Crow (Animal) (Paperback)

by Boria Sax (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In this vivid and enjoyable meditation on crows in art, literature and history, Sax (The Serpent and the Swan: The Animal Bride in Folklore and Literature), a scholar at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York, gives the genus Corvus the enthusiastic treatment it deserves. Crows have always preoccupied people-as tricksters and crop thieves, as harbingers of death or creators of the world, as models of marital fidelity and bearers of prophecy. But Sax’s book is more than an endearing act of monomania. Part of a series that includes odes to dogs, ants, snakes and other cardinal companions and familiar pests, this volume emphasizes that animals and allegory are still fundamental to the human imagination. The 95 illustrations (27 in color) are beautifully reproduced: from a Japanese ink drawing of a plump crow bending plum boughs to contemporary photographs of the Yeoman Raven Master feeding his wards at the Tower of London, where they are believed to protect the English Crown. Sax can sound moralizing when he generalizes; in his discussion of Poe’s "The Raven" he asserts: "Few people ... stop to even consider what the poem might be about." The book’s organization-by region and epoch-is logical but not necessarily ideal. The inevitable overlaps in regional and historical views leads to a kind of redundancy rather than the kind of elaboration that might have arisen in a more free-ranging discussion. Sax is wholly successful, however, in transmitting the wonder and admiration with which he regards these iconic birds.
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Review
...shows myriad ways in which the crow has influenced religion, the arts, literature, and everyday routines -- Kathmerini, January 4, 2004

This authoritative and well-researched book is an ideal source of reference for anyone...charmed by these wonderful birds. -- Cage and Aviary Birds, February 7, 2004

roams divertingly over the scientific and cultural history of the "corvid" family,...tracing ambivalent responses to these mischievous birds. -- The Guardian, Nov. 22, 2003

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Reaktion Books (April 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861891946
• ISBN-13: 978-1861891945
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #329,465 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Crows Through History, February 12, 2007

By	Meredith K. Mizell (Gray Court, SC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In CROW, Boria Sax compiles a veritable treasure-trove of material about crows and other close relatives such as ravens, jackdaws, and other corvids. Sax organizes the information into mostly chronological chapters, beginning with "Mesopotamia," which deals with corvids in Biblical and ancient lore, and eventually progressing to chapters about American Indian traditions and eventually Romantic and modern treatments of the birds. Although Sax's writing style is ordered and logical, it sometimes flows a little unevenly - but I think this is largely because there is no easy way to segue between some of the anecdotes and historical accounts in CROW. Overall, however, these small quibbles don't detract from the larger picture that Sax paints of these mysterious, mischievous, and sometimes misunderstood birds. There's a good proportion of folklore, legend, and fact in CROW, and it's presented alongside appealing images of paintings and other historical works of art.

In the end, CROW is a great book to have if you're interested in learning more about corvids and their ever-changing relationship with humans throughout history.