Birds

Synopsis of Birds

The British Museum's vast collections include wonderful images of birds by artists from almost every culture. Some are primarily decorative, whereas Thomas Bewick and the Japanese artist Kitawaga Utamaro chose to show birds in realistic detail, going about their daily activities. Other artists concentrate on scientific accuracy. The endless variety of birds, their freedom of sky, land and water, and their songs have also inspired poets through the ages. Each striking image in this beautiful anthology is matched with a poem about the same species. Some were composed by our best-loved writers, including Shakespeare, Chaucer and Tennyson. Several of John Clare's affectionate poems are also included, while others have been selected from less familiar or even anonymous voices around the world. This exquisite book makes an irresistible gift for any bird-lover.