Reviews - The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century

1.92k reviews for:

The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century

Kirk Wallace Johnson

4.02 AVERAGE

shewreads's review against another edition

4.0

funny informative mysterious tense fast-paced

So here’s the thing— these fly-tier ~~enthusiasts~~ obsessives view bird specimens that rest in museum drawers and displays as such waste. To that I say, how selfish. Not everything on earth — especially its animals — needs to provide some practical use in order to secure value. Who are we without our curiosity? Our human desire to learn? Knowledge matters. Perhaps I sound a bit naive in this year of our lord 2025, but wgaf?? Obviously I’m feeling some outrage. These men willing to spend gobs of money for stolen feathers have the audacity to think their little hobby takes precedence over artifacts and conservation? Ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh.

Ok, rant over🙃 Loved the book— so peculiar and absorbing. The author masterfully narrates what has become known by many to be the natural history heist of the century. I’m not lying when I say I’d love to see this story adapted into a mini-series, but a Brit would have to do it. I don’t trust an American not to make it overly melodramatic and add some unnecessary romance subplot. Trust me— The Feather Thief is good as is.

hamburghoular's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous medium-paced

glowbird's review

4.75

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

Excellent audiobook. The narrator did an excellent job making the characters feel unique without falling into absurd accents. Overall the story is incredibly gripping for a crime with no obvious violence or serious malfeasance. It does highlight the ways in which humans are greedy and will justify bad behavior to possess what they want.

suzanneruth's review against another edition

3.5

informative reflective medium-paced

gsarahthelibrarian's review against another edition

4.0

Who know that this book would be so interesting? A young American flautist breaks into a museum in England and steals a bag full of dead birds so that he can sell the feathers. Feather trafficking? These guys who build Victorian flies for fishing are crazy! I had no idea that they wanted all these endangered birds' feathers. Crazy stuff and somehow the book sucked me in.