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When There Were Birds: The Forgotten History of our Connections Audiobook
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Birds are a joy and solace in troubled times, as well as a reminder of past experiences and a symbol of hope for the future. For centuries, they were also seen as a source of food, feathers, and even fuel, and being so numerous many were persecuted as pests. When There Were Birds is a social history of Britain that charts the complex connections between people and birds, set against a background of changes in the landscape and evolving tastes, beliefs, and behavior. Birds were once key elements of the nation's history, traditions, and sports, which gave rise to a rich legacy of literature, language, and myths.
No other group of animals has had such a complex relationship with humankind. Birds have been kept as pets, taught to speak, and displayed as trophies. More practically, they have been used to tell time, predict weather, foretell marriages, provide cures for ailments, convey messages, and warn of poisonous gases.
Although very familiar, birds have often seemed strange, sinister and alarming. With their ability to fly, they bridged the gap between the earth and the heavens, and superstitions were rife because they were presumed to be linked to the supernatural. When There Were Birds draws together many disparate, forgotten strands to present a story that is an intriguing and unexpectedly significant part of our heritage.
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About the Authors
Roy and Lesley Adkins are husband-and-wife historians and archaeologists and the bestselling authors of Jane Austen’s England, Nelson’s Trafalgar, Jack Tar, and The Keys of Egypt, among other books.
Roy and Lesley Adkins are husband-and-wife historians and archaeologists and the bestselling authors of Jane Austen’s England, Nelson’s Trafalgar, Jack Tar, and The Keys of Egypt, among other books.
About John Telfer
John Telfer, an Earphones Award–winning narrator, is an actor best known for playing the character of Willy Pettit in five seasons of Bergerac. He has appeared many times in various television dramas, while his parallel theatrical career has involved him in leading roles at the Bristol Old Vic, the Royal National Theatre, the Old Vic in London, and many regional theaters. He has made hundreds of radio broadcasts, and he plays the part of Alan, the vicar, in The Archers.