Natural History Books

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Book SynopsisLift the flaps to follow our palaeontologist on an adventure among the dinosaurs

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Book SynopsisTake a giant leap into lunar exploration with this collectible 54-card deck of moon playing cards honouring the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11.

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Book SynopsisFully updated and expanded, this third edition of the top-selling Field Guide to Common Trees & Shrubs of East Africa now features more than 520 of the trees and shrubs – indigenous and naturalized exotics – commonly found in the region. Each of the four sections – trees, shrubs, palms and mangroves – is arranged in alphabetical order according to scientific name. The book features: an informative introduction to families. Species accounts describing the plants’ habitat, bark, leaves, flowers and fruit. General and commercial applications and uses in traditional medicine. Almost 2,000 photographs depicting the species, its fruit, flowers and bark. Glossaries, both textual and illustrated, of botanical and medical terms. An invaluable ID guide to the trees and shrubs in gardens, parks and along roadsides of East Africa.

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Book Synopsis**A BEAUTIFUL NEW SERIES FOR NATURE LOVERS** This sumptuous book displays and describes a variety of beautiful birds.Press-out sections enable you to reveal the outlines of the birds and transform your book into a work of art.Table of ContentsPress-out illustrations of 52 species of birds from across the globe, each accompanied by approx. 250 to 300 words of descriptive text.

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Book SynopsisA treasure trove of wintery nature tales from storytellers across the globe, bringing a little magic and wonder to every dark night.

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Book SynopsisSit, Stay, Grow is a book about finding new perspectives on life through mindful interactions with your dog.

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Book SynopsisDay Walks in Cornwall features 20 circular routes between 7.2 and 13.7 miles (11.6km and 22km) in length, suitable for hillwalkers of all abilities. Researched and written by experienced authors Jen and Sim Benson, and covering the extremities of this stunning peninsula, the walks reach areas from Bude to the Isles of Scilly, and from Rame Head near Plymouth to Lizard Point on the southernmost tip. Taking advantage of the South West Coast Path, discover a unique view of the charming coastline at every turn in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.Explore Chapel Porth caves, and countless coves, archways and waterfalls, or simply immerse yourself in a leisurely stroll along white sands and blue waters. Head for the Merry Maidens stone circle in Lamorna, examine the serpentinite rock formations at Lizard Point, watch over medieval Tintagel Castle and parade past Cromwell’s Castle. Find serenity overlooking St Enodoc’s Church or soak up the vibe of trendy fishing village St Mawes, nestled in its sheltered bay; you’ll find Cornwall has it all.Together with stunning photography, each route features Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps, easy-to-follow directions, distance and navigation information, refreshment stops and local information.Table of ContentsIntroductionAcknowledgementsAbout the walksWalk timesNavigationGPSMobile phonesFootpaths and rights of wayComfortSafetyMilitary firingThe Countryside CodeHow to use this bookMaps, descriptions, distancesKm/mile conversion chartCornwall area mapSection 1 West Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly1 Around Tresco & Bryher2 Sennen & Cape Cornwall3 Lamorna & The Merry Maidens4 Zennor, Bosigran & Ding Dong Mine5 Godrevy Point6 Penrose & The LoeSection 2: Central Cornwall & The Lizard7 Around Lizard Point8 Chapel Porth & St Agnes BeaconSection 3: The North Coast9 Trevose Head10 Pentire Point11 Boscastle & Tintagel12 Bude to Widemouth BaySection 4: The North Coast13 Around Roseland14 Dodman Point & Portmellon15 Lansallos & Polruan16 Rame HeadSection 5: The South Coast17 Lanhydrock18 Rough Tor & Brown Willy19 Golitha Falls & Siblybeck Lake20 The Hurlers & The CheesewringAppendix

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Book SynopsisIn a new, practical format - the stunning book celebrating British wild flowers by award-winning garden writer Sarah Raven. Inspired by childhood excursions with her botanist father, Sarah Raven has travelled the length and breadth of the British Isles to find 500 of our most breathtakingly beautiful wild flowers. This lavishly illustrated book is divided by habitat, covering woods, downs and dales, lanes and hedgerows, meadows, coast, marshes and streams, moors and mountains, and wasteland. Sarah introduces a wide range of plants, telling you their names and something about them. Discover pulsatillas, fritillaries, bluebells, wild garlic, harebells, forget-me-nots, foxgloves, wood spurge, silverweed,purple cranesbill, deadly nightshade, St John's wort, comfrey, orchids,wood sorrel, snowdrops and more. There are glorious landscape photographs by Jonathan Buckley throughout, and one of his stunning plant portraits accompanies each of Sarah's authoritative, captivating species descriptions. Informative and lovely, Sarah Raven's Wild Flowers is a botanical marvel.Trade ReviewAn epic and beautiful volume, which I will be poring over with my children, and pressing many flowers between its pages -- Robert MacfarlaneImpressive, beautiful to look at and truly a labour of love * Sunday Times *Dazzling * Scotsman *William Blake found 'heaven in a wild flower' and so, too, has writer Sarah Raven in this epic treatise * Living *

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Book SynopsisPossibly the most comprehensive and user-friendly ethnobotanical guidebook available in the Pacific Northwest, Gifted Earth features traditional Native American plant knowledge, detailing the use of plants for food, medicines, and materials.

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Book Synopsis''Birkhead has combined ingenuity and perseverance to produce an evocative portrait of a great pioneer in the scientific study of birds'' Literary ReviewFrancis Willughby lived and thrived in the midst of the scientific revolution of the seventeenth century. Along with his Cambridge tutor John Ray, Willughby was determined to overhaul the whole of natural history and impose order on its complexity. It was exhilarating, exacting and exhausting work. Yet before Willughby and Ray could complete their monumental encyclopaedia of birds, Ornithology, Willughby died. In the centuries since, Ray's reputation has grown, obscuring that of his collaborator. Now, for the first time, Willughby's own story and genius are given the attention they deserve. Tim Birkhead celebrates how Willughby's endeavours set a standard for the way birds and natural history should be studied. Rich with glorious detail, The Wonderful Mr Willughby is a fascinating insight into a thrilling peTrade ReviewIn this engrossing biography of "the first true ornithologist", Birkhead takes us on imaginative journey to the time of Charles II, when there was no classification of animals, birds and plants; when men such as Willughby often endured great hardship in order to make ground-breaking discoveries -- Bel Mooney * Daily Mail *Energetically pursuing his quarry, Birkhead has combined ingenuity and perseverance to produce an evocative portrait of a great pioneer in the scientific study of birds -- Patricia Fara * Literary Review *Brilliantly researched – a vivid celebration of a neglected pioneer of scientific natural history -- Nick Davies, author of 'Cuckoo'A joint celebration of two of the great scientific brains of the Age of Reason … [An] engaging study’ * Country Life *[A] precise and rigorously told biography … There’s a quiddity about [Birkhead's] writing that follows in his subject's steps -- Philip Hoare * New Statesman *Fascinating * Big Issue *Francis Willughby is an ideal subject for a biography … An entertaining and informative book, packed with well-explained scientific detail -- Sam Leith * Spectator *The story of Willughby’s short life, elegantly and engagingly told by Tim Birkhead -- Francis Gooding * London Review of Books *Enthralling ... Tim Birkhead’s careful sleuthing uncovers the remarkable story of an ingenious gentleman-scholar living at the dawn of the scientific revolution -- Matt Ridley, author of 'The Evolution of Everything'If you ever thought the history of natural history might be dull, this wonderful book, a masterpiece of biographical sleuthing, will quickly dispel that illusion … The author’s passion for his subjects, both human and avian, shine through as he brings history to life and relates past to present -- Jonathan Elphick * BBC Wildlife *Magnificent: science without any high falutin' technology -- Praise for 'The Most Perfect Thing', David AttenboroughBrilliant. It's so wonderful when you come across a book on a subject you are not naturally drawn to and you're completely engaged by it -- Praise for 'The Most Perfect Thing', Bill BrysonFull of wonder and surprise and beautifully written -- Praise for 'The Most Perfect Thing', Nick Davies, author of 'Cuckoo'Birkhead’s approach to writing – hard, clear sentences; deep, revelatory looking – has the same effect as his microscope, bringing objects to light that were previously hidden, making us see the familiar with new eyes … After reading The Most Perfect Thing, you’ll never dip your morning soldiers without a shiver of wonder at the complexity and resgourcefulness of the humble egg -- Praise for 'The Most Perfect Thing', Alex Preston * Observer *

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Book SynopsisBestselling author of The Hidden Life of Trees, Peter Wohlleben, invites you to reconnect with natureAs soon as we step out of the door, nature surrounds. Thousands of small and large processes are taking place, details that are long often fascinating and beautiful. But we've long forgotten how to recognise them.Peter Wohlleben, bestselling author of The Hidden Life of Trees, invites us to become an expert, to take a closer look and interpret the signs that clouds, wind, plants and animals convey. Chaffinches become weather prophets, bees are live thermometers, courgettes tell us the time.The Weather Detective combines scientific research with charming anecdotes to explain the extraordinary cycles of life, death and regeneration that are evolving on our doorstep, bringing us closer to nature than ever before. A walk in the park will never be the same again.Trade ReviewThe best weather detectives are the birds, plants and animals we share this fragile world with. But how many of us nowadays can interpret the clues they offer? Peter Wohlleben delves deep into the mysteries of animal and bird behaviour, soil management, plant adaptation, and ways of mitigating the effects of climate change on our gardens and our planet. * Christopher Somerville, walking correspondent for The Times. Author of The January Man *Wohlleben’s insightful observations of nature, combined with his signature blend of science and imagination, invite us into deeper relationship with the ecology of our homes * David George Haskell, Pulitzer finalist and author of The Forest Unseen and The Songs of Trees *For a society increasingly distanced from nature, Wohlleben renews our appreciation of the wonderful and varied ties between the living and nonliving worlds, including those that bind our favorite plants and animals with that most familiar of all physical entities, the weather * Bill Streever, nationally bestselling author of Cold *[A] fascinating book * Daily Mail *A treasure trove of fascinating information about the environment. A primer for the curious gardener... a book to browse and then think to yourself, 'Oh, so that's why.' * Town and Country magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe definitive guide to the iconic theropod dinosaurs, with stunning recreations of T-Rex, Velociraptor and many more.

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Book SynopsisWild Cats of the World provides detailed accounts for all 38 species of wild cat accompanied by magnificent artwork and stunning photography.From the rabbit-sized Black-footed Cat of southern Africa to bear-killing Amur tigers of the Russian Far East, the 38 members of the Cat Family include some of the world's most fascinating and magnificent species on earth. Supremely adapted for the kill, all cats are obligate carnivores; they survive only by preying upon other animals, and they have become one of evolution's most successful predatory lineages of mammals.Wild Cats of the World explores the spectacular Cat Family in unprecedented depth. Drawing on thousands of scientific papers and direct observations in the field, each species is profiled at length, covering all aspects of felid behaviour and ecology.The book is profusely illustrated with colour plates, black-and-white sketches showing important aspects of cat life and accurate images of every species' skull. Over 400 spectacular photographs are included, many of them showing extremely rare and little-known cats published here for the first time. Each profile includes an up-to-date range map and explains the most current science on how cats are classified and related to each other, including some very recent, surprising discoveries.Despite their great evolutionary success, the challenges facing felids in the modern world are profound. Only one, the ubiquitous domestic cat, does not require dedicated conservation action to ensure survival for the next century. The book also explores the current conservation issues facing wild cats, the increasingly perilous status of many species and how they can be saved.Trade ReviewThis is a must-have cat book: an absolute gem. * Stephen Mills, BBC Wildlife magazine *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chinese Mountain Cat, Felis bieti Wildcat, Felis libyca/silvertris/ornata/catus Black-footed cat, Felis nigripes Sand cat, Felis margarita Jungle cat, Felis chaus Pallas's cat, Otocolobus manul Leopard Cat, Prionailurus bengalensis Flat-headed cat, Prionailurus planiceps Rusty-spotted cat, Prionailurus rubiginosus Fishing Cat, Prionailurus viverrinus Marbled Cat, Pardofelis marmorata Bay Cat, Catopuma badia Asian Golden Cat, Catopuma temminckii Serval, Leptailurus serval Caracal, Caracal caracal African golden cat, Profelis aurata Geoffroy’s Cat, Leopardus geoffroyi Oncillas Leopardus tigrinus and Leopardus guttulus Margay Leopardus wiedii Ocelot, Leopardus pardalis Guiña, Leopardus guigna Colocolo, Leopardus colocolo Andean Cat, Oreailurus jacobita Eurasian lynx, Lynx lynx Spanish lynx Lynx pardinus Bobcat, Lynx rufus Canada lynx, Lynx canadensis Jaguarundi, Herpailurus yaguarondi Puma, Puma concolor Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus Snow leopard, Uncia uncia Clouded leopards, Neofelis nebulosa and Neofelis diardi Tiger, Panthera tigris Lion, Panthera leo Leopard, Panthera pardus Jaguar, Panthera once Species overview Conserving wild cats Further reading and resources Acknowledgements Image credits

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Book SynopsisThis book has been translated, adapted, and extended from a Norwegian bestseller. It provides a fascinating insight into all aspects of the behaviour of domestic cats. Its accessible and informative style means it is applicable to cat owners, students, biologists, veterinarians, animal nurses and technicians, and others working with cats or wanting to learn more about them. The depth of knowledge provided will enhance cat welfare. Learn about feline behaviour throughout a cat's lifespan, and our role in helping kittens develop into happy, well-balanced adult cats.Read about cat communication, their social interactions, free-roaming and hunting behaviour, and differences in personality types and breeds.Recognize behavioural problems and how to prevent or deal with them to enhance a cat's welfare based on insights into learning theory, emotions and motivations.Learn more about who cat owners are, why and how we keep cats, and how cats can benefit our own mental and physical health.See videos and beautiful colour photographs that complement the explanations in the text.By enriching our understanding of the emotional and behavioural needs of cats, their motivations for pleasure and relaxation, and what stresses them, the reader gains the essential information needed to promote the well-being of cats and their caretakers.

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Book SynopsisSince prehistory, dogs have served as man's best friend, giving us loyalty, assistance and boundless inspiration. Dogs offer comfort and amusement to their owners; they provide solace when we're sad, entertaining antics when we're bored and affection every day. To poets in particular, these beloved creatures are the most bountiful muses, as they bark, yip, hunt, fetch, growl and slumber, reflecting back at us our most heartfelt tenderness and often rewarding us with unconditional love we scarcely deserve. Dog Poems offers a litter of verses in celebration of our most faithful companions by some of the greatest poets of all time.Trade ReviewIdeal to tuck into a bag, or to read on the bus or train. It's a volume to consume at a sitting, as I did, or to dip into now and again. To the true dog lover, it will give years of pleasure. * Dogs Monthly *The sweet, small collection Dog Poems should be slipped into every dog-lover's Christmas stocking. * Daily Mail *This diverse collection is a celebration of our most faithful companions and illustrates what productive muses dogs have been, to poets in particular. * Your Dog *

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Book SynopsisStep-by-step instructions on caring for pet birds including a photographic directory of 250 of the most popular varieties.

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Book SynopsisThe Cabinet of Natural Curiosities is one of the 18th century’s greatest natural history achievements and remains one of the most prized natural history books of all time. Though scientists of his era often collected natural specimens for research purposes, Amsterdam-based pharmacist Albertus Seba (1665–1736) was unrivaled in his passion. His amazing collection of animals, plants, and insects from all around the world earned him international fame. In 1731, after decades of collecting, Seba commissioned careful and often scenic illustrations of every specimen. With these meticulous drawings, he arranged for the publication of a four-volume catalog, covering the entire collection from strange and exotic plants to snakes, frogs, crocodiles, shellfish, corals, birds, and butterflies, as well as creatures that are now extinct. Taken from a rare hand-colored original, the best-selling collection features an introduction that contextualizes the fascinating tradition of natural collections to which Seba’s curiosities belonged.Trade Review“A powerful testament to nature’s beauty and diversity.” * Chicago Tribune *“The eye-popping displays leave us in awe of the diversity of the natural world, as well as the engravers’ skill in producing these beautifully detailed plates.” * The Huffington Post *"Snakes alive! What a cabinet of creepy-crawly curiosities." * The Independent *

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Book SynopsisA photographic identification guide to 125 tree species most commonly seen in Sri Lanka, perfect for resident and visitor alike. Over 350 high quality photographs from Sri Lanka’s top nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions, which include nomenclature, size, distribution and habitat. The user-friendly introduction covers geography and climate, the different habitats and tree structure.

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Book SynopsisThe story of invasive species is really the story of human history, and Eatherley tells it with great verve Fascinating' Daily TelegraphA unique history of plant and animal invaders of the British isles spanning thousands of years of arrivals and escapes, as well as defences mounted and a look to the future.As Brits we pride ourselves as stoic defenders, boasting a record of resistance dating back to 1066.Yet, even a cursory examination of the natural world reveals that while interlopers of the human variety may have been kept at bay, our islands have been invaded, conquered and settled by an endless succession of animals, plants, fungi and other alien lifeforms that apparently belong elsewhere. Indeed it's often hard to work out what actually is native, and what is foreign.From early settlement of our islands, through the Roman and mediaeval period, to the age of exploration and globalisation, today's complement of alien species tells a story about our past.Trade ReviewPraise for Invasive Aliens‘Fascinating … Eatherley has the unflagging curiosity of a Victorian explorer. The man seems to be indefatigable as he hacks away at Himalayan balsam (the pink, flowery weed that lines almost every riverbank in Britain) or goes on patrol for invasive signal crayfish in the River Barle. He’s not afraid to get wet, dirty or tired on his mission to get up close and personal with intruders of all shapes and sizes. It feels as if we are on the front line with him.’ The Times ‘[Eatherley’s] approach to his complex subject is open-minded, nuanced, and free-ranging to the point of wildness’ Sunday Telegraph ‘Fascinating … the story of “invasive species” is really the story of human history, and [Eatherley] tells it with great verve’ Daily Telegraph ‘Eatherley has an impressive grasp of history – both human and natural … [and] Invasive Aliens provides a well-researched overview of this complex and controversial topic. There is plenty here to surprise as well as enlighten’ Literary Review ‘A fascinating, comprehensive and thoughtful compendium of the flora and fauna that have reached our shores over the years … Invasive Aliens is full of extraordinary and often complex stories.’ Country Life ‘Eatherley’s thorough digest of a complex subject is engaging, informative and balanced. It is the first of these which most explains why Invasive Aliens has garnered such a sheaf of book awards. If the journalistic style puts off a few readers, it will please many more because the subject has been presented with verve and panache; I did not expect to be drawn in so comprehensively or to learn so much’ James Robertson, British Wildlife ‘[Dan Eatherley,] a talented naturalist writing with a genuine passion for the subject, has tackled the daunting task of charting the history of alien species in Britain with gusto. The result is an engrossing and utterly entertaining book’ British Deer Society

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Book SynopsisA top-ranked horse trainer's gorgeous, life-affirming memoir that offers profound insight into the fascinating ways both horses and humans seek relationships to survive.Trade Review"Gaffney has a breathtaking and at times nearly otherworldly ability to read horses by closely studying their bodies, and then to capture what she sees with her prose. ...[T]ruly transcendent." -- Jessica Lustig - New York Times Book Review"Ginger Gaffney writes the intricacies of the equine-human relationship as well as I have ever seen it written…She knows a horse’s mind as well as she knows her own. You will remember the tenacious and utterly winning people that populate Half Broke for a long, long time, and you will never forget the horses." -- Pam Houston, author of Deep Creek"Written with clarity and compassion, Half Broke is about the astounding power of horses to heal broken human beings. It shows a side of New Mexico that is seldom seen—the poverty and the struggle, but also the hopefulness and odd beauty of spirit within the people and the horses." -- Leslie Marmon Silko, author of Ceremony"Half Broke is a love song to the broken ones, be they human or beast, and all the ways they find to mend. Ginger Gaffney’s prose is as clean and lovely as the land she describes, and this story is one that hinges on some of the deepest truths. Among them the fact that loving well is the best medicine, and though we may not recover in a way that preserves the person we were, such loss is not without mercy." -- Melissa Febos, author of Whip Smart and Abandon Me"Ginger Gaffney is a bold and original talent. This poignant, positive story of human and equine transformation subtly combines the author’s own healing with the challenge of teaching difficult people to work with deeply scared horses. The characters leap off the page and into your heart. Savor this book, and then buy a copy for your best friend." -- Anne Hillerman, New York Times best-selling author of the Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito novels"Gaffney pulls off the impressive feat of translating horses and humans. She creates lyricism through experience, landscape, and empathy." -- Gretchen Lida - Washington Independent Review of Books"Fascinating. … [S]ome of the most compelling characters here don’t speak in words: they are horses. And in Gaffney’s story, they come alive." -- Deborah Hopkinson - BookPage""Half Broke" — with its painful candor and spare, incisive prose — is captivating." -- Michael Upchurch - Seattle Times"This book astonished, excited, enlightened, and humbled me. I loved it, loved it, loved it. This marvelous memoir, peopled with folks in serious trouble of one kind or another, and the horses they care for, creatures with their own sophisticated ways of communicating, taught me as much about language as have my seventy-seven years on the planet." -- Abigail Thomas, New York Times best-selling author of What Comes Next and How to Like It"With sensitive, soul-bearing prose, Gaffney weaves together her personal experiences as a horse trainer with the struggles of damaged humans and damaged horses. I was also moved by the depth of vulnerability and intuition of the horses." -- Jonathan Balcombe, author of What a Fish Knows"[A] powerful debut." -- Publishers Weekly"In the pages of Half Broke is the rare gift of story exquisitely told, a book that shows us how to save ourselves by saving what we’ve left behind." -- Nickole Brown, author of To Those Who Were Our First Gods"Half Broke asks us to look at horses and ourselves in a new way. Gaffney’s vivid and engaging stories of 'teaching horses how to feel comfortable in the world of humans' inspires us, like the author, to 'love their world more.' A very moving book for all animal lovers from a true horse whisperer." -- Brenda Peterson, author of Wolf Nation: The Life, Death, and Return of Wild American Wolves"An engaging ... [and] heartening story of healing and interspecies connection." -- Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisThis book is a celebration of the disappearing world of ice and snow, or what scientists know as The Cryosphere. Although frozen water represents a significant component of Planet Earth, it is rapidly declining, both in area and volume in response to global warming. The next few generations of humanity will see unprecedented change in ice and snow cover, so now is the time to place on record the magical beauty of such areas.The two authors have each studied glaciers for half a century, both as researchers and educators. We have had the opportunity to work in both polar regions, as well as several of the world's major mountain ranges. They examine ice and snow on all scales, from the mighty glaciers and ice sheets that still cover ten per cent of Earth's land surface to frozen puddles and fluffy snow. We illustrate how a myriad of snowflakes are transformed into glacier ice, which then flows under the influence of gravity, and finally disappears through melting. They illustrate how glaciers have eroded Earth's surface to produce some of our most stunning landscapes, and the importance of deposition of debris to the provision of rich soils. They explore ice in the ocean, on lakes and in rivers, and the illustrate the delicate beauty of frost and snow. Finally, they show some of the ways in which plants, animals and humans interact with the Cryosphere.Our Frozen Planet serves as a reminder of what we are losing, but also gives us the courage to tackle the global climate emergency.

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Book SynopsisFrom award winning novelist and journalist David Profumo comes a dazzling work about the restorative power of nature and finding joy in simple pleasures. 'David Profumo has fished everywhere man and boy, and come back with his creel crammed with adventures and misadventures - a memoir for every fisherman's bookshelf.' Tom Stoppard It is often said there is more to the experience of fishing than the mere catching of fish, and in this evocative, wide-ranging memoir he explores the delights and mysteries of one of mankind's most ancient pursuits. As we move from the Highland waters of his childhood and into his adult travels from the Arctic Circle to the South Seas, The Lightning Thread unpeels this idiosyncratic subject, and shows how it embraces folklore, poetry, magic, drink and disaster. By turns a lyrical celebration of the natural world and also the quirkiness of human nature itself, this is a hymn to the great happiness that pursuing his life's passion has brought the auth

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Book SynopsisFlush was an English cocker spaniel who belonged to the nineteenth-century poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Virginia Woolf learned of him from the love letters Elizabeth wrote to her future husband, fellow poet Robert Browning, and found ‘the figure of their dog made me laugh so, I couldn't resist making him a Life.’ The resulting ‘biography’ combines sensuous imaginative description with sharp social comment, and brings Woolf’s unsentimental humour and insight to the fore. We see Flush as loyal confidant to Elizabeth on her sickbed at Wimpole Street, and from his jealous perspective we witness her courtship by Browning, their elopement and new life in Italy. The perfect accessible introduction to Woolf’s genius, a unique blend of fact and fiction, Flush is perhaps best read in the company of a canine companion.This edition includes the four original illustrations by Vanessa Bell and an afterword by Margaret Forster.Cover designed by the award-winning Finnish designer Aino-Maija MetsolaTrade ReviewA most triumphant trespassing of human imagination into dog sensibilities... The result is a book of irresistible grace and charm * Spectator *Flush is an afternoon's delight for dog-loving readers. It's wit and whimsy and sniffing, snuffling playfulness will amuse anyone who's ever known a spaniel. Woolf's literary underdog is a canine classic. * Guardian *A masterpiece... It is not fiction because it has the substance, the reality of truth. It is not biography because it has the freedom, the artistry of fiction * New York Herald Tribune Books *

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Book SynopsisThis veritable marine treasure trove of a book is richly illustrated by the author, with fifty of the most beautiful, easily encountered, and sometimes astonishing marine organisms found on British coasts, from seemingly exotic seahorses and starfish, to peculiar sea-potatoes and sea lemons. Together, these characterful critters paint a colourful picture of life between the tides: starfish that, upon losing an arm, can grow a new one; baby sharks hatching from their fancifully named ‘mermaid’ purses’; ethereal moon jellyfish pulsating in the current and, on some seabeds, even coral. Beachcombing, overturning a boulder or simply parting the strands of seaweed in a rock pool offer a glimpse into a thriving underwater world of curious creatures. Inspired by the Oxford University of Natural History’s exceptionally rich zoology collections, which contain millions of specimens amassed from centuries of expeditions, this book tells the story of life on the seashore.Trade Review'Beautifully illustrated with an oil painting, each species is depicted in the habitat in which it is usually found. … An enchanting work, suitable for anyone with an interest in coastal UK wildlife.' * BBC Countryfile *'I'm not a natural naturalist but occasionally when you see something bobbing by that isn't shredded plastic, it's nice to know what it is. This book allows you to do this. Chris Thorogood keeps it simple too, with nice big pictures and short but informative explanations of what the creature mentioned is. ... it's always handy to have such a guide.' * Sailing Today *'Science Book Gift Guide 2019: This short book contains 56 gorgeous colour reproductions of oil paintings by the author portraying creatures that can be found at low tide along the shoreline of the British Isles (and in many cases along shorelines elsewhere as well).' * American Scientist *

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Book SynopsisBotswana is one of the premier birding destinations in Africa, and hosts over 600 bird species. This easy-to-use, compact guide features more than 360 of the most conspicuous and commonly seen birds in the country.

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Book SynopsisOtters by Nicola Chester is an accessible and lively account of an intriguing and much-loved animal that, surprisingly, is still endangered and rarely seen despite a recent resurgence that has seen it expand from the remote countryside into our cities.Nicola's charming, informed text brings this elusive and exciting mammal into sharper focus revealing what an otter is, and how they live, feed, play and breed. Nicola reflects on how otters exist in our imaginations culturally and how that has changed over the years. She also examines the many challenges otters have faced, exposing what brought them to the brink of extinction, and explores the challenges we face in trying to find and watch otters in the wild.Each Spotlight title is carefully designed to introduce readers to the lives and behaviour of our favourite birds and mammals.Trade ReviewA slim, stylish volume. * Scotland Outdoors *Table of Contents1) Meet the Otter 2) A Riverine Life 3) Family Play 4) Tarka 5) Mij and Mouse 6) Threats 7) Conservation 8) Spotting an Otter 9) Salty dogs 10) An Ottery Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisOut of Sight is both an investigative deep dive into the meat industry's treatment of farm animals, and a story of resilience and, ultimately, professional and personal triumph. This insightful and moving memoir chronicles the author's forty-year career conducting undercover investigations and documenting animal abuse in the U.S. meat industry while simultaneously coping with a mysterious and incapacitating medical condition. Due to the isolation she experienced in childhood suffering from an undiagnosed neurological disorder, Gail Eisnitz found solace with animals, especially those who were neglected or injured. Her childhood desire to rescue animals was eventually realized when, she was hired as staff writer at the Humane Society of the United States, the largest animal protection organization in the world. She later transitioned to become the only female cruelty investigator at HSUS. In that capacity, Eisnitz initiated investigations into many issues, including documenting violations in puppy mills and the dog racing industry, ritual animal sacrifice, factory farms, and slaughterhouses. Exposing the slaughterhouse violations she had uncovered proved extremely difficult. Network television producers invariably concluded that the evidence Eisnitz had secretly obtained was too disturbing to air on TV. Forced to quit her job at HSUS, the author hired on with the Humane Farming Association, where she continued investigating and wrote her first book, Slaughterhouse.She then implored a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist at the Washington Post to write a story exposing the slaughter evidence she had documented. That front-page article prompted immense outrage in U.S. Congress and resulted in an annual multimillion-dollar appropriation for enforcement of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, the first funding for what had been a zero-budgeted law. As she continued her investigative efforts around slaughterhouses and also documented unthinkable abuses at industrial pig, calf, and dairy farms exposed in vivid detail in Out of Sight the symptoms of the undiagnosed visual processing disorder she had grappled with since childhood dramatically worsened. The many plot twists that occurred during the author's campaign to expose the meat industry included her breast cancer diagnosis at age 35, a robbery in which one of three gunmen shot somebody in her presence, elaborate cover-ups by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and a state governor, and ongoing clashes with state attorneys general as the author struggled to obtain prosecutions of animal abusers.Out of Sight is both an investigative deep dive into the meat industry's treatment of farm animals, and a story of resilience and, ultimately, professional and personal triumph. It is a poignant account of a lifelong struggle towards self-acceptance that takes the reader on an inspiring journey from helpless victim much like the animals the author investigated to empowered victor.

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Book Synopsis"Pack soup, cheese and a copy of How To See Nature by the Bard of Wenlock Edge and Guardian diarist."John Vidal With a title taken from the 1940 Batsford book, this is nature writing for the modern reader. Evans weaves historical, cultural and literary references into his writing, ranging from TS Eliot to Bridget Riley, from Hieronymus Bosch to Napoleon. It is a book both for those that live in the country and those that don't, but experience nature every day through brownfield edge lands, transport corridors, urban greenspace, industrialised agriculture and fragments of ancient countryside. The essays include the The Weedling Wild, on the wildlife of the wasteland: ragwort, rosebay willowherb, giant hogweed and the cinnabar moth; Gardens of Light, about the creatures to be found under moonlight: pipistrelle bats, lacewings and orb-weaver spider; The Flow, with tales from the riverbank, estuaries and seas, including kingfisher, minnow, otter and heron. The Commons looks at meadowland with a human footprint, with the Adonis blue butterfly, horseshoe vetch, skylark, black knapweed and the six-belted clearwing moth. The author also looks at the wildlife returned to Britain, such as wild boar and polecats, and finds nature in and around landscapes as varied as a domestic garden or a wild moor. The book ends with an alphabetical bestiary, an idiosyncratic selection of British wildlife based on the author's personal encounters.Trade Review'The ordinary becomes extraordinary in this fascinating book' -- Miriam Darlington * BBC Wildlife * `By celebrating [the natural world] so beautifully, Evans is playing as important a role in its conservation as anybody.' * Birdwatching *

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Book SynopsisDid you know that the Appenzeller Chicken can climb trees? Discover fun fowl facts, and get acquainted with 44 breeds, each accompanied by a description of the bird's appearance, its history and breeding, and details of its personality, egg-laying, and flying abilities. From the spirited American Game Fowl, to the calm and docile Wyandotte, this fascinating guide will turn both young and old into a chicken enthusiast.

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Book SynopsisDogs (and their humans): stories of healing and hope from the Supervet's surgeryis a funny, uplifting and at times heartbreaking celebration of our connection with our loyal canine friends.

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Book SynopsisA definitive site guide to three of Britain''s most bird-rich counties Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.East Anglia the jewel in the crown of British birding. The counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire represent the most popular region for birders and naturalists to visit in the British Isles, whether to see wintering flocks of geese and waders, rare vagrants, scarce breeding birds such as cranes and bitterns, or just to soak up the countryside, be it fen, broad, coastal dune, breckland, heath or down. This new book by David Callahan is the definitive guide to the birding highlights of the region. It contains a comprehensive review of all the major sites, and many lesser-known ones, with maps, notes on access, and information on target species and when to visit. Where to Watch Birds in East Anglia is indispensable for any birder heading to this bird-rich corner of England.Trade ReviewThe book is authoritative, well presented and generally well researched, and is clearly the new definitive guide to the region. -- James Hanlon * Birdwatch *Table of ContentsKey to Sites Acknowledgements Introduction How to Use This Book Definitions of terms and abbreviations Cambridgeshire The Fens and the Ouse Washes Norfolk Breckland The Broads National Park Suffolk Appendices References Key to Map Symbols Index to Species

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Book SynopsisIn the very north of Britain, far from the bustling cities and picturesque countryside to the south, lies Western Europe''s most magnificent wilderness: the Scottish Highlands.This is a land shaped by the flow of ancient ice, where snow-capped mountains tower over ink-black lochs, Golden Eagles soar over heather-clad moors, and Red Deer stags engage in mortal combat for the right to win a mate. Along the coast, sea cliffs and offshore islands teem with millions of seabirds, while the seas themselves are home to Basking Sharks, Orcas and Bottlenose Dolphins.The Highlands may, at first sight, seem bleak and desolate, but they are also filled with hidden wonders, from the ancient Caledonian pine forests to the vast Flow Country, and from the sheer granite cliffs of Handa to the mysterious depths of Loch Ness.In this lavish book, Stephen Moss''s thoughtful, authoritative text, accompanied throughout by spectacular photography from Laurie Campbell, follows a year in the lives of a stTable of ContentsIntroduction Winter into Spring Spring into Summer Summer into Autumn Autumn into Winter Acknowledgements Further reading

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Book SynopsisA profound meditation on climate change and the Anthropocene and an urgent search for the fossilsindustrial, chemical, geologicalthat humans are leaving behindA Times Book of the Year A Daily Telegraph Book of the YearWhat will the world look like ten thousand or ten million years from now?In Footprints, David Farrier explores what traces we will leave for the very deep future. From long-lived materials like plastic and nuclear waste, to the 50 million kilometres of roads spanning the planet, in modern times we have created numerous objects and landscapes with the potential to endure through deep time. Our carbon could linger in the atmosphere for 100,000 years, and the remains of our cities will still exist millions of years from now as a layer in the rock. These future fossils have the potential to tell remarkable stories about how we lived in the twenty-first century.Through literature, art, and science, Footprints invites us to think about how we will be remembered in the myths, sTrade Review‘Fascinating’ Margaret Atwood on twitter ‘What do we owe to the world that comes after us? In this superbly researched and imagined book, David Farrier invites us to expand our sense of deep time to include the deep future’ Caspar Henderson, author of A New Map of Wonders ‘Footprints bears witness to the hastening catastrophe of the Anthropocene, illustrating not just the permanence of the traces humans leave behind, but also the impermanence of the human. Profound, urgent, transformative, it is a remarkable book.’ James Bradley, author of Ghost Species ‘Mr Farrier’s prose glitters … As Mr Farrier notes, even if pollution and consumption ceased tomorrow, their effects would take millennia to unwind. Human life is etched into the fossil record for aeons to come. “The challenge is to learn…to examine our present by the eerie light cast by the onrushing future.” His subtle, elegant book rises to that challenge’ Economist ‘It is an oddly hopeful exploration of deep time and a world doing just fine without us.’ New Scientist ‘Farrier races through the past and makes brief stops in the present before soaring into the deep future, all the while exploring our capacity as human beings to leave traces behind us … It echoes many of the concerns of nature writers such as Kathleen Jamie, Katharine Norbury and Robert Macfarlane, but from a different coign of vantage. Farrier is less nature writer an more ‘smart thinker’ … At its best, there are moments when the eye of the poet and the analyst come together in memorable flight’ Literary Review ‘All decent people want to be remembered well. In the ancient world, moral life was often seen as the effort to be a good ancestor. If that’s how you see things, David Farrier’s brilliant, plangent book will leave you gasping with shame. Our grandchildren (if any survive) will look back on us with contempt’ The Oldie, Charles Foster

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Book SynopsisThis book provides an introduction into the diversity of the environmental movement through great characters in the green sector. The book describes inspiring personal achievements, and at the same time it provides readers with information regarding the history, the main directions and the ethical principles of the environmental movement. Some of the most important characters of the movement from all around the world, are included in the book. As well as the title characters, Buddha and Leonardo DiCaprio, other famous environmentalists like Albert Schweitzer, David Attenborough and Jane Goodall are discussed. Some of the less well-known but equally important environmentalists such as Chico Mendes, Bruno Manser, Henry Spira, Tom Regan or Rossano Ercolini are highlighted in the various chapters. The selection of characters represents all major branches within the green sector, ranging from medieval saints to Hollywood celebrities, from university professors to field activists, from politicians to philosophers, from ecofeminists to radicals.Table of ContentsIntroduction.- Charles Darwin and the implications of evolution St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.- Environmentalism gaining momentum: Rachel Carson and ’Silent sping’ Denis Hayes and Earth Day.- Planting trees with Wangari Maathai.- In defense of rain forests: Chico Mendes and Bruno Manser Al Gore’s fight for the environment.- The strong men of environmentalism: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Steven Seagal Movie stars and activism.- Arne Naess and ’Deep ecology’.- Vandana Shiva and traditional agriculture.- Ian Kiernan, Rossano Ercolini, and Bea Johnson Pioneers of ecological economics.- The Greenpeace story Forerunners of animal advocacy Spokesmen for animals: Peter Singer, Richard Ryder, and Tom Regan.- Henry Spira, the hero of animal advocacy.- Animal advocates from Central Europe.- Albert Schweitzer: The man who loved all living beings Talking animals: The capacity of animal minds.- Primatologists Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey and Biruté Galdikas Ingrid.- Newkirk, Alex Pacheco, and PETA.- John Muir and Yosemite.- Aldo Leopold, the founding father of nature conservation.- James Lovelock and the Gaia-hypothesis.- Their symbol: The giant panda.- Scientists involved in conservation and environmentalism.- Gerald Durrell: How an amateur naturalist developed into a great conservationist Farley Mowat never cried wolf.- David Attenborough, the grand old man of natural history films Jacques-Yves Cousteau: Under the spell of the sea.- Paul Watson, the daredevil of conservation.- Epilogue.- Acknowledgements List of illustrations.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The authors take you on a magnificent journey alongside orcas, bringing these beautiful creatures to life. Numerous perspectives that intertwine science, traditional knowledge and personal experiences reveal how strongly we're interconnected with these majestic, intelligent neighbours that live in the Salish Sea. The emerging picture shows how orcas are an integral part of human existence and fuels my personal and professional passion to do everything possible to help them thrive. These stories seamlessly make the reader a part of the orcas' history and fate." Jay Ritchlin, Director General, BC and Western Canada, David Suzuki Foundation"In Spirits of the Coast ...orca experts, artists, storytellers, and Indigenous wisdom keepers issue an invitation to understand, celebrate, and come together to protect these marvelous marine mammals." Kristine Morris, Foreword Reviews"This book is the perfect blend of science, history, art, folklore and culture. Orcas are a huge part of life on the west coast of Canada and Vancouver Island. The image of the Orca is ever-present. This book is a wonderful trip into the world of these magnificent creatures and what they have meant to us over time." Charlotte Kinzie, Kinzie Things"The book, which is both a history lesson and a proposal for the future, is packed with thoughtful insights, historical perspectives and traditional First Nations stories. It also visually shines, with a wide range of beautiful artwork and photography. It's that inclusion of visual storytelling that makes this book so accessible and a great addition to any coffee table or bookshelf." Vancouver Sun"Its luminous, large-format pages offer everything from Haida storytelling to marine biology, all to show our too-often-ignored kinship with this astonishing animal." Brian Lynch, Georgia Straight"This book is not just recalling the history of relationship between humans and orcas but is laying the groundwork for deciding, each of us, what that relationship could look like in the future." Amy Reiswig, Focus on Victoria"Anyone looking for an introduction to the history, science and cultural significance of the orca could do no better than to start here." Daniel Francis, Ormsby Review"A magnificent journey alongside orcas, bringing these beautiful creatures to life." -- Jay Ritchlin, David Suzuki Foundation

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