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chrisforrette's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5
halfmanhalfbook's review
5.0
Peregrines are one of the most impressive apex predators in this country, but it is one that we almost lost because of pesticides and persecution. They are bold, confident birds, fearing nothing else and can also claim to be the world’s fastest animal as they have been recorded at speeds in excess of 200mph in their stoop to kill their prey. Two things saved them, the banning of pesticides and they moved from the rural to the urban environment, skyscrapers replacing the cliff top eyries.
Half a century ago, J.A. Baker first published this book on these magnificent birds. The book is written as a diary, with him following on foot and bicycle a tiercel and a falcon pair over the winter over the fields and fens of Essex, he would note on his OS maps when he saw them, the prey that they had caught, and general notes on the weather and sky. What started as a fascination with all of the raptors in the region, rapidly became a passion before becoming a complete obsession. He learnt the peregrines habits, sought out their roosts and before long his knowledge of them grew to become an innate ability to know where and when they would appear.
This is the second time I have read The Peregrine, the first time was back in 2011. Since then I have managed to work my way through an awful lot of natural history books by a lot of authors, a lot of which have been good, all the authors have been passionate about their chosen subject, but none have had that obsession that Baker has. What also strikes me about this book though, is just how sharp it still is, Baker writes with brevity, precision and a style that is quite unique and uncompromising. It pulls no punches either, this in not a sanitised volume on the grace and power of the raptor, you will hear a lot about the remains of their meals is all the gory detail. What you do get though is an observer who completely understands his subject describing that moment when they stop soaring about the fens and start the hunt to the sheer adrenaline of the stoop. It is a snapshot of the time when the peregrine was on the edge of the abyss, somewhat abated now, but not completely safe. If you have not read this before then this 50th-anniversary edition with the thoughts of two other great writers, Mark Cocker and Robert Macfarlane included, is a great place to start.
Half a century ago, J.A. Baker first published this book on these magnificent birds. The book is written as a diary, with him following on foot and bicycle a tiercel and a falcon pair over the winter over the fields and fens of Essex, he would note on his OS maps when he saw them, the prey that they had caught, and general notes on the weather and sky. What started as a fascination with all of the raptors in the region, rapidly became a passion before becoming a complete obsession. He learnt the peregrines habits, sought out their roosts and before long his knowledge of them grew to become an innate ability to know where and when they would appear.
This is the second time I have read The Peregrine, the first time was back in 2011. Since then I have managed to work my way through an awful lot of natural history books by a lot of authors, a lot of which have been good, all the authors have been passionate about their chosen subject, but none have had that obsession that Baker has. What also strikes me about this book though, is just how sharp it still is, Baker writes with brevity, precision and a style that is quite unique and uncompromising. It pulls no punches either, this in not a sanitised volume on the grace and power of the raptor, you will hear a lot about the remains of their meals is all the gory detail. What you do get though is an observer who completely understands his subject describing that moment when they stop soaring about the fens and start the hunt to the sheer adrenaline of the stoop. It is a snapshot of the time when the peregrine was on the edge of the abyss, somewhat abated now, but not completely safe. If you have not read this before then this 50th-anniversary edition with the thoughts of two other great writers, Mark Cocker and Robert Macfarlane included, is a great place to start.
coys's review against another edition
3.25
Honestly probably about to say a lot of really nice things that don't entirely align with the rating, but c'est la vie baby.
I love how meditative this is. I love the dedication. I love that it's a character study of two birds, and love how one feels like they're with an old friend throughout what is, on its face, just writing about a couple specific birds (sort of -- it's complicated), day by day. The talent to pull that off is actually so impressive to me. The human sense of self, the otherness of a human watching nature, that's all gone -- these are fully fledged (heh) characters and occupants of the world in tandem with Baker, which is something to aspire to.
Ultimately it just teetered on the verge of slog, hence the slightly lower rating than it maybe deserves. The writing is very very good in many ways, but it does push up against tedium and repetition. I'm sure Baker would frown on me saying that, seeing the birds as he does, understanding their nuances in a way that a casual observer cannot, even through the magic of his narrative. But unfortunately, that was my experience.
I love how meditative this is. I love the dedication. I love that it's a character study of two birds, and love how one feels like they're with an old friend throughout what is, on its face, just writing about a couple specific birds (sort of -- it's complicated), day by day. The talent to pull that off is actually so impressive to me. The human sense of self, the otherness of a human watching nature, that's all gone -- these are fully fledged (heh) characters and occupants of the world in tandem with Baker, which is something to aspire to.
Ultimately it just teetered on the verge of slog, hence the slightly lower rating than it maybe deserves. The writing is very very good in many ways, but it does push up against tedium and repetition. I'm sure Baker would frown on me saying that, seeing the birds as he does, understanding their nuances in a way that a casual observer cannot, even through the magic of his narrative. But unfortunately, that was my experience.
dougyoung's review against another edition
4.0
A long poem dedicated to the Peregrine. Some astonishing passages and language. One of only two books I've ever read that induced me to dream about them (the other was Dracula).
bleepbloop10's review against another edition
5.0
fuck this was good. such gorgeous prose, my mans JA Baker could paint a scene.
davidlamerton's review against another edition
Comprises two books in one. Finished the first book.