"Animals can be gross, gory, and obscene, explore the glorious world of animals from a new and fascinating perspective. "
A very modern bestiary for adults who revel in the wonder of nature, you’ll find it hard to believe, but all of these curious creatures actually exist. Author Joanna Bagniewska is a zoologist with an extraordinarily eloquent and spellbinding pen. Joined by illustrator Jennifer N.R. Smith, they have created an almost otherworldly feel to this book that I have quite fallen in love with.
Joanna warns in the introduction: “Before we start, let me warn you that this is not really a book for children”, “Animals are gross. And gory. And obscene. And I suspect that it could be difficult to address issues such as siblicide with children who are going through the phase of hating their brother or sister”.
So, be warned! 100 species have been selected from an estimated 8 to 163 million, concentrating on the elements, earth, water, and land, and animals are front and centre. She starts with the antechinus, and as my eyebrows raised and my jaw dropped, the following banana slugs had me wincing and smirking.
In other words, prepare for a world you quite possibly didn’t know existed, and I can promise that your eyes will be well and truly opened! I love the almost irreverent style of writing, but it is very clear that you are listening to an expert. While you can dip in and out of this book as each animal is described in two pages, like me you may well find yourself binge-reading.
There are serious notes to discover about conservation, but foremost this is a celebration of some of the weirdest animals out there, and as such acts as the most wondrous focus to the importance of ensuring they are still with us in the years to come. This is a book I will be telling all my friends about.
The Modern Bestiary just had to join our LoveReading Star Books, it’s absolutely blimmin fabulous and also sits as a Liz Pick of the Month.
From the familiar to the improbable, the gross to the endearing, The Modern Bestiary is a compendium of curious creatures. It includes both animals that have made headlines and those you've probably never heard of, such as skin-eating caecilians, harp sponges, or zombie worms - also known as bone-eating snot flowers.
From the familiar to the improbable, the gross to the endearing, The Modern Bestiary is a compendium of curious creatures. It includes both animals that have made headlines and those you've probably never heard of, such as skin-eating caecilians, harp sponges, or zombie worms - also known as bone-eating snot flowers.
The Modern Bestiary features in the following genres: Nature and the natural world: general interest, Liz Robinson's Picks of the Month, Recommendations, Star Books, Popular Science, Zoology and animal sciences, Animals and society, Research and information: general, Wildlife: mammals: general interest, Wildlife: aquatic creatures: general interest, Wildlife: birds and birdwatching: general interest, Wildlife: reptiles and amphibians: general interest, Wildlife: butterflies, other insects and spiders: general interest, Lifestyle, Hobbies and Leisure, Science: general issues, Mathematics and Science, Biology, life sciences, Social and ethical issues, Society and culture: general, Society and Social Sciences, Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary subjects, Wildlife: general interest
Paperback, Hardback. £11.69, down from the £12.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Modern Bestiary was written by Joanna Bagniewska and published by Wildfire an imprint of Headline Publishing Group
The Modern Bestiary has 256 pages
£11.69, reduced from £12.99. In Stock.
