Birdsong in a Time of Silence

May 20, 2024 7:10 AM

Author:Steven Lovatt

A lyrical celebration of birdsong, and the rekindling of a deep passion for nature.

'At this time of year, blackbirds never simply fly: instead, like reluctantly retired officers, they're always "on manoeuvres", and it's easy to see from their constant agitation that for them every flower bed is a bunker, every shed a redoubt and every hedge-bottom a potential place of ambush'

As the world went silent in lockdown, something else happened; for the first time, many of us started becoming more aware of the spring sounds of the birds around us. Birdsong in a Time of Silence is a lyrical, uplifting reflection on these sounds and what they mean to us.

From a portrait of the blackbird - most prominent and articulate of the early spring singers - to explorations of how birds sing, the science behind their choice of song and nest-sites, and the varied meanings that people have brought to and taken from birdsong, this book ultimately shows that natural history and human history cannot be separated. It is the story of a collective reawakening brought on by the strangest of springs.

Reviews

A delightful meditation on the wonder of birdsong, and how it helped us at a moment of crisis

—— Stephen Moss

This is a joyous and profound meditation on birdsong and what it means to us, a book that brings to life an essential part of the natural world that most of us take so much for granted that we scarcely notice it

—— PD Smith , Guardian (Book of the Day)

Lovatt's approach is fresh, joyful and uncomplicated. Birdsong in a Time of Silence recalls a spring we will never forget but also reminds us that the pandemic grew out of our disregard for nature, and could presage ecological disaster

—— Nicola Chester , Financial Times

This is a lyrical, exhilarating work of utter loveliness

—— Saga

Beautifully observed... exhilaratingly original... [Written with] exquisite prose that soars as high as his beloved birds

—— Bel Mooney , Daily Mail

Astonishing

—— Daily Mail

What's striking is Peter's constant optimism, bravery and his ability to find radical answers to problems that have confounded Britain's brightest minds

—— Daily Telegraph

Life-affirming . . . The most extraordinary thing about scientist Dr Peter Scott-Morgan, aside from his optimism, is his relentless capacity for joy

—— Daily Mail

A soaring love story

—— Financial Times

Fascinating and extremely moving

—— Sun

Breathtaking . . . We were mesmerised by the boundless creative intelligence, positivity and love that pours from these pages. Profoundly inspiring

—— Attitude

The astonishing true story behind the primetime Channel 4 documentary about Peter Scott-Morgan, the first person to combine his very humanity with artificial intelligence and robotics to become a full cyborg. His discovery means that his terminal diagnosis is negotiable, something that will rewrite the future - and change the world

—— GQ

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