HOW BIRDS HAVE SHAPED US
BOOK
WHEN THERE WERE BIRDS
BY ROY AND LESLEY ADKINS
LITTLE BROWN, £25 (HB)
“Never, surely, did birds sing so - blackbird and thrush, lark and black-cap and willow warbler.” When There Were Birds opens with this description of conditions along the Western Front in June 1917, as underground mines ravaged the landscape. The book is a beautiful, yet original portrait of the integral role played by birds throughout history, how they shaped the natural environment and our customs, literature and even folklore.
The social history of ornithology is injected with passion by Roy and Lesley Adkins, who are masters of their craft, welcoming readers to unexpected topics. This captivating insight into the marvels of birds reveals the enduring historical battle between humanity’s desire to protect our feathered friends (believed to be
