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 PublishingISBN: 9781784273286Weight: 580 gDimensions: 234 x 156 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
This is a warm and welcome representation of an exceptional man
Jameson has done a wonderful job in researching Hudson's life... It is fascinating.
...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
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
Plaudits to Conor Mark Jameson for his timely biography of a fascinating naturalist.
...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
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.
A must read for anyone with an interest in British ornithological history.
I for one am grateful to the author for reacquainting me with (Hudson) and vastly expanding my knowledge of him.
This excellent book justifiably puts Mr Hudson right up there with the finest.
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