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An imposing, life-size oil painting dominates the main meeting room at the RSPB’s base in the heart of England: ‘the man above the fireplace’ – always present, rarely mentioned. Curious about the person in the portrait, the author began a quest to rediscover William Henry Hudson (1841–1922). It became a mission of restoration: stitching back together the faded tapestry of Hudson’s life, re-colouring it in places and adding new threads from the testaments of his closest friends.
This book traces the unassuming field naturalist’s path through a dramatic and turbulent era: from Hudson’s journey to Britain from Argentina in 1874 to the unveiling by the prime minister of a monument and bird sanctuary in his honour 50 years later, in the heart of Hyde Park – a place where the young immigrant had, for a time, slept rough. At its core, this extraordinary story reveals Hudson’s deep influence on the creation of his beloved Bird Society by its founding women, and the rise of the conservation movement. It reveals the strange magnetism of this mysterious man from the Pampas – unschooled, battle-scarred and once penniless – that made his achievements possible, and left such a profound impression on those who knew him.
By the end of his life, Hudson had Hollywood studios bidding for his work. He was a household name through his luminous and seminal nature writing, and the Bird Society had at last reached the climax of a 30-year campaign, working to create the first global alliance of bird protectionists. A century after Hudson’s death, this is a long-overdue tribute to perhaps our most significant – and most neglected – writer-naturalist and wildlife campaigner.
Publisher: Pelagic Publishing
ISBN: 9781784273286
Number of pages: 360
Weight: 580 g
Dimensions: 234 x 156 mm
This is a warm and welcome representation of an exceptional man - Jack Watkins, Country Life
Jameson has done a wonderful job in researching Hudson’s life... It is fascinating. - Mark Avery, author and environmental campaigner
...an intimate and engrossing account. Conor is a consummate story teller. His enthusiasm is infectious and he has done the hard yards of research... I enjoyed this book immensely - Ian Carter, British Birds
Impeccably researched... sparkles with skilfully drawn portraits of Hudson's female collaborators [and] such friends as "Don Roberto". A creative blend of detective work and narrative intuition - Christoph Irmscher, Wall Street Journal
Plaudits to Conor Mark Jameson for his timely biography of a fascinating naturalist. - James Wright, The Wryneck
...through his tireless and often inventive research (which must have taken many hours), Jameson has provided as fully-rounded a portrait as conceivable, with plentiful insights and anecdotes - RSPB Book Club
It is evident that the book is well researched, with Jameson drawing on a broad range of sources, and it is well written. It is refreshing to see a biographer’s obvious interest in his or her subject come through so clearly, in a genre where the scholarly approach usually restricts such personal reflection. - Mike Toms, British Trust for Ornithology
A must read for anyone with an interest in British ornithological history. - Ian Paulsen, The Birdbooker Report
I for one am grateful to the author for reacquainting me with [Hudson] and vastly expanding my knowledge of him. - Bo Beolens, Fatbirder
This excellent book justifiably puts Mr Hudson right up there with the finest. - John Miles, Birdwatching Magazine
Jameson does a masterly job in bringing together the threads ,,, an excellent and entertaining tour of a fascinating life - this book should be in the collection of everyone who has an interest in nature writers, birds or environmental campaigning as well as anyone who fancies a rattling good story with a colourful cast of English eccentrics and Edwardian radicals. - Richard Jefferies Society Journal
I've got Hudson at last and it really is a fascinating story - I remember him looking down on Council meetings at Sandy and now its great to know why he's there. - Rod Leslie, former RSPB trustee
This is a compelling tribute to Hudson who would be delighted to know that many of the bird species lost in the Victorian era are now returning. - Angela Wintle, Sussex Life
I found this book to be beautifully written, with stories from places visited by Hudson and consider it to be a great read for anyone interested in birds and conservation. - Dianne Farrar, BNA News Bulletin
...rich in biographical details ... lovingly and comprehensively researched ... The narrative flows smoothly, is eminently readable and provides great insight - S. James Reynolds, The Conversation
Jameson has uncovered new material and made this account of Hudson’s time in England fresh and intriguing, through a combination of painstaking research and lucid writing... this exemplary tribute deserves to be widely read - Richard Mearns, Scottish Birds
Jameson's book does a fantastic job... I’d urge anyone with an interest in ornithology, or conservation in general, to read this book immediately. - Emilie Pearson, Evolve
Jameson has produced a fascinating portrait of an inspirational figure: a great campaigner and influencer, and an accomplished naturalist. It is a great read. - James Lowen, Neotropical Birding
Jameson, true to the title of the book, helps the reader appreciate his own pathway as a biographer (often complicated and sometimes frustrating) to finding the essential qualities that defined W. H. Hudson. It is a book, both original and authentic in tone, that is at once informative, provocative, and instructive. Foremost, however, it is an indispensable contribution to our understanding one of Britain’s earliest and most significant environmental writers. - Professor Alan Rauch, The British Society for Literature and Science
...a rich mine of information enlivened by some excellent photographs - Tim Birkhead, Archives of Natural History
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