Natural History Books

Book SynopsisWith his signature hands-on style, Mike Loades experiences what it is like to handle various dogs engaged in their traditional tasks. These adventures take him to the Jordanian desert, where he shares the saddle of his camel with a Saluki and to the green hills of Wales, where he works cattle with a Corgi. He mushes Huskies in Alaska, drives carriages with Dalmatians and flies falcons with spaniels. Each encounter not only highlights the bond between humans and dogs, it also frames that connection in its historical context. Different types of dogs appear the way they do because, at some stage in their development, they were bred selectively for a specialist job. The author takes key types on a walk through history. Along the way he explores the methods and practices of their original occupations. He delves into when, where and why they were first bred as the types we recognize today. The fascinating and engaging text is supported by over 250 stunning colour photographs of dogs in action. It results in an illuminating journey through many cultures and time periods. This book is a personal and heartfelt tribute to the enduring partnership between humans and dogs.

Read more less

Book SynopsisRare British Breeds is a book inspired by the Rare Breed Survival Trust Watchlist, which is published annually, listing the species of sheep, cattle, horses, pigs, goats and poultry (chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese) that are endangered in the United Kingdom. This information is gathered from breed societies and lists the number of breeding females alive, along with their conservation status. Each species, regardless of their origin, is unique to the UK, either through cross breeding or by evolution. There are good reasons for wanting to keep these breeds alive; not just the genetic makeup of these creatures which means many are able to survive and thrive in very formidable conditions - a prerequisite for enduring possible future environmental disasters. Once gone, these genes will never be able to be replaced. They have taken thousands of years to develop. The book looks at the history of every breed, with their evolutionary roots, development over time, exportation, cross breeding and changing relationship to mankind as farming techniques react to societal shifts. Their particular physical characteristics such as meat, wool, milk, eggs or ability to pull great weights are discussed as well as their conservation status and the national and international efforts being made to ensure their survival.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A wonderful book.' - Temple Grandin, author of Animals in TranslationAn instant New York Times bestsellerAn incredible, revolutionary true story and surprisingly simple guide to teaching your dog to 'talk' from speech-language pathologist Christina Hunger, who has taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using simple paw-sized buttons associated with different words.When speech-language pathologist Christina Hunger first came home with her puppy, Stella, it didn't take long for her to start drawing connections between her job and her new pet. During the day, she worked with toddlers with significant delays in language development and used Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices to help them communicate. At night, she wondered: if dogs can understand words we say to them, shouldn't they be able to say words to us? Can dogs use AAC to communicate with humans?Christina decided to put her theory to the test with Stella and started using a paw-sized button programmed with her voice to say the word 'outside' when clicked, whenever she took Stella out of the house. A few years later, Stella now has a bank of more than thirty word buttons, and uses them daily either individually or together to create near-complete sentences.How Stella Learned to Talk is part memoir and part how-to guide. It chronicles the journey Christina and Stella have taken together, from the day they met, to the day Stella 'spoke' her first word, and the other breakthroughs they've had since. It also reveals the techniques Christina used to teach Stella, broken down into simple stages and actionable steps any dog owner can use to start communicating with their best four-legged friend.Filled with conversations that Stella and Christina have had, as well as the attention to developmental detail that only a speech-language pathologist could know, How Stella Learned to Talk will be the indispensable dog book for the new decade.Trade ReviewA talented speech therapist who works with children, Christina Hunger trained her puppy to use words in a meaningful way. She was amazed that language learning in her dog was similar to that of a young child. The results speak for themselves. A wonderful book. -- Temple Grandin, author of Animals in TranslationWhen we are open to the idea that communicating with another species is possible, and provide a language-enriched environment, we create the space for shared language and a deep connection. Christina has provided the key that unlocks this potential for all of us. -- Penny Patterson, PhD, president and research director of the Gorilla Foundation and Project KokoThis delightful book is a joy to read. But it also has an important message for the study of animal languages: When you think outside the box, you can come up with amazing results. Christina has shown that a dog has the cognitive capability to learn to use buttons as words and to formulate meaningful sentences. She also has very practical advice on how to teach your dog to do the same. I highly recommend this book. -- Con Slobodchikoff, PhD, author of Chasing Doctor Dolittle: Learning the Language of AnimalsA must-read for anyone who ever wished their dog could talk, Stella’s story will lift your spirits and inspire your soul. Christina Hunger takes us on an incredible journey of joy, discovery, and innovation that will forever change the relationship between dogs and their humans. -- Shari Robertson, PhD, CCC-SLP, former president of the American Speech and Hearing Association

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A wonderful book.' - Temple Grandin, author of Animals in TranslationUnderstand what your canine best friend is thinking with this New York Times bestselling handbook.An incredible, revolutionary true story and surprisingly simple guide to teaching your dog to 'talk' from speech-language pathologist Christina Hunger, who has taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using simple paw-sized buttons associated with different words.How Stella Learned to Talk is part memoir and part how-to guide. It chronicles the journey Christina and Stella have taken together, from the day they met, to the day Stella 'spoke' her first word, and the other breakthroughs they've had since. It also reveals the techniques Christina used to teach Stella, broken down into simple stages and actionable steps any dog owner can use to start communicating with their best four-legged friend.Filled with conversations that Stella and Christina have had, as well as the attention to developmental detail that only a speech-language pathologist could know, How Stella Learned to Talk is the indispensable dog book for you and your puppy pal.Trade ReviewA talented speech therapist... Christina Hunger trained her puppy to use words in a meaningful way... The results speak for themselves. A wonderful book. -- Temple Grandin, author of Animals in TranslationWhen we are open to the idea that communicating with another species is possible... we create the space for shared language and a deep connection. Christina has provided the key that unlocks this potential for all of us. -- Penny Patterson, PhD, president and research director of the Gorilla Foundation and Project KokoThis delightful book is a joy to read... Christina has shown that a dog has the cognitive capability to learn to use buttons as words and to formulate meaningful sentences. She also has very practical advice on how to teach your dog to do the same. I highly recommend this book. -- Con Slobodchikoff, PhD, author of Chasing Doctor Dolittle: Learning the Language of AnimalsA must-read for anyone who ever wished their dog could talk, Stella’s story will lift your spirits and inspire your soul. Christina Hunger takes us on an incredible journey of joy, discovery, and innovation that will forever change the relationship between dogs and their humans. -- Shari Robertson, PhD, CCC-SLP, former president of the American Speech and Hearing Association

Read more less

Book SynopsisCountless writers have been inspired by the beauty of birds – their colours, their easy flight, their lightness and softness, and the grace and whimsicality of their ways. Our literature, especially our poetry, is full of them. This annotated edition of Poems About Birds selects the very best from H. J. Massingham’s original collection which was first published in 1922.Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, pocket-sized classics with ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover.Spanning from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century, Poems About Birds captures the enticing lives of birds through the eyes of classic poets. From John Keats’ ‘Ode to a Nightingale’ to Sylvia Lynd’s ‘The Return of the Goldfinches’, and from Alfred Lord Tennyson’s ‘The Eagle’ to William Wordsworth’s ‘To The Skylark’, countless varieties of bird are celebrated here.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPut some love into your dog's diet! In this book, founder of natural pet food brand Lily’s Kitchen and loving pet owner Henrietta Morrison serves up over 50 delicious and quick-to-prepare treat recipes that your canine companion will love. From everyday nourishing snacks for cold days and hot days to celebration recipes, including birthday cake and Christmas cookies, this lovely book has something for every occasion.These unique and easy to follow recipes use wholesome and organic ingredients throughout, helping your dog stay happy and healthy. Inspired by her experience cooking for her border terrier Lily when she fell ill, Henrietta believes that our pets deserve to eat food made from fresh, natural ingredients that help them live full and active lives.Like Henrietta's last bestselling pet cookbook, each recipe is accompanied by nutritional advice and tips, with special treats and snacks for young puppies and senior dogs. This charming book will set tails wagging and inspire many more lingering looks of love!

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Banksy of The Bird World shares simple wisdom to help the birds we love to thrive.Bestselling author and illustrator, Matt Sewell, is back with his most inspirational book yet. Save Our Birds is a celebration of our endangered birds and call to arms for bird-lovers of all ages to help protect them.Matt has created new, beautiful watercolour artworks of Britain's most loved birds, and their habitats, all of which are sadly on the Red List - the respected, international guide to endangered species. Sewell provides a wealth of practical advice on how we can protect them from extinction. Explore cities, coastlands, woodlands and farms, leaving no habitat unexplored around the British Isles.From bird-friendly window boxes to community projects, discover the steps you can take, actions both big and small, to save our birds.

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘An unbelievably inspiring book’ Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of TreesDid you know that pigs frequently throw tantrums? That chickens are capable of complex communication? That sheep know their own names? That cows grieve when their calves are taken away from them?Jeffrey Masson delves deep into the mysterious world of farm animals and reveals just how sophisticated these creatures truly are - capable of joy, sadness, love and friendship - just like us.Trade ReviewAn unbelievably inspiring book * Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of Trees *Compassionate, compelling and often tear-jerking... Anyone who has a heart will be reduced to tears, if not to vegetarianism, by Masson's argument * Daily Mail *An entertaining survey of the main characteristics of farmed animals and a sobering account of how these have been ignored * Guardian *Presents information and anecdotes without ever preaching * Independent on Sunday *In this latest leg of Jeffrey Moussaieff's journey through the animal kingdoms, this perceptive writer peels back our prejudices to reveal the depth of feeling and thought in animals' minds and the leap we must make to be worthy of understanding them. Eye-opening, warm, thoroughly engaging -- Ingrid Newkirk, President of PETA

Read more less

Book SynopsisAnother beautiful, revelatory country diary from one of the best nature writers in Britain.'If you’ve never read Mark Cocker, then you must. His style is sharp, selfless, and wonderfully evocative, his knowledge deep and wide-ranging but lightly borne, his curiosity joyful and infectious.' Mail On Sunday, Books of the YearFor seventeen years, as part of his daily writerly routine, the author and naturalist Mark Cocker has taken a two-mile walk down to the river from his cottage on the edge of the Norfolk Broads National Park. Over the course of those 10,000 daily paces he has learnt the art of patience to observe a butterfly, a bird, flower, bee, deer, otter or fly and to take pleasure in all the other inhabitants of his parish, no matter how seemingly insignificant. In turn these encounters have then been converted into literary epiphanies that are now a widely celebrated part of his work. In A Claxton Diary he has gathered some of the finest short essays that he has ever written on wildlife. They range over almost everything he can see, touch or smell, from the minute to the cosmic, from a strange micromoth called yellow-barred longhorn to that fiercest of winter storms the so-called ‘Beast from the East’.From the marvellous to the macabre, Cocker tries to capture nature without flinching and in its entirety. In so doing he provides us with a vision of an English country parish that for intimacy and precise detail is comparable with Gilbert White’s diary on Selbourne. Above all he reminds us that we are all just members of one miraculous family, fashioned from sunlight and the dust from old stars.Trade ReviewA spellbinding nature diary that’s up there with the greatest… [Cocker] regularly follows up a beady description with a wild, glorious overview, followed by an astonishing fact or two… Hurrah for Mark Cocker! ***** * Mail on Sunday *Being a naturalist, Cocker’s great strength is in the breadth of his senses: his essays seem to cover almost everything he has seen, heard or smelled in the land around his home. He writes clearly, and with a style that has a ring of poetry about it without being pretentious or precious… Spending time with his acutely observant essays will convince many readers that the Great Barrier Reef and vast jungles of Africa can be understood best only by first understanding the startling drama, diversity and complicated natural dynamics of a humble corner of Britain. * Spectator *If you’ve never read Mark Cocker, then you must. His style is sharp, selfless, and wonderfully evocative, his knowledge deep and wide-ranging but lightly borne, his curiosity joyful and infectious. -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday, *Books of the Year* *If you can’t get out to enjoy the spring weather, immerse yourself in the natural world with Mark Cocker… his writing transports you there. * Mail on Sunday *If you already know Mark Cocker’s work, you’ll need no persuading to buy this – if you don’t, treat yourself to a very fine collection of nature essays. * Bird Watching, *Book of the Month* *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'One of our greatest nature writers' GuardianFor over fifty years, Richard Mabey has been a pioneering voice in modern nature writing. This book collects pieces across his rich career, tracing his continually evolving ideas as much as the profound changes in our environment. From the rediscovery of food foraging in the 1970s, to reflections on the musicality of birdsong, these essays show Mabey's passionate belief that our planet is a commonwealth for all species, and that our reconnection with the living world is more vital than ever.'Richard Mabey is among the best writers at work in Britain' Tim Dee'Poised where nature meets culture, [Mabey] is knowledgeable, politically savvy and wry, and an excellent naturalist' New StatesmanTrade ReviewRichard Mabey is among the best writers at work in Britain. I don't mean among the best nature writers, I mean the best writers, full stop. I would read anything he wrote, but if such a thing as nature writing exists and flourishes today it is thanks almost entirely to him. I have lived by his books for all of my life. Pretty much all of what nature means to me, I know thanks to his own lifelong clear-eyed but loving investigation of what it means to him. He has allowed us all to think about modern nature – our world - but also, crucially, to feel it too. I cannot imagine a truer green man. * Tim Dee *One figure, like no other, looms large in setting the ground for the contemporary form that has come to be called then New Nature Writing. Richard Mabey is an author whose work has consistently pioneered new ways of thinking about landscape, nature, place, culture and the range of interconnections that all of these share. Often this has meant reminding us of old ways of thinking about these things but he has always had a sharp eye for the new meanings our modern context provokes. * Jos Smith *One of our most influential writers on the natural world * Gardens Illustrated *A valuable contribution to a great cause -- John Jolliffe * Spectator *Poised where nature meets culture, he [Richard Mabey] is knowledgeable, politically savvy and wry, and an excellent naturalist -- Kathleen Jamie * New Statesman, *Books of the Year* *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA ground-breaking and beautifully written investigation into the Arctic Treeline with an urgent environmental message.'Evocative, wise and unflinching' Jay Griffiths, author of WildThe Arctic treeline is the frontline of climate change, where the trees have been creeping towards the pole for fifty years already.Scientists are only just beginning to understand the astonishing significance of these northern forests for all life on Earth. At the treeline, Rawlence witnesses the accelerating impact of climate change and the devastating legacies of colonialism and capitalism. But he also finds reasons for hope. Humans are creatures of the forest; we have always evolved with trees and The Treeline asks us where our co-evolution might take us next.SHORTLISTED FOR THE JAMES CROPPER WAINWRIGHT PRIZE'A moving, thoughtful, deeply reported elegy for our vanishing world and a map of the one to come' Nathaniel Rich, author of Losing Earth'A lyrical and passionate book... The Treeline is a sobering, powerful account of how trees might just save the world, as long as we are sensible enough to let them' Mail on Sunday'Ben Rawlence circumnavigates the very top of the globe - returning with a warning, in this enthralling and wonderfully written book' Mark Lynas, author of Six DegreesTrade ReviewThis original and readable book takes readers to a part of the world undergoing radical but little-understood change. * Financial Times, *Books of the Year* *An urgent and insightful tour of some of the world's strangest, most bewitching and most endangered environments... This is an important book, and one I will be pressing into other people's hands. -- Cal Flyn, author of ISLANDS OF ABANDONMENT[A] sweeping account of the Arctic forest that circles the world in an almost unbroken ring. * Financial Times *[A] lyrical and passionate book... The Treeline is a sobering, powerful account of how trees might just save the world. -- Kathryn Hughes * Mail on Sunday *[An] urgent investigation into the Arctic treeline... a meticulously researched and compellingly presented read. -- Hannah Beckerman * Observer *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTake a deep breathSteve Backshall was nine years old the first time he saw a shark, while on holiday with his family in Malaysia. It was the beginning of a life-long fascination with these 'lords of the sea', and the oceanic life around them. His career as one of the world's most popular naturalists and explorers has taken him to countless underwater places, many never before seen by others. And he's also been witness to the startling decline in fortune of our oceans' wild inhabitants over the past fifty years. Deep Blue is a book a lifetime in the making: a remarkable blend of memoir, travel, and marine and environmental science that takes us on an unforgettable tour of the many worlds of aquatic life: from underwater deserts and rainforests to the evolution of ocean heroes like the sea turtle and the Great White, from the genesis of ocean life to the rapidly declining state of white polar seas and coral reefs. It's both a love letter to our precious oceans and rallying cry for what we must to do save them.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscover the charms and challenges of working at Scotland's most northerly mainland veterinary practice.From performing farm animal caesarean sections at all hours to missing special occasions in order to treat much loved family pets in crisis, no two days in the work of vet Guy Gordon and his team are ever the same.Based in Thurso, northern Scotland, the small group of vets and their supporting staff cover a vast area of more than one thousand square miles. The expansive, wild and rural landscape in which they operate brings a huge variety of work depending on the season, with the delivery of newborn lambs and calves in the spring, and the arrival of seal pups to the northern Scottish coast starting in the autumn months.The Highland Vet shows what working in one of Britain's most beautiful and remote locations really involves. Inside, Guy and his team share the highs and lows, ups and downs and ins and outs of their daily work throughout the course of a year, making this a truly magical celebration of Scotland's northern Highlands, as well as the animals and people who call the region home.Trade ReviewA must read * The Scotsman *A thoughtful meander through the seasons * Daily Mail Scotsman *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Masterly' New York Times'Riveting' Scott Kelly'Remarkable' The TimesWhen Richard Branson founded Virgin Galactic in 2004, his goal was simple: to offer paying customers a trip to space by the end of the decade. Seventeen years, countless delays, and one catastrophic crash later, his space tourism dream may finally be on the verge of reality.Now, a New Yorker journalist offers the definitive portrait of the adventurers leading the way to the stars. Drawing on hundreds of hours of interviews with Virgin's lead test pilot, Mark Stucky, Test Gods describes the making of a modern astronaut: from starry-eyed youth to NASA, the Air Force, and Virgin Galactic; and through dozens of gruelling test flights to his first successful trip beyond the earth's atmosphere. The result is the most vivid exploration of an astronaut's inner life since Tom Wolfe's The Right Stuff. It offers an intimate and unique insight into the new space race.Trade ReviewAdventure in its purest form - rich with risk, courage and friendships. -- BEAR GRYLLSA Right Stuff for our moment of space travel . . . Riveting . . . A deeply reported and deeply personal book. It is a masterly work. * New York Times Book Review *Riveting . . . This is the book about the new space race you've been waiting to read. An instant classic. -- SCOTT KELLY, astronaut and author of EnduranceAn absolute thrill . . . A hugely ambitious feat of reporting and storytelling, and a fitting twenty-first century sequel to The Right Stuff. -- PATRICK RADDEN KEEFE, author of Say Nothing and Empire of PainUnique, fascinating, compulsively readable, brilliantly reported with unprecedented access, a kick-ass adventure story . . . Just strap yourself in and get ready for one helluva ride. -- BUZZ BISSINGER, author of Friday Night Lights

Read more less

Book SynopsisA DAILY MAIL BOOK OF THE WEEK: 'particularly enjoyable''Somehow laugh-out-loud funny - passionate, warm and full of fascinating insights into the eccentric world of the field naturalist.' - Isabella Tree, author of WildingWater voles are small, brownish, bewhiskered and charming. Made famous by 'Ratty' in The Wind in the Willows, once they were a ubiquitous part of our waterways. They were a totem of our rivers. Now, however, they are nearly gone. This is their story, and the story of a conservationist with a wild hope: that he could bring them back.Tom Moorhouse spent eleven years beside rivers, fens, canals, lakes and streams, researching British wildlife. Quite a lot of it tried to bite him. He studied four main species - two native and endangered, two invasive and endangering - beginning with water voles. He wanted to solve their conservation problems. He wanted to put things right.This book is about whether it worked, and what he learnt - and about what those lessons mean, not just for water voles but for all the world's wildlife. It is a book for anyone who has watched ripples spread on lazy waters, and wondered what moves beneath. Or who has waited in quiet hope for a rustle in the reeds, the munch of a stem, or the patter of unseen paws.Praise for Tom Moorhouse:'The pages of this book are shot through with quicksilver light reflected from wet fur - not a lament for our rivers but a chorus of hope for their future.' - Raynor Winn, author of The Salt Path'Beautiful and important. Tom's book is extraordinary in its gentle curiosity and sympathy for his subjects. I love this book.' - Sir Tim Smit KBE, Executive Vice-Chairman and Co-founder of the Eden Project'Terrific. Lightly but beautifully written. Very moving. Water voles are adorable little beasts. They are also tough, randy and stroppy, as Tom Moorhouse makes clear in this wry, amusing account of the often bloody, painful and frustrating business of conservation fieldwork. 'I hold stubbornly to optimism,' he declares, and his Elegy for a River demands that we do the same.' - Christopher Somerville, walking correspondent for The Times and author of The January Man

Read more less

Book SynopsisMargot doesn't have time for love.Will is afraid to love.And neither of them are expecting to fall in love with Blossom: a gentle Staffy with a tragic past, a belly made for rubbing and a head the size of a football.After their first meeting at the rescue centre, both Margot and Will want to adopt Blossom so reluctantly agree to share custody. But Will's obsession for micro-managing and clear-cut boundaries and Margot's need to smother Blossom with affection, means that soon they have a very confused and badly behaved dog on their hands.Can they put their differences aside to become successful "co-pawrents" and maybe even friends? And meanwhile, does Blossom have plans of her own?Trade ReviewPraise for Rescue Me - -The LOVELIEST book, the complete antidote to these terrible times. Absolutely gorgeous with great characterisation. Yet another winner for Sarra * Marian Keyes *The balm for our times: sexy, heartfelt, funny and fresh. If you loved Beach Read and The Flatshare, you'll adore this. Sarra has nailed it! * Laura Jane Williams *Rescue Me will steal your heart. Uplifting, tender, and heartwarming, this is one of the loveliest books I've read all year * Louise O'Neill *LOVED LOVED LOVED . . . the ABSOLUTE tonic I needed right now. The perfect feel good read, I fell in love with Margot, Will, and Blossom * Nina Pottell *What a vivid, exuberant, joyful read - I felt my spirits lift with every page. Big-hearted, funny, wise and uplifting, this is the book everyone needs this year * Iona Grey *A joyous, emotional, uplifting, beautiful book of utter pawfection! Such a treat for everyone who has a heart * Alex Brown *Rescue Me will steal your heart - uplifting, joyful and full of hope. You won't want to miss this! * Penny Parkes *Warm, witty, moving, tender, uplifting and everything the world needs right now * Tammy Cohen *I absolutely adored everything about this book. No one writes such brilliantly original and flawed, many layered characters the way Sarra Manning does. I completely fell in love with Margot and Will and of course Madam Blossom. It was everything I hoped for and more * Jules Wake *An uplifting and original love story, told with depth, humour and heart (and starring THE most adorable dog, of course) * Holly Miller *I cannot remember the last time I was this emotionally invested in - or affected by - a book. Rescue Me will steal your heart if you let it - and you REALLY need to let it because it Just. Makes. Life. Better. A truly special, unforgettable book * Cressida McLaughlin *A delightful tale of loneliness, love and connection all pulled together by a quite wonderful rescue Staffie -- Sarah Hughes * i News *Guaranteed to brighten any gloomy day . . . warm and funny * Prima *A completely gorgeous story * The Sun (Fabulous) *A beautiful, beautiful book. It will make you feel warm and fuzzy and like you just got to pet a dog. It is exactly what you need right now, trust me * Lindsey Kelk *As an extremely enthusiastic dog person and romcom fan, I felt like this wonderful book was written specifically for me! It was sweet, insightful, sensitive and completely lovely. It was delightfully accurate in its portrayal of love - both for rescue dogs and people. I absolutely loved it and was caught smiling to myself the whole way through reading it. As someone who's written about the relationship between dogs and humans (and who loves her Shih Tzu, Bert, more than anything), this book absolutely spoke to me. Gorgeous * Kate Leaver *Packed with heart . . . Expertly handles tough topics of grief, trauma and fertility, all while creating characters you can't help but root for * Heat *This wholesome novel left me feeling that the world is a good place to be and it will bring welcome cheer to a grey January * Daily Mirror *In a cunning romantic fiction contrivance, two strangers co-rescue a dog . . . A pure dose of adorable * Cosmopolitan *Warm, witty, sad, sharp and beautifully crafted. It makes me love London. It should be a film. It's honestly a total joy * Harriet Evans *Romance and dogs - what's not to love? This uplifting love story is full of humour and the characters are wonderful * Good Housekeeping *A charming, funny, and gorgeously feel-good tale . . . you'll fall head-over-heels for Blossom, the gentle Staffie at the heart of this story * Woman & Home *Charming and funny, it's the perfect pick me up * Woman's Weekly *Give me a love story about a rescue dog . . . and I will do nothing until I finish the book while sobbing into my dog's fur. Blossom's personality was captured so perfectly, in a way that only true dog people will understand. -- Jamie Klingler * i News *A romantic treat of a novel about two singletons and the fabulous dog they 'co-pawrent'. If you don't want your own dog by the time you finish it, there's no hope for you . . . * Fanny Blake *Charming and funny, it's the perfect pick-me-up * Woman *If you love dogs, love laughs, and love LOVE with a capital L, Sarra Manning has the most perfect book for you. Rescue Me is simply paw-geous * Lucy Dillon *An uplifting romantic comedy for dog-lovers * Red *One man, one woman, one rescue dog. Uplifting, tender, and heart-warming, this is a delight. * Louise O'Neill *A tender-hearted romp with terrific characters (including the canine) * Best *Manning's winning story is the perfect piece of escapism with one eye on snappy dialogue and another on the things that make us whole again * Stylist *A roaring rom com * Sunday Post *A fun, romantic read * My Weekly *I adored reading this beautifully written, funny and endearing rom com * Kate Eberlen *PRAISE FOR SARRA MANNING - -Bright, funny, romantic - a total joy to read! -- Mhairi McFarlaneFantastically addictive, beautifully written -- Paige ToonDeeply satisfying and impossible to put down -- Santa MontefioreSuch a delight * Irish Examiner *A charming, funny, and gorgeously feel-good tale * Woman & Home *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAs the bombs rain down on the city, Belfast's first ever female zookeeper must fight to save the baby elephant in her charge in this gripping, uplifting tale based on a true story.1941. With the men away fighting, animal-lover Hettie Quin is made Belfast Zoo's first ever female zookeeper. She is put in charge of Violet, a three-year-old Indian elephant, and they soon form a special bond. With Violet at her side, Hettie can almost escape the grim reality of her life: the father who has abandoned her family; the sister who recently died; the war that's raging hundreds of miles away.But the devastation of war is closer than she thought. When the bombs begin to rain down on the city, Hettie must gather all her courage to protect those she loves the most. Can she save Violet - and get through unscathed herself?Based on a true story, The Zookeeper of Belfast is a gripping and uplifting tribute to what one woman's courage and tenacity can achieve in the most dire of circumstances - perfect for fans of Heather Morris, Natasha Lester, Kate Furnivall, Mandy Robotham and Fiona Valpy.Praise for THE ZOOKEEPER OF BELFAST:'Walsh delivers a turbulent portrait of life in a divided city . . . A unique perspective of a country at war and the lengths people will go for those they love.' - Kirkus Reviews'Sensitively rendered and finely drawn, this remarkable story, based on true events, is both uplifting and heartbreaking.' - Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train'Walsh has written a novel of deep affection and knife-edge suspense. A brilliant debut.' - Margot Livesey, author of The Boy in The Field'An elephant, a young zookeeper, the city of Belfast, bombings, and an IRA member are the improbable characters in this captivating and intimately felt novel that tells the story of a young woman's uncommon devotion and courage under fire.' - Lily Tuck, author of Sisters'A zoo in wartime Belfast and a young woman's fierce love for the elephant in her care come vividly to life in this beautiful, beguiling, and atmospheric debut novel.' - Dominic Smith, author of The Last Painting of Sara de Vos'Cinematic in scope and brimming with emotion, this is a soaring work of historical imagination.' - Karen Olsson, author of All the Houses'Walsh's lovely debut spins this historical sliver into a vivid novel of redemption and mutual care' NYT Book Review'Based on real events, this engrossing novel takes place a year into the Second World War. A three-year-old elephant named Violet arrives at Belfast's Bellevue Zoo, where Hettie Quin, a young zookeeper mourning the recent death of a sister, finds purpose and solace in caring for her' The New YorkerThe Elephant of Belfast is deeply emotive . . . Action is heart-pounding; the imagery vivid; the message universal: connections and friendships among living creatures, both animal and human, offer solace, support, and strength in the darkest times' Historical Novels ReviewTrade ReviewWalsh delivers a turbulent portrait of life in a divided city . . . A unique perspective of a country at war and the lengths people will go for those they love. * Kirkus Reviews *The Zookeeper of Belfast boasts not one but two dauntless heroines: Hettie, a young Irish zookeeper and Violet, a young Indian elephant. From their first meeting, Hettie is determined to protect Violet and as dangers mount, we cannot help cheering on her devotion and her resourcefulness. Walsh has written a novel of deep affection and knife-edge suspense. A brilliant debut. * Margot Livesey, author of The Boy in The Field *Sensitively rendered and finely drawn, this remarkable story, based on true events, is both uplifting and heartbreaking. * Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train and The Exiles *The Zookeeper of Belfast is a lovely book about a fascinating piece of history, and its two heroines--animal and human--are enthralling and beautifully drawn. S. Kirk Walsh writes wonderfully about heartbreak both personal and historic. * Elizabeth McCracken, author of Bowlaway *The Zookeeper of Belfast knocked me flat and picked me up, not just once but many times over the course of S. Kirk Walsh's deeply satisfying telling. There's so much life in these pages, life as well as death - we're in wartime Belfast, dear reader, and the Luftwaffe is dropping bombs - that I couldn't help but feel changed by the end, experienced. Only the best novels do that, and the very fine Elephant of Belfast belongs in that rank. * Ben Fountain author of Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk *An elephant, a young zookeeper, the city of Belfast, bombings, and an IRA member are the improbable characters in this captivating and intimately felt novel that tells the story of a young woman's uncommon devotion and courage under fire. * Lily Tuck, author of Sisters and The Double Life of Liliane *A zoo in wartime Belfast and a young woman's fierce love for the elephant in her care come vividly to life in this beautiful, beguiling, and atmospheric debut novel. * Dominic Smith, author of The Last Painting of Sara de Vos *Cinematic in scope and brimming with emotion, The Zookeeper of Belfast imagines the life of a young woman zookeeper who, in the wake of family tragedy, develops a strong bond with an Asian elephant under her care. S. Kirk Walsh delivers a powerful depiction of the devastations of the Belfast Blitz, even as she poignantly renders her heroine's coming of age and sexual awakening. With a tender portrait of one woman's persistence at its heart, this is a soaring work of historical imagination. * Karen Olsson, author of The Weil Conjectures and All the Houses *In S. Kirk Walsh's hands, the city of Belfast, its zoo, and the creatures who resided there during the Belfast Blitz, come vividly and brilliantly alive. The Zookeeper of Belfast is impeccably researched and thrillingly suspenseful. I churned through the pages, anxious to know what became of Hettie Quin and Violet, the elephant in her charge: a heartbreaking animal heroine to rival Tarka the otter and the rabbits of Watership Down. * Louisa Hall, author of Trinity & Speak *

Read more less

Book SynopsisONE OF THE GUARDIAN'S BEST NATURE BOOKS OF 2020SHORTLISTED FOR THE RICHARD JEFFERIES SOCIETY & WHITE HORSE BOOKSHOP LITERARY PRIZE'Lovely: full of fascinating detail and anecdote, but the undertow of the virus moving in real time beneath its sunlit surface gives it a unique emotional heft.'-The Times'A literary window into the wonderful wild world during lockdown... a charming book.'-Daily Mail'An entrancing testament to nature's power to restore us to ourselves.'-Ruth PadelNature took on a new importance for many people when the coronavirus pandemic arrived, providing solace in a time of great anxiety - not least because the crisis struck at the beginning of spring, the season of light, growth, rebirth and renewal.Three writers, close friends but living in widely separated, contrasting parts of the country, resolved to record their experiences of this extraordinary spring in intimate detail, to share with others their sense of the wonder, inspiration and delight the natural world can offer.The Consolation of Nature is the story of what they discovered by literally walking out from their front doors.Trade ReviewA literary window into the wonderful wild world during lockdown...a charming book * Daily Mail *A significant and beautifully written historical record of a unique English spring -- Adam gretton * The Harrier *As our lives constrict again, the long spring lockdown already seems a lifetime ago. But that beautiful and frightening time has been perfectly captured in The Consolation of Nature by the naturalists Michael McCarthy, Jeremy Mynott and Peter Marren. Each reports from their home patches - Richmond, West Suffolk and North Wessex, respectively - to describe the progress of a record-breakingly sunny spring as human activity slowed and stilled. As a set of nature diaries it's lovely: full of fascinating detail and anecdote. But the undertow of the virus moving in real time beneath its sunlit surface gives it a unique emotional heft. When we emerge from this crisis our relationship with the natural world must change. This book surely is a record of the beginnings of that shift. -- Melissa Harrison * The Times *A powerful and moving reflection on the solace brought by nature and its power as a balm for stressed-out lives -- Caroline Lucas MPWhat joy - three of our greatest nature writers in one book! What they felt under lockdown is surely what we all felt, that primal need to be out in nature - balm for body and soul. There's acute and beautiful observation on every page, thrown into exquisite relief by the poignancy of the circumstances. Against the backdrop of anxiety and doubt, their experiences bear witness to the inspiring and ever-hopeful lesson that nature can heal itself - and us - if we let it. -- Isabella TreeThe Consolation of Nature is as scintillating, perceptive and every bit as readable as Gibert White's Selborne -- Professor Tim Birkhead, FRSThe book is an entrancing testament to nature's power to restore us to ourselves. To read it is to open your eyes to everything around you, from an egg-laying butterfly to the value of cowpats. In the company of three generous naturalists, you wander down a Lovers' Lane of close observation plus humane imagination, into the tangled bank of wild and hidden life that still goes on, despite all we have done to it, in our countryside and parks. The Consolation of Nature is a consolation in itself. -- Ruth PadelThese three distinguished writers are all steeped in the natural world, yet each is of highly individual sensibility and comes from a very distinct part of the country. For all the differences between them, they have produced a book of fundamental unity with a singular conclusion: that coronavirus and all its consequences reveal the central importance of nature to the British as a nation and to humans as a species. Their message could not be more timely. -- Mark CockerProbably the best tribute to spring since Edward Thomas's In Pursuit of Spring... A spell-binding paean to the best and worst spring ever which shows how deeply Nature absorbs, stimulates and nurtures us. -- Matthew OatesThey all write superbly and their styles and perspectives are sufficiently different to add variety to the passage... but not so different that any grates with the others. It is so beautifully written -- Mark AveryAs expected from these three authors, it is beautifully written, but it is also extremely evocative. -- Martin Harper, Global Conservation Director RSPBI was entranced by the close observations of wildlife by three eloquent and experienced naturalists during the 'lockdown year', proof, if any were needed, that nature provides succour when it is most required -- Richard Fortey, FRSCredit to three of our most distinguished nature writers...This is an entertaining and insightful diary of lockdown, which really manages to capture the essence of the unique spring of 2020 -- Stephen Moss * 2020 Round-up of Nature Books *The joy of The Consolation of Nature is the privileged glimpse into the minds of really good naturalists - and they are admirably good. There is much written about nature and about its importance to humanity, and no lack of earnest rhetoric, but to see into the intimate and personal chambers of the minds of people who love nature, who live and breathe it, who cherish it and who find it an endless source of wonder, this is the delight of this book. There are no great messages, no edicts, no cajoling of our consciences, this is simply the everyday joy that the natural world provides at a time when we need it the most. I loved savouring it, small sections at a time, the reading equivalent of a slice of cake with tea - something to look forward to and enjoy for no other reason than it is a treat. That is not to say it is without wisdom, there is so much understated wisdom on every page, but it is for the reader to find and absorb for themselves and to ponder in a gentle way, like turning over a leaf and finding butterfly eggs, or suddenly spotting a buzzard high over London. J B Haldane was right when he said the world will not perish for lack of wonders but lack of wonder. This is a book that infuses the reader with wonder on every page. -- Mary Colwell-Hector

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Do you need a human in the first place? If you do, do not adopt a human on impulse. You may not get the right one for your lifestyle.'George the Cat is the feline world's favourite agony aunt. Now he brings us his irresistible, hilarious A-Z guide for fellow felines to help them navigate the human world, understand their sometimes weird and idiotic behaviour, and help turn human failings to feline advantages. Includes advice on how to move a sleeping human to the very edge of their bed, enjoy the use of their empty boxes before they're thrown out, and to get doors opened for you whether or not you have a private catflap.George also has a word of advice for humans: 'Don't let your cat get his paws on this book!'For fans of Secret Thoughts Cats Have About Humans and 100 Ways for A Cat to Train Its Human by Celia Haddon.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCompelling . . . Clark's enthusiasm shines through on every page' Sunday Times'An engaging and lively history' Financial Times__________A thin, invisible layer of air surrounds the Earth, sustaining all known life on the planet and creating the unique climates and weather patterns that make each part of the world different.In Firmament, atmospheric scientist and science communicator Simon Clark offers a rare and accessible tour of the ins and outs of the atmosphere and how we know what we know about it. From the workings of its different layers to why carbon dioxide is special, from pioneers like Pascal to the unsung heroes working in the field to help us understand climate change, Firmament introduces us to an oft-overlooked area of science and not only lays the ground work for us to better understand the debates surrounding the climate today, but also provides a glimpse of the future that is possible with this knowledge in hand.__________Trade ReviewAn engaging account of something essential to life on Earth yet barely understood by most people: the atmosphere. If you don't know your stratosphere from your troposphere, you will after reading this lively history... all the more powerful thanks to a final chapter that explains how this complex system is changing, and what that means for the future of humanity. -- Financial TimesThe author's enthusiasm shines through every page of this captivating guide to our unpredictable weather... He serves up high drama in balloons, deep ice drilling in the Antarctic, and through it all draws out the patterns in our seemingly chaotic weather - and the science behind them - with clarity and verve. - Sunday Times Simon Clark writes with a lightness and enthusiasm that ensures that what goes on above us doesn't go over our heads. - Irish Independent

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A colourful series that celebrates the many ways animals enrich our relationships and our lives' Karin SlaughterIt's become obvious that the time has come to have Pushkin, the Russian Blue tom, and Titus, the ginger moggy queen, neutered. This was indeed the plan for Fannie, the tortoiseshell, but with her longed-for pregnancy well under way it must now be postponed. Fannie's due date for her kittens arrives and, in the time-honoured tradition of cats and the best laid plans, unexpected problems arise.Following this drama, the household finds itself in turmoil again with the arrival of a black Bengal kitten, called Gilly, who disrupts the peace of both cats and people resident in The Coach House. . . With a fine eye and ear for the world of natural history, Marilyn Edwards writes about rural living with charm and passion - but it is her observation of cats and their ways that make her books so utterly magical.**Fully illustrated throughout**Praise for the Moon Cottage books:'My all-time favourite cat book' Jacqueline Wilson'Cat lovers will adore this book . . . A tender story of love between the author and her cats' Celia Haddon'All the many delights and a few of the heartaches of a life with cats are told with charm and wit. A vivid, honest, observant and involving book' Desmond MorrisTrade ReviewPraise for The Cats of Moon Cottage:My all-time favourite cat book -- Jacqueline WilsonAt once engaging an uplifting - a colourful chronicle that celebrates the many ways animals enrich our relationships and our lives -- Karin SlaughterCat lovers will adore this book . . . A tender story of love between the author and her cats -- Celia HaddonAll the many delights and a few of the heartaches of a life with cats are told with charm and wit. A vivid, honest, observant and involving book -- Desmond Morris

Read more less

Book SynopsisINTRODUCED BY PAUL KINGSNORTH, Booker-shortlisted author of The Wake'I thought that there were two rules in life - never count the cost, and never do anything unless you can do it wholeheartedly. Now is the time to live.' Artist and wanderer Everett Ruess left home at the age of sixteen to immerse himself in the harsh desert landscapes of the American Southwest. With only his donkeys for company, driven by an insatiable longing for beauty and experience, he ventured ever further from civilisation and into the wilderness of Navajo country. In 1934, at the age of twenty, he vanished without trace in Utah, a disappearance that remains unsolved to this day. Through letters, diary excerpts and poems - charting not only his rugged adventures and his exquisite nature writing but his progression as a writer, and into adulthood - and with commentary by W. L. Rusho, A Vagabond for Beauty tells his remarkable story.

Read more less

Book Synopsis*Levison Wood's documentary series on WALKING WITH ELEPHANTS is available to watch now on Channel 4*This book comes at a critical time. Fifty years ago, Africa was home to just over 1.3 million elephants, but by 1990 the number had halved. Meanwhile in the span of a lifetime, the human population has more than doubled. In Levison Wood's The Last Giants, he explores the rapid decline of one of the world's favourite animals. Filled with stories from his own time spent travelling with elephants in Africa, and documenting their migration in his Channel 4 series, Walking With Elephants, the book is a passionate wake-up call for this endangered species we take for granted. The Last Giants was written to inspire us all to act - to learn more and help save the species from permanent extinction.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Earthshot concept is simple: Urgency + Optimism = Action. We have ten years to turn the tide on the environmental crisis, but we need the world's best solutions and one shared goal - to save our planet.It's not too late, but we need collective action now. The Earthshots are unifying, ambitious goals for our planet which, if achieved by 2030, will improve life for all of us, for the rest of life on Earth, and for generations to come. They are to:· Protect and Restore Nature· Clean our Air· Revive our Oceans· Build a Waste-Free World· Fix our ClimateEARTHSHOT: HOW TO SAVE OUR PLANET is the first definitive book about how these goals can tackle the environmental crisis, from rainforests to coral reefs, via wilderness, cities and in our own homes. It is a critical contribution to the most important story of the decade.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAward-winning producer and journalist Daire Whelan had reached the end of another busy week and couldn't shake the feeling that life was passing him by too quickly. Vowing to make a change, he decided to commit to a year of fly fishing and set about planning his route through the wild and rugged landscape of Ireland. Here, in Haunted by Waters: A Journey into the Irish Countryside we travel with Daire throughout a season of fly fishing. But as he searches for a sense of meaning, meeting kindred spirits as he explores the rivers and lakes, Daire finds himself rediscovering the majestic beauty of his native country. From fishing on our most secluded bays and wildest loughs in Connemara and Kerry, to casting a line on the rippling waters of the Suir in Tipperary, catching salmon on the Blackwater in Waterford, and the serenity of the Dodder in Dublin on a workday afternoon, Haunted by Waters is an evocative and stunning love letter to Ireland through a sport rich in tradition and storytelling.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Wise, challenging and offering some unexpected laughter in the dark, this is a rational and insightful account of the sixth great extinction event. Peter Marren is a brilliant writer and a national treasure.' PATRICK BARKHAM'Thoughtful, fascinating and very timely.' STEPHEN MOSS'Important and thought-provoking.' CAROLINE LUCAS, GREEN PARTY MP'Essential reading. Marren makes a page-turner out of Armageddon.' SIMON BARNES'In his characteristic style Peter Marren has humanised the story of wildlife losses with humour and wit but also with his enormous knowledge and deep love for the living world.' MARK COCKERWe are in the midst of an extinction event: the sixth mass extinction on earth and one entirely caused by mankind. All species become extinct sooner or later, but we have accelerated that natural process several hundredfold and now, it is happening right in front of our eyes. Extinction has a terrifying finality to it. And many species have already been lost to us forever; there is little we can do about that.What we can do, however, is reflect, remember, and ultimately acknowledge the unvarnished truth. We must see the natural world as it is, and not as we might want it to be. Our trajectory is one that has benefited one species alone - humankind. For all other beings, from mammals to fish, from birds to insects and coral, from plants to lichens and fungi, the future, for better or worse, is in our hands.Trade ReviewWise, challenging and offering some unexpected laughter in the dark, this is a rational and insightful account of the sixth great extinction event that we are all creating. It also contains the best succinct summary of the conservation movement in Britain that I've ever read. Peter Marren is a brilliant writer and a national treasure. -- Patrick BarkhamAfter They're Gone tackles one of the huge, uncomfortable but absolutely necessary and unavoidable themes of our times. In his characteristic style Peter Marren has humanised the story of wildlife losses with humour and wit but also with his enormous knowledge and deep love for the living world. -- Mark Cocker, author and naturalistSurely one of the best written books about the current extinction crisis in animals, plants and fungi, by one who has spent a lifetime working in the conservation of the organisms he loves. Marren's tour through British wildlife in particular combines common sense and clarity of vision with a poignant sense of loss for the richness of the past. -- Richard Fortey, FRSImportant and thought-provoking -- Caroline Lucas, Green Party MPEssential reading: Marren makes a page-turner out of Armageddon. -- Simon BarnesA characteristically thoughtful, fascinating and very timely book on the process of extinction - and why it matters not just for the future of the natural world, but for us all. -- Stephen Moss, Naturalist and AuthorFrom the Xerces blue to the Labrador duck, from the giant earwig to the golden frog, Peter Marren offers us in After They've Gone a litany of wildlife loss across the world as distressing as it is gripping; and his account of the extinction of the baiji, the legendary Chinese river dolphin, will break your heart -- Michael McCarthy, author of THE MOTH SNOWSTORMHis humour keeps the reader from despairing while his love of the natural world is an inspiration to help where we can * Irish Independent *Nothing is more final than extinction, or more brutal... British nature writer Peter Marren covers the subject with admirable brio * Financial Times *

Read more less

'A delightful storybook . . . a portrait of our whole world created from the contents of the ground' Literary Review'A real cabinet of curiosities' Sunday TimesFrom the hematite used in cave paintings to the moldavite that became a TikTok sensation; from the stolen sandstone of Scone to the unexpected acoustics of Stonehenge; from crystal balls to compasses, rocks and minerals have always been central to our story.3,000 years ago Babylonians constructed lapidaries - books that tried to pin down the magical secrets of rocks. In Lapidarium, renowned art critic Hettie Judah explores the unexpected stories behind sixty stones that have shaped and inspired human history, from Dorset fossil-hunters to Chinese philosophers, Catherine the Great to Michelangelo.Discover why alchemists sought cinnabar and sulphur. Unearth the mystery of the tuff statues of Rapa Nui, the lost amber room of Frederick of Prussia and the scandal of Flint Jack. Find out how a Greek monster created coral, moon rock explains the history of Earth's only satellite and obsidian inspired the world's favourite computer game. Stone by stone, story by fascinating story, Lapidarium builds into a dazzling, epoch-spanning adventure through human culture, and beyond.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom one of Britain's best-loved comedians comes this wonderfully funny, sharp and touching memoir and a celebration of the bond between man and dog - an autobidography, if you will.'I loved The Lick of Love. It's often insightful, sometimes hilarious, frequently filthy - I'm a cat person, but if anything were ever to convince me to get a dog, it would be this' Joanne Harris'. . . wise and perceptive, and funny and moving. Each dog you meet marks a different chapter of your life and Julian writes about it so BEAUTIFULLY' Joanna Cannon'A quirky and witty excavation of memory lane in the company of his furry canine friends' Dame Joan CollinsThe Lick of Love takes us on a tour of Julian's colourful life - and wherever life has taken him, Julian has had a dog by his side. Fanny the Wonder Dog, who came into Julian's life when he was somewhat adrift, propelled him up the ranks of the alternative comedy circuit and onto television. Valerie, the whippet cross-breed escorted Julian through his forties, the Germaine Greer to his Bernard Manning. Albert, a jaunty geezer type who was sent to acclimatise Julian to middle age and helped him seduce his now husband, before being joined by naughty but nice Gigi, an unpredictable fur bullet of a dog. These canine characters have been there, bearing witness, on and off stage. Whether writing about encounters in seedy London nightclubs, finding success on television with Sticky Moments, the death of his partner, that Normant Lamont joke, a narrow squeak with a thwarted eastern European plot to kidnap him, his move to the country, or finally settling down, falling in love and getting married, Julian's unique voice bounces off the page. Ultimately, The Lick of Love is the story of a fascinating life and a love letter to the dogs that have played a loving and near constant part of it. Told with humour and great honesty, this promises to be one of the best memoirs of the year. 'Whatever else is going on, it is the water bowl in the kitchen, the dog hair on my jumper, the knowing gaze from the dog in the basket beside me that comforts me and tells me that all is well.' JCTrade ReviewI loved The Lick of Love. It's often insightful, sometimes hilarious, frequently filthy - I'm a cat person, but if anything were ever to convince me to get a dog, it would be this * Joanne Harris *I felt the Licks of Love on every page... It's quite simply an uplifting read, with bits of drama and tears thrown in * Dana Gillespie *. . . wise and perceptive, and funny and moving. Each dog you meet marks a different chapter of your life and Julian writes about it so BEAUTIFULLY * Joanna Cannon *Clary does write so beautifully about his dogs. He describes Albert as "compact and muscular, with short legs that turn outwards like the balletic supports of a Queen Anne footstool" -- Deborah Ross * The Times *Those of us of a certain age remember Fanny the Wonder Dog, but the caustic comic brings his other canine companions vividly to life too * Telegraph *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'An insightful book with sparkling wit and humour that will appeal to new and seasoned readers of palaeontology.'Dr Anjana Khatwa, TV presenter and Earth ScientistIt is difficult to conceive of the vast scale of the history of life on Earth, from the very first living organisms sparking into life in hydrothermal deep-sea vents to the dizzying diversity of life today. The evolution of life is a sweeping epic of a tale, with twists and turns, surprising heroes and unlikely survivors. The Earth beautifully distils this complex story into a meaningful scale. In taking a closer look at 47 carefully selected organisms over fifteen periods in our planetary history, this book tells the whole story of life on Earth, and the interconnectedness that unites us through our ecosystems and planetary history.Prepare to be confounded by the ingenuity of evolutionary biologies, humbled by our own brief part in this epic history, and disquieted by our disproportionate impact on the world we call home.'An extraordinarily accessible and informative biography of life seen through the many forms it has generated and preserved in stone, beautifully presented. From tales of the well-known stars of palaeontology like Archaeopteryx to the many-sided cultural stories of the earliest bee fossil, everyone will learn something new.'Thomas Halliday, bestselling author of Otherlands: A World in the MakingTrade ReviewThis ambitious new book provides insights into 47 species that have defined how life has evolved on our planet. With an eye towards those who are new to science, the book is cleverly written with a light touch to draw you into remarkable worlds with astonishing revelations. I particularly love how the punchy, bite sized chunks of information are easily digestible over a breakfast morning read as your favourite cereal. Elsa has achieved an extraordinary feat - an insightful book with sparkling wit and humour that will appeal to new and seasoned readers of palaeontology. -- Dr Anjana Khatwa, TV presenter and Earth ScientistBeyond interesting facts and unusual animals, what ties it all together and elevates this book is the writing, both on account of the excellent explanations and the beautiful phrasing... [Panciroli] injects a degree of poetry that makes you see extinct organisms in a new light...The combination of interesting popular science facts, inspired writing, and a mission to correct common misconceptions make this book easy to recommend, and it would make for a great gift. * The Inquisitive Biologist *An extraordinarily accessible and informative biography of life seen through the many forms it has generated and preserved in stone, beautifully presented. From tales of the well-known stars of palaeontology like Archaeopteryx to the many-sided cultural stories of the earliest bee fossil, everyone will learn something new. -- Thomas Halliday, bestselling author of Otherlands: A World in the Making

Read more less

Book Synopsis"Everything looked perfect. Sand - unique Baltic sand, the best in the world - and the calm sea. But wait. Something was amiss. Something was wrong"It starts with a day at the beach. A single white sock that somehow spoils everything. It's enough to send writer and ornithologist Stanislaw Lubienski on a quest to understand what we throw away, where it goes and whether it will be our legacy. By analysing items he unearths on his trips into nature - a plastic bottle, a tube of Russian penis-enlargement cream, a cigarette butt, an empty aerosol can - tracing their origins and explaining the harm they can do, he shows how consumer society has developed out of control, to the point of environmental catastrophe.He also looks with a birdwatcher's eye at how various animals have come to adapt to and even rely on our rubbish, and interrogates the cultural significance of waste and the origins of our throw-away lifestyles. Finally, he adds a personal touch by examining his own "environmental neurosis" and by going out with refuse crews to watch them work.While Lubienski never hectors his readers, nor shames them, his clear-eyed, persuasive and humble polemic reminds us what we, as individuals, can and cannot do to address an apocalyptic issue while there's still something worth saving.Translated from the Polish by Zosia Krasodomska-JonesTrade ReviewBeautifully written and impeccably researched, this profoundly significant book digs deep into the world of waste and is a stark reminder of human impact on our planet. Fascinating, eye-opening and deeply thought-provoking - a hugely important and utterly compelling work -- TRACEY WILLIAMS * author of Adrift: The Curious Tale of a Lego Lost at Sea *This is only outwardly a book about trash. In fact, it is a sad and bitter report on the current state of the world * Gazeta Wyborcza *There's no hiding the fact that for most of us reading this book will be a lesson in preparing for the apocalypse, and a brutal stripping away of our illusions . . . But if we then sink into 'ecological neurosis', it's a sign that we're on the right path to liberating the Earth from the tyranny of trash * Polityka *Although the picture Lubienski paints is alarming, his engaging style and avoidance of histrionics make this a surprisingly enjoyable read * Literary Review *Compelling and hard-hitting, a bold dive into the rubbish heap piling up around us. Lubienski forces us to ask ourselves, how can we live better -- LEE SCHOFIELD, author of Wild Fell

Read more less

Book Synopsis"Everything looked perfect. Sand - unique Baltic sand, the best in the world - and the calm sea. But wait. Something was amiss. Something was wrong"It starts with a day at the beach. A single white sock that somehow spoils everything. It's enough to send writer and ornithologist Stanislaw Lubienski on a quest to understand what we throw away, where it goes and whether it will be our legacy. By analysing items he unearths on his trips into nature - a plastic bottle, a tube of Russian penis-enlargement cream, a cigarette butt, an empty aerosol can - tracing their origins and explaining the harm they can do, he shows how consumer society has developed out of control, to the point of environmental catastrophe.He also looks with a birdwatcher's eye at how various animals have come to adapt to and even rely on our rubbish, and interrogates the cultural significance of waste and the origins of our throw-away lifestyles. Finally, he adds a personal touch by examining his own "environmental neurosis" and by going out with refuse crews to watch them work.While Lubienski never hectors his readers, nor shames them, his clear-eyed, persuasive and humble polemic reminds us what we, as individuals, can and cannot do to address an apocalyptic issue while there's still something worth saving.Translated from the Polish by Zosia Krasodomska-JonesTrade ReviewBeautifully written and impeccably researched, this profoundly significant book digs deep into the world of waste and is a stark reminder of human impact on our planet. Fascinating, eye-opening and deeply thought-provoking - a hugely important and utterly compelling work -- TRACEY WILLIAMS * author of Adrift: The Curious Tale of a Lego Lost at Sea *This is only outwardly a book about trash. In fact, it is a sad and bitter report on the current state of the world * Gazeta Wyborcza *There's no hiding the fact that for most of us reading this book will be a lesson in preparing for the apocalypse, and a brutal stripping away of our illusions . . . But if we then sink into 'ecological neurosis', it's a sign that we're on the right path to liberating the Earth from the tyranny of trash * Polityka *Although the picture Lubienski paints is alarming, his engaging style and avoidance of histrionics make this a surprisingly enjoyable read * Literary Review *Compelling and hard-hitting, a bold dive into the rubbish heap piling up around us. Lubienski forces us to ask ourselves, how can we live better -- LEE SCHOFIELD, author of Wild Fell

Read more less

Book Synopsis Learn to transform your outdoor space into a flourishing, vibrant garden with this fail-safe guide.Gardening expert Ellen Mary takes you through every step of gardening, from the basics of understanding your space and decoding plant labels, to common pests and how to keep your plants alive once they're in the ground. Packed full of practical information, this book is relevant for any beginner gardener, no matter what type of outdoor space you have - whether you're looking for ideas for green-filled balconies, or larger low-maintenance plots. You'll also find tailored advice for different levels of time investment, whether you have just 10 minutes or 4 hours per week to spend in your garden.Once you've got the basics covered, you'll learn key gardening skills including:- Planting flower beds- How and when to prune- Composting correctly- How to grow a lawn, trees and rosesSo, flex those green fingers, get your hands dirty and enjoy the process of creating a beautiful, blooming garden.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscover the best of Britain's rambles, all year round.Britain is brimming with stunning walks, and this go-to guide sets out our 40 favourite routes around the UK. Arranged by season, each walk includes detailed route instructions, a map, and notes about landmarks and wildlife to keep an eye out for.Amble through bluebell-carpeted West Country woodlands in spring, and explore North Yorkshire's limestone slopes ablaze with wildflowers in early summer. Experience the fiery autumnal hues of the Wye Valley forest, or take a winter walk to see the fallow deer in Richmond Park.We've included a beautiful selection of varied walks all over the UK, from short country strolls to challenging hill hikes, gentle woodland wanders to breathtaking cliff-path adventures, there are routes to cater for all levels of fitness and experience.So, pack your bag, grab your boots and join us for a ramble around our beautiful landscape.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe New York Times Editors' ChoiceNPR Science Friday Book Club SelectionAn intimate and revelatory dive into the world of the beaver-the wonderfully weird rodent that has surprisingly shaped American history and may save its ecological future.From award-winning writer Leila Philip, BEAVERLAND is a masterful work of narrative science writing, a book that highlights, though history and contemporary storytelling, how this weird rodent plays an oversized role in American history and its future. She follows fur trappers who lead her through waist high water, fur traders and fur auctioneers, as well as wildlife managers, PETA activists, Native American environmental vigilantes, scientists, engineers, and the colourful group of activists known as beaver believers.Beginning with the early trans-Atlantic trade in North America, Leila Philip traces the beaver's profound influence on our nation's early economy and feverish western expansion, its first corporations and multi-millionaires. In her pursuit of this weird and wonderful animal, she introduces us to people whose lives are devoted to the beaver, including a Harvard scientist from the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, who uses drones to create 3-dimensional images of beaver dams; and an environmental restoration consultant in the Chesapeake whose nickname is the "beaver whisperer".What emerges is a poignant personal narrative, a startling portrait of the secretive world of the contemporary fur trade, and an engrossing ecological and historical investigation of these heroic animals who, once trapped to the point of extinction, have returned to the landscape as one of the greatest conservation stories of the 20th century. Beautifully written and impeccably researched, BEAVERLAND reveals the profound ways in which one odd creature and the trade surrounding it has shaped history, culture, and our environment.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less