Research Catalog

Title

Falcon / Helen Macdonald.

Author

Macdonald, Helen, 1970-

Publication

London : Reaktion Books, 2016.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

223 pages : illustrations; 20 cm

Summary

A sacred god, a military tool, an erotic symbol: the falcon is a natural wonder of speed, power, beauty, and ferocity that has become embedded in human cultures in myriad ways. Helen Macdonald's Falcon examines the diverse symbolism and roles attached to the falcon throughout the centuries. Macdonald presents a cultural and natural history of the falcon that spans the globe and several millennia. Her wide-ranging survey considers the many facets of the falcon, including conservation efforts; the sport of falconry; and the use of falcons in secret military projects by the Third Reich and the U.S.space program. Falcon also explores the rich imagery of the falcon over history, including the veneration of falcons as gods in ancient Egypt, their role in erotic stories, and even the use of falcons in advertising to promote photocopiers and jet planes. Filled with illustrations and a wealth of fascinating facts, Falcon will be an enjoyable guide for ornithologists, amateur birdwatchers, and nature lovers alike.

Subject

• Falcons
• Falconry
• Falcons > Symbolic aspects
• Falcons > Conservation
• Human-animal relationships
• Animals and civilization
• Falcons in art
• Falconry in art
• Falconry in literature

Note

• Originally published: 2006 (Animal (Reaktion Books)). With new preface.
• "Associations and websites": pages 213-214.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (pages 203-212) and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Preface to the 2016 edition -- Introduction -- Natural history -- Mythical falcons -- Trained falcons -- Threatened falcons -- Military falcons -- Urban falcons -- Timeline.

ISBN

• 1780236417
• 9781780236414

OCLC

• 932385513
• SCSB-11202572

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library