Overview

A tuneful natural and cultural history of this globally renowned songbird. The robin is a small bird with a distinctive ruddy breast, at once a national treasure and a bird with a global reputation. In this superbly illustrated account, Helen F. Wilson looks at many aspects of the cherished robin, from its status as a harbinger of seasonal change and icon of Christmas, to its place in fairy tales, environmental campaigns and scientific discovery. In moving between cultural and natural histories, Robin asks wide-ranging questions: how did the robin's name travel the world? Why is the robin so melancholy? Who was Cock Robin? And how has the history of the colour red shaped the robin's ambivalent associations and unusual origin stories?

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9781789146264

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Reviews

[Wilson] has written a new book on the robin and its remarkable presence across folklore, religion, culture, painting, literature, poetry, music, Christmas and even the nicknames of a clutch of football teams. -- The Journal Wilson ranges delightfully over . . . robin lore that would not have occurred to me even to look for. -- lection Everyone's favorite garden bird is celebrated and explored in this wide-ranging, superbly illustrated volume. Taking in both natural and cultural histories, Robin addresses questions including why the bird's name has traveled around the world and why it has a reputation for melancholy. -- BBC Wildlife Magazine Wilson's debut book, Robin, offers an account of this bird, describing its place in fairy tales, environmental campaigns, and scientific discoveries alongside some truly beautiful illustrations . . . Robin is a fascinating read and Wilson asks some interesting and wide-ranging questions: how did the robin's name travel the world? Why is the robin so melancholy? Who was Cock Robin? And how has the history of the color red shaped the robin's ambivalent associations and unusual origin stories? -- Yorkshire Life Magazine Wilson magnificently weaves the history of the robin's cultural influences with facts about the bird's biology, migratory patterns, habits, and behavior. . . . Loaded with paintings, photographs, and literary references in classics like The Secret Garden. . . . This is an exceptional work for all bird enthusiasts. -- Booklist

Wilson magnificently weaves the history of the robin's cultural influences with facts about the bird's biology, migratory patterns, habits, and behavior . . . Loaded with paintings, photographs, and literary references in classics like The Secret Garden . . . This is an exceptional work for all bird enthusiasts. -- Booklist

Wilson ranges delightfully over . . . robin lore that would not have occurred to me even to look for. -- lection Wilson's debut book, Robin, offers an account of this bird, describing its place in fairy tales, environmental campaigns, and scientific discoveries alongside some truly beautiful illustrations . . . Robin is a fascinating read and Wilson asks some interesting and wide-ranging questions: how did the robin's name travel the world? Why is the robin so melancholy? Who was Cock Robin? And how has the history of the color red shaped the robin's ambivalent associations and unusual origin stories? -- Yorkshire Life Magazine Wilson magnificently weaves the history of the robin's cultural influences with facts about the bird's biology, migratory patterns, habits, and behavior. . . . Loaded with paintings, photographs, and literary references in classics like The Secret Garden. . . . This is an exceptional work for all bird enthusiasts. -- Booklist

Author Information

Helen F. Wilson is an associate professor of human geography at Durham University. She has published widely within social and cultural geography and lives in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

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