Overview

Owls have existed for over sixty million years, and in the relatively short time we have shared the planet with these majestic birds they have ignited the human imagination. But even as owls continue to captivate our collective consciousness, celebrated British nature writer Miriam Darlington finds herself struck by all she doesn't know about the true nature of these enigmatic creatures. Darlington begins her fieldwork in the British Isles with her teenage son, Benji. As her avian fascination grows, she travels to France, Serbia, Spain, Finland, and the frosted Lapland borders of the Arctic for rare encounters with the Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Long-eared Owl, Pygmy Owl, Snowy Owl, and more. But when her son develops a mysterious illness, her quest to understand the elusive nature of owls becomes entangled with her search for finding a cure. In The Wise Hours, Darlington watches and listens to the natural world and to the rhythms of her home and family, inviting readers to discover the wonders of owls alongside her while rewilding our imagination with the mystery, fragility, and magnificence of all creatures.

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9781959030324

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Reviews

"""While tracing the history and science of owls, the author must confront another haunting enigma: her son's mysterious illness.""-- ""People Magazine, Book of the Week"" A beautiful book; wise and sharp-eared as its subject.--Robert Macfarlane A delight. Darlington's vision, sensitivity and word craft are vital.--Caspar Henderson, author of A New Map of Wonders A lyrical examination of the interweaving place owls hold in nature and human culture; Darlington writes with intimacy and beauty.--Jonathan C. Slaght, author of Owls of the Eastern Ice A smooth mixture of memoir and nature writing. . . . Lyrical and captivating. . . . heartfelt, enchanting, and beautifully written.-- ""Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review"" Achingly beautiful.-- ""The Guardian"" Beautiful descriptions of these magnificent creatures and their habitats.--P.D. Smith, author of City Beautiful. . . . wonderfully informative and enjoyable.-- ""Booklist"" Captivating.-- ""The Times"" Darlington brings humor, humility, and a refreshing subjectivity to her quest to understand these charismatic creatures.--Melissa Harrison, author of All Among the Barley Enchanting.--Tristan Gooley, author of How to Read Nature Flights of poetic prose raise a shiver. . . . proves we don't need life lessons to appreciate the world's marvels.-- ""The Washington Post"" Heartfelt. . . . Darlington's work is as unique and enchanting as its subjects.-- ""She Reads"" Lovely. . . . An excellent read. . . . Whether dissecting owl pellets, collecting strange samples or braving the elements (or her own foibles), Darlington brings a sense of wonder to her writing.-- ""Spectrum Culture"" Lyrical. . . . moving. . . . Dazzling.-- ""Publishers Weekly, Starred Review"" Open this book, and be thrilled to look at the owl with an even more profound sense of knowledge.-- ""The Muskogee Phoenix"" Perceptive and affecting.-- ""BIRDS"" Unfailingly precise and lovingly poetic. . . . Nature writing of the first order.-- ""The Wall Street Journal"" Vivid and engaging.-- ""Sunday Times"""

Author Information

Miriam Darlington is the author of The Wise Hours: A Journey into the Wild and Secret World of Owls and contributes frequently to The Times, The Guardian, and The Ecologist. She lives in Devon, England.

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