The Peregrine, The Hill of Summer, and Diaries: The Complete Works of J. A. Baker
by John Fanshawe (Editor), J. A. Baker
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Reissue of J. A. Bakerâe(tm)s extraordinary classic of British nature writing Despite the association of peregrines with the wild, outer reaches of the British Isles, The Peregrine is set on the flat marshes of the Essex coast, where J A Baker spent a long winter looking and writing about the visitors from the uplands âe" peregrines that spend the winter hunting the huge flocks of pigeons and waders that share the desolate landscape with them. Including original diaries from which The show more Peregrine was written and its companion volume The Hill of Summer, this is a beautiful compendium of lyrical nature writing at its absolute best. Such luminaries as Richard Mabey, Robert Macfarlane, Ted Hughes and Andrew Motion have cited this as one of the most important books in 20th Century nature writing, and the bestselling author Mark Cocker has provided an introduction on the importance of Baker, his writings and the diaries âe" creating the essential volume of Baker's writings. Since the hardback was published in 2010, papers, maps, and letters have come to light which in turn provide a little more background into J A Bakerâe(tm)s history. Contemporaries âe" particularly from while he was at school in Chelmsford âe" have kindly provided insights, remembering a school friend who clearly made an impact on his generation. In the longer term, there is hope of an archive of these papers being established, but in the meantime, and with the arrival of this paperback edition, there is a chance to reveal a little more of what has been learned. Among fragments of letters to Baker was one from a reader who praised a piece that Baker had written in RSPB Birds magazine in 1971. Apart from a paper on peregrines which Baker wrote for the Essex Bird Report, this article âe" entitled On the Essex Coast âe" appears to be his only other published piece of writing, and, with the kind agreement of the RSPB, it has been included in this updated new paperback edition of Bakerâe(tm)s astounding work. show lessTags
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Beautifully written account of one man's obsession with a bird of prey. Condensing ten years worth of observations into one "winter", Baker's prose is lyrical, poetic and vivid. Indeed it is some of the best nature writing ever published.
This volume contains all of Baker's writings (two books and an RSPB article) plus edited extracts from his diaries. A must read for anyone with an interest in the natural world.
This volume contains all of Baker's writings (two books and an RSPB article) plus edited extracts from his diaries. A must read for anyone with an interest in the natural world.
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- The Peregrine, The Hill of Summer, and Diaries: The Complete Works of J. A. Baker
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