The Charm of Birds [Hardcover]

Sir Edward Grey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2001

The discovery and publication of The Cottage Book in 1999 brought the name of Sir Edward Grey—Viscount Grey of Fallodon—to the fore again after years of neglect. The longest-serving Foreign Secretary of the 20th century, he was also a naturalist and writer of the first order. First published in 1927, The Charm of Birds was an immediate popular success, but has been unavailable for many years. It deals mostly, but not exclusively, with birdsong, and is full of sensitive observation. Unlike most works of ornithology, it can be read for the pleasure of its prose alone. This handsome new edition contains all the woodcuts by Robert Gibbings that appeared in the original edition, with the addition of some of his other bird engravings.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The remarkable success of David Allen Sibley's The Sibley Guide to Birds in 2000 brought ornithology into the mainstream. Grey's 1927 volume concentrates on bird song throughout the year. The text, which is for seasoned bird-watcher and novice alike, is handsomely illustrated with numerous wood carvings.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Sir Edward Grey was born in 1862 and educated at Winchester and Oxford. He was Foreign Secretary between 1905 and 1916, and he died at Fallodon, Northumberland, in 1933.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 296 pages
• Publisher: Gollancz (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0575070587
• ISBN-13: 978-0575070585
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,829,801 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars yawn..., September 9, 2005

By 

W. Gross "winkg" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Charm of Birds (Hardcover)

I am an avid birder, but I could not finish this book. Perhaps if I were a Brit, it would have more relevance since all the descriptions are of English birds. The descriptions of bird songs through the year are very dry and not particularly interesting. The woodcuts are nice, but hardly a reason to buy this book.