A Sparrow's Life's as Sweet as Ours: In Praise of Birds and Seasons

Description

A Sparrow's Life's as Sweet as Ours is a collection based on the Bird of the Month column in The Oldie, which is written by an instigator of the magazine, John McEwen and illustrated by renowned wildlife artist Carry Akroyd. In this beautiful new book, painter and printmaker Carry Akroyd presents a sequence of her small screenprints, full of variety and colour, that illustrate British birds in all four seasons of the year. These stunning prints give full rein to her extensive knowledge of the British landscape, and what shines out of these dynamic designs is Carry's deft capturing of each bird's characteristics set beautifully in relation to its habitat. Her consideration of each species combines accuracy with elegant simplicity. John McEwen's accompanying text is written with charm and concision, and his original columns have been updated for this new collection. John's light, eclectic approach connects snippets of ornithology, history, etymology and cookery, all expressed with wit and knowledge. His writing is spiced with poetry - from Chaucer to the present - as well as facts and stories, while personal and other anecdotes are included to inform and, above all, entertain.

Carry Akroyd is a painter and printmaker living in Northamptonshire. Landscape is her usual subject, and as a bird-noticer, they usually fly into the pictures. Accidentally becoming an illustrator, Carry has made both black and white and colour illustrations for poetry and natural history books, as well as many book jackets. She has also published two books of her own work. John McEwen was born in Berwickshire, pink-footed goose country, in 1942. John has been art critic of The Spectator and The Sunday Telegraph, author of artist monographs (currently Paula Rego), edited the ornithologist Henry Douglas-Home's The Birdman and was arts editor of The Field. He is a regular contributor to Country Life and an instigator of The Oldie, to which he contributes Bird of the Month with Carry Akroyd.

Scholarly and charming. * Daily Telegraph * Mr McEwen's short essays on resident British or migrant birds convey a deep respect and affection ... No true bird lover will be disappointed by this book. -- Jack Watkins * Country Life * Fizzing with painter and printmaker Carry Akroyd's vibrant and inventive screen-prints. -- Jonathan Elphick * BBC Wildlife magazine * The book benefits greatly from the delightful and informative texts facing each picture. -- Jonathan Elphick * BBC Wildlife magazine *