"The physical quality of this book—the rich and creamy paper, the exquisitely chosen type face and ink colour, [and] illustrations that harken back to natural history books of a time now sadly lost... make this a work that will most certainly entice any ardent bibliophile and do honor to the shelf upon which it is placed.” - Well-Read Naturalist

“This is a truly wonderful book, erudite and fun.”- Elisa Segrave, Spectator

The remarkable history of Britain and its animals, told through ten iconic species
 
Have you ever wondered why we count sheep to get to sleep? Or where the phrase “red herring” comes from? Across British history, animals have been written about in poetry, painted in oils, and even recorded in law. Loved or feared, familiar or endangered, animals are everywhere to be seen.
 
In this enchanting, beautifully illustrated study, Karen R. Jones takes a journey through the history of ten animals to show the extraordinary story of “beastly” Britain. Jones looks at animals including foxes and hedgehogs, newts and beetles, ghostly hounds and even the Loch Ness Monster. She reveals the place of animals in British cultural identity and sheds new light on the most iconic moments of British history, from the Black Death to World War II.
 
The story of these isles may be told by human voices, but it is fully brought to life by listening to the squawks, bellows, and howls that make Britain what it is.