This is my new favourite bird book! This version is a 1952 reprint from the 1936 classic. It is based on The Birds of the British Isles by T.A. Coward. I got this from World of Books but also look in Oxfam too as there are often copies available here too. The paintings - not illustrations - are by Archibald Thorburn.
Archibald Thorburn
Archibald Thorburn was born in Lasswade, Midlothian, 31 May 1860. He was a Scottish artist who specialised in wildlife, painting mostly in watercolour. He explored Scotland to sketch birds in the wild, his favourite haunt being the Forest of Gaick near Kingussie in Invernesshire. His widely reproduced images of British wildlife, with their evocative and dramatic backgrounds, are enjoyed as much today as they were by naturalists a century ago. Read more here.
The illustrations of birds are really all individual paintings that would grace any wall. But equally the text is so well written and describes in beautiful prose each bird and its character. It isn’t just a factual account as it manages to capture the character and personality of the bird too. This version is also edited by no less a person than Enid Blyton.
Edited by Enid Blyton
I love some of the passages such as:
House-Sparrow
Whenever man builds in our islands the House-Sparrow sooner or later comes to share our abode.
Raven
The Raven, the largest, most powerful and intelligent of the crows, has been less successful in maintaining its postion than some of its relatives.
Blue Titmouse
There are commoner but few more popular birds than our resident Blue Tit or Tom Tit, and this is due to its perky acrobat performances rather than to its neat but by no means gaudy dress.
It is the descriptive prose narrative that is captivating and engaging and paints a picture of the bird in your mind as well as builds empathy for the bird’s life.
