Customer Reviews

Art of Falconry; Being the De Arte Venandi cum Avibus of Frederick II of Hohenstaufen

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This is the perfect book for whoever wants to learn about what falconry was like a long time ago. However, I would not reccommend it to anyone who wants to learn about present day falconry. After you get your license, I would reccommend it. The reason I say this is because it can confuse the apprentice. It confused me. It does teach a lot though, and can give insight to diff. ways of training hawks. Belongs in every falconers library!

As a practical guide to modern falconry, I don't believe this book would be as helpful as some on the market, but as a primary source from the middle ages it is first rate. The intricacies and details of the hunt, the housing, the care given to the birds, hounds, etc. . . . for this, the book is priceless. If you are looking for summaries of the hunting practices in the middle ages, Marcelle Thiebeaux and Anne Rooney are among the best authors to seek. If you want the actual details of the way it was by someone living at the time it was practiced, there is no better source than Frederick II's book (and few even close).

An absolute must for anyone interested in the lore and history of falconry. Also a good primary source for historical research involving the middle ages. Here is truly an opportunity for an apprentice falconer to learn the basics, terminology, and philosophy of the sport. Frederick II practiced the art of falconry out of a profound love for the sport and for his birds. The modern falconer who reads this volume is inspired to do the same. I highly recommend that anyone who is at all interested in birds of prey obtain this book. It will quickly become one of your most treasured possessions.

This is THE book for the contemporary falconer, history fancier, or anyone interested in the birds of prey or midieval times. It is well worth the investement as it is a historical piece of literary and scientific work and an asset to any library or serious book collector. It should be manditorally read by any falconry tyro or master, for this was written by one of the forefathers of European falconry in its hay-day. I do not believe it can be duplicated in quality of training or understanding the passage and haggard hawk.

Beisdes being an incredible tract on falconry (modern ornithology has yet to surpass it, really. Doubly impressive, considering Frederick was writing some three centuries before the scientific revolution). This book is a cross-section of one of the most profound minds in all of Western history. Frederick the Second was the most magnificient of all the latter day emperors. From nothing he raised the throne of the Roman Empire to transcendant limits, defied both God and the Church, and brought in the fabled "third age" for the superstitious people of medieval Europe, who believed that he was either the bringer of Peace before the apocalypse or the Anti-Christ himself. His memorable utterance "...I am tired of being the anvil. Now I shall be the hammer!" was the inspiration behind Nietszche's work 600 years later. The Empire died with the next brilliant generation of the Hohenstaufen.

In light of all this, his book of falconry is indespensible. It shows us Frederick the Renaissance man, engaging in Scientific method in an era of revealed truths, and it shows us Frederick the hunter: shrewd, catching every detail, and always for the love of the chase. This book will amaze you to no ends!

Frederick II was one of the very few brilliant minds of the Middle Ages who opossed the Pope and the teachings of the Church, even, it is said, declaring Jesus, Moses and Muhammad [...]. Patron of arts and Science, warrior and writer, it is also said that he spoke nine toungues (in an era when most members of the highest nobility were unable even to read). He was known as Stupor Mundi (Astonishment of the World), a Pope declared him the Antichrist, was twice excommunicated, and Dante sent him to the fires of Hell in the Divine Comedy. This book, about one of his passions, hunting, should therefore be in the shelves of every learned reader of the world. It is a fantastic source of information for falconers, historians (both of the Middle Ages and of Science) and for everyone interested in the history or the life of this great King, who, when crowned, wore a robe with this inscription wrote in Arabic: "May the Emperor be received well, may he enjoy vast prosperity, great generosity and high splendor, fame and magnificent endowments, and the fulfillment of his wishes and hopes. May his days and nights go in pleasure without end or change". So be it.

I purchased this book because of my great interest in birds (not hunting) and I particularly have an interest in the other birds of his menagerie. Frederick seems to me to be a truly Renaissance man before his time who had indoor plumbing, an extensive traveling library and who was a very creative architect of many of his palaces and lodges (which were more extensive than those of others). I am still searching for more information about how the many parrots and other exotic birds were housed and cared for, though I see that (in this book) that he had a large preserve for the large wild animals (elephants, lions tigers etc) and another just for hunting birds - no mention is made of the lovely gentle creatures and their care. My especial interest is in the Umbrella Cockatoo -so well described on page 59 of this book as "white parrot" but with details and it is apparent that there were at least numerous green parrots as well. I will keep searching and if anyone knows of a book showing his care of parrots please email vldazzle at Cox.net.

I have read most of the titles that have been published in print or out of print. This is the one that covers it all. There are few who really capture the meaning of falconry. No one every did it better than Fredrick the Second. This should be a must read for anyone seriously interested in the sport.