls back the curtain on seemingly ordinary birds, taking a long, careful, and concerned look at our relationship with the wild.



Review Quotes




"Bird School is elegant and involving. Like one of the nests Nicolson finds on his property, it's been deftly assembled."
--Stephen Smith, The Observer (London)

"Deeply satisfying . . . A worthy addition to a literary lineage that stretches back to the eighteenth-century writer and naturalist Gilbert White."
--Joe Shute, The Telegraph

"Wrens, robins, buzzards, blackbirds and tits come to bird school to teach lessons about themselves alone: how they breed, fly, navigate, why they sing. Nicolson is a good student--a fine observer of the natural world--and for a while, he lives a bird lover's dream."
--Charlie Gilmour, The Guardian

"[A] marvellous and revelatory guide to our native bird-life . . . Bird School is a magical reminder of the rich, inexhaustible pleasures of watching wildlife and bird-life, . . . an intoxicating and joyous invitation to us all, to step out into nature and take it all in."
--Christopher Hart, Daily Mail

"In addition to a wealth of facts about bird behavior, Nicolson has access to an endless fount of lyrical descriptions to make birds come alive on the page . . . An evocative ode to English birds that invites readers to look more closely at the world around them."
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"In this revelatory narrative, Ondaatje Prize winner Nicolson shares his experience observing birds near his home in Sussex . . . Nicolson is especially good at illuminating what goes unseen (or unheard) . . . He also draws attention to the ways human activity, like intensive farming, has caused bird populations to plummet in recent decades. This is a beautiful love letter to the avian world."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Nicolson's observations ramble with curiosity and delight in his local environment. Highly recommended for readers interested and soothed by reading about the natural world."
--Catherine Lantz, Library Journal

"Wonderfully interspersed with his observations are quotes from poets, historical tidbits both national and local, ideas from proponents of the rewilding movement, and intimate moments with the local birds. This meditative, poetic work will find a niche in the hearts of nature and bird lovers on both sides of the pond."
--Nancy Bent, Booklist




About the Author



Adam Nicolson is the author of many books on history, landscape, and great literature. He is the winner of the Somerset Maugham Award, the W. H. Heinemann Award, and the Ondaatje Prize. His books include The Seabird's Cry and Life Between the Tides. He lives on a farm in Sussex.
Dimensions (Overall): 9.1 Inches (H) x 6.1 Inches (W) x 1.5 Inches (D)
Weight: 1.5 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 448
Genre: Nature
Sub-Genre: Animals
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Theme: Birds
Format: Hardcover
Author: Adam Nicolson
Language: English
Street Date: September 16, 2025
TCIN: 94429167
UPC: 9780374617370
Item Number (DPCI): 247-29-0170
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 1.5 inches length x 6.1 inches width x 9.1 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 1.5 pounds
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Q: Who is the author of the book?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 3 months ago
  • A: The author is Adam Nicolson, known for his works on history, landscape, and literature.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 3 months ago
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Q: What themes are explored in this book?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 3 months ago
  • A: The book explores themes of nature, birds, human interaction, and the significance of wildlife conservation.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 3 months ago
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Q: What type of narrative style does Nicolson employ?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 3 months ago
  • A: Nicolson uses a lyrical and meditative narrative style, incorporating philosophy, literature, and personal observation.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 3 months ago
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Q: What inspired the author to write about birds?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 3 months ago
  • A: Nicolson was inspired by his observations of birds near his home and his desire to understand their behavior.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 3 months ago
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Q: Is there scientific information included in the book?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 3 months ago
  • A: Yes, the book includes scientific insights about bird behavior, alongside lyrical descriptions and philosophical reflections.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 3 months ago
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