Diese Serie erforscht die komplexe Bindung zwischen Menschen und Tieren, oft angesiedelt in der freien Natur oder auf Bauernhöfen. Die Erzählungen befassen sich mit den entstehenden Verbindungen, den Herausforderungen und dem tiefgreifenden Einfluss, den Tiere auf menschliche Leben haben. Leser können sich auf herzerwärmende Geschichten, Abenteuer und Lektionen über Empathie und Verständnis für die Tierwelt freuen.
Albatross looks at the place of these iconic birds in a wide variety of human cultures, from early responses by north Atlantic mariners to modern encounters, examining in detail the role the bird plays in the lives of different peoples and societies.
Foxes live throughout the world in widely different habitats from forest to desert to the Arctic. What is surprising, though, is that scientists admit that very little is actually known about the lives and habits of foxes. This book states that the reason for this, is that foxes are almost universally despised as being wicked.
A classic account of the crow, now available in B-format paperback. Boria Sax looks at the crow in myth, literature and life, from Noah's raven to films such as The Crow.
A funny, bold and provocative enquiry into what it means to be human.
Die größte Raubkatze der Erde wurde in vielen Kulturen aufgrund ihrer Schönheit, Anmut und Kraft verehrt. Heutzutage leben schätzungsweise nur noch 3200 Tiger in freier Wildbahn. Susie Green setzt sich aktiv für den Erhalt von Tigern ein und hat für dieses Buch freilebende Exemplare in Indien und anderen Ländern beobachtet. Sie räumt mit vielen Vorurteilen auf und liefert faszinierende Einblicke in die Stammes- und Kulturgeschichte des Tigers. Auszug „Ich bin den Tigern meist zufällig begegnet. Selbst, wenn sie mich verfolgten, dann nur in respektvollem Abstand, sie waren einfach neugierig und wollten wissen, was diese seltsame Kreatur, die sie nie zuvor gesehen hatten, in ihrem Revier machte. Die Hälfte aller Dinge, die ein Mensch im Urwald fürchtet, entspringt seiner Fantasie. Er ist extrem unsicher und dichtet den Tieren des Dschungels eine Grausamkeit an, die sie in Wirklichkeit gar nicht haben.“ Patrick Hanley
Dan Wylie's Crocodile tracks the 23 recognized crocodilian species across every continent bar Antarctica, and through myths, artworks and literatures around the world.
The surprising and intriguing history of the much-loved goldfish.
Aristotle characterized the elephant as the beast which passeth all others in wit and mind, and the animal has long figured in cultural artefacts, even on continents it has never inhabited. Part of the Animal series, this title describes the three remaining species - the African Bush Elephant, the African Forest Elephant, and the Asian Elephant.
Von Pegasus über Black Beauty bis zu Schattenfell in Herr der Ringe: Pferde haben in unserer Fantasie stets eine Sonderstellung eingenommen. Wie eng die Existenz der anmutigen Tiere mit unserer Kulturgeschichte verwoben ist, schildert Elaine Walker in diesem prächtig bebilderten Buch. Die Autorin beleuchtet die vielschichtigen Aspekte, die Pferde und Menschen auf der ganzen Welt über Jahrtausende verbunden haben, und in welchen Bereichen Pferde heute noch eine wichtige Rolle spielen. Aus dem Inhalt: – Vom Hyracotherium zum Equus – Pegasus, Epona & die Fohlen der Demeter – Vom Arbeitstier zum Showdarsteller
Traces the many ways humans have thought about and pictured squids.
Showcasing trout as sacred fish, table fish, farmed fish, a fish of scientific investigation, of colonial conquest and middle-class aspiration, and as a symbol of our conflicted relationship with nature, Trout contains a diverse cast of characters - from fly-fishing nuns to counterculture novelists.
Feared and revered, the wolf has been admired as a powerful hunter and symbol of the wild and reviled for its danger to humans and livestock. Garry Marvin reveals in Wolf how the ways in which wolves are imagined has had far-reaching implications for how actual wolves are treated by humans. Indigenous hunting societies originally respected the wolf as a fellow hunter, but with the domestication of animals the wolf became regarded as an enemy due to its attacks on livestock. Wolves, as a result, developed a reputation as creatures of evil. In children’s literature, they were depicted as the intruder from the wild who preys on the innocent. And in popular culture, the wolf became the creature that evil humans can transform into—the dreaded werewolf. Fear of this enigmatic creature, Marvin shows, led to an attempt to eradicate it as a species. However, with the development of scientific understanding of wolves and their place in ecological systems and the growth of popular environmentalism, the wolf has been rethought and reimagined. The wolf now has a legion of new supporters who regard it as a charismatic creature of the newly valued wild and wilderness. Marvin investigates the latest scientific understanding of the wolf, as well as its place in literature, history, and folklore, offering insights into our changing attitudes towards wolves.
An animal worshipped, slaughtered, loved and loathed, the mouse is a beguiling part of our culture and environment. Mouse explores in rich detail the stories and history of this enchanting creature, with which we not only share our domestic and urban space, but 99 per cent of our genetic makeup.
In Mosquito, Richard Jones recounts the history of mosquitoes' relationship with mankind. Drawing on scientific fact, historical evidence, and literary evocation, this book provides a colourful portrait of this tiny insect and the notorious diseases it carries.
In Rat, Jonathan Burt traces the history of the human relationship with rats, from the first archaeological finds to the genetically engineered rats of the present day, describing its role in the arts and sciences, religion and myth, psychoanalysis and medicine.
Walrus explores the intriguing and affecting history of an animal that remains on the frontline of contemporary conservation debates. Commercial walrus hunting was banned in the 1930s, and today only subsistence hunting is permitted, yet the mammal still faces an uncertain future. Shrinking pack-ice caused by global warming is causing serious problems for walrus herds, while the exploitation of arctic oil and gas resources puts further pressure on the animals. This important book combines natural, cultural and environmental histories to offer a refreshing and wonderfully illustrated account of the much-loved mammal. Walrus foregrounds the ethical dilemmas they embody, such as the continuing and intensifying conflict between the developed world and indigenous interests, and the impact of global warming on arctic animals. -- Publisher's website.
From the iconic European badger to the African honey badger, the hog badger of Southeast Asia and the North American badger, this book is the first truly global cultural history of the animal in over 30 years.
Trevor Day travels across four continents to meet the sardine in its natural environment, and he traces the fish's journey from miniscule egg to item on the dinner plate.
Few animals are as closely associated with humans as bears. Tracing the evolution of the bear family, the author discusses extinct types, such as the cave bear and the giant short-faced bear, as well as describing the eight species that exist. It explores the bear-human relationship and how human perceptions of bears have changed over time.
'Llama' charts the history of llamas and their close relatives alpacas, guanacos and vicunas. The book recounts the animal's rich natural history as well as its presence in art, literature and film.
Of more than 8,000 bird species, the swan is surely one of the most easily recognised. Airborne, the swan is a majestic sight: with its long, slender neck outstretched, it glides gracefully with slow, strong wing-beats. This title offers a comprehensive natural and cultural history of this most dignified of birds.
Tortoise is the first cultural and natural history of these long-lived and intriguing creatures, which have existed for more than 200 million years. schovat popis
Richard J. King takes us on a journey through the history, biology, cuisine and culture of lobsters, and their economic and environmental status worldwide. He also explores how the animal has inspired numerous artists, writers and thinkers including Aristotle, Dickens, Thoreau, Dali and Woody Allen.
The shark's basic design was perfected by Mother Nature 100 million years ago. This book explores the natural and cultural history of a creature that has a prominent place in mythology, the imagination, and even religion. It also analyses the ways that the shark has been sensationalised in literature and film.
Majestic, noble, brave lions, with their tawny coats and luminous eyes, have inspired countless stories, traditions and beliefs. Whether we are seduced by their beauty or drawn to danger, we want to be near them. This book draws on the scientific research, folklore, travel literature, and lion tamers' memoirs to guide readers on a cultural safari.
Whales are the largest animals ever to have lived on the earth; a large Blue Whale's tongue alone can weigh more than an elephant. This title recounts the evolutionary and ecological background, as well as the cultural history, of these extraordinary mammals, long persecuted and now celebrated throughout the world.
Tracking the hare from ancient Egypt, where a hieroglyph of the animal signified existence itself, to the serial hare works of artist Joseph Beuys, this book finds its subject in many surprising places and forms: from Crucifixion scenes, Buddhist lore and Algonquin creation myths, to witch trials, treatises on logic, and contemporary poetry.
Highly regarded woodpecker expert Gerard Gorman presents a unique natural, social and cultural history of woodpeckers.
Katherine M. Rogers beleuchtet die wichtigsten kulturhistorischen und naturgeschichtlichen Aspekte rund um den samtpfötigen Vierbeiner und vermittelt dabei spannende Einblicke in das sich wandelnde Verhältnis zwischen Mensch und Tier. Der Leser erfährt, wie Katzen in Kunst und Literatur einst präsentiert wurden und wie es heute um ihren Ruf bestellt ist. Auszug „Alexandre Dumas akzeptierte fröhlich, dass eine Katze ein unverfrorener Verräter, Gauner, Dieb, Egoist und ein undankbares Wesen ist. Ihr Egoismus ist ein Beweis für ihre Überlegenheit; die Bereitschaft des Hundes, für Menschen zu jagen, zeigt, wie dumm er ist, während die Katze eine Ausrede hat, wenn sie einen Vogel fängt, da sie ihn selber fressen will. Mark Twain schrieb: Unter allen Geschöpfen dieser Erde gibt es nur eines, das sich keiner Versklavung unterwerfen lässt. Dieses ist die Katze. Würde man Menschen mit Katzen kreuzen, würde dies die Menschen veredeln, aber die Katzen verschlechtern.“
In this book, Alan Rauch provides a comprehensive view of the dolphin, describing both its remarkable zoology and its social and cultural history.
In this richly illustrated book Victoria Dickenson explores the natural and cultural history of the rabbit, a winsome long-eared animal that hops through children's stories, myths and legends, and back yards.
In Bat Tessa Laird challenges preconceptions about these amazing animals, combining fascinating facts of bat biology with engaging portrayals of bats in mythology, literature, film, popular culture, poetry and contemporary art.
Filled with beguiling images throughout, Lizard is a unique and sometimes surprising introduction to this popular but little-understood reptile. Boria Sax describes the diversity of lizard species and traces the representation of this reptile in cultures worldwide.
For most of us, snails do not elicit feelings of warmth or affection. Apart from our repugnance at its appearance, our relationship with the snail has been influenced by the harm it has inflicted over the years on our garden seedlings. The author intends to change our perspectives on this little but much maligned creature.
Zebra is a comprehensive and wide-ranging study of the natural and cultural history of this popular animal.
An up-to-date guide to the biology and cultural history of the jellyfish.
Highly illustrated, with images drawn from a wide range of cultures, historical periods and media, this book offers a roller-coaster ride through parrots in literature, jokes, folklore, mythology, film, TV and children's stories worldwide, as well as an examination of parrot conservation, talking bird experiments and parrot portraiture.
A distinct symbol of the desert and the Middle East, the camel was once unkindly described as half snake, half folding bedstead. But in the eyes of many the camel is a creature of great beauty. This book explores why the camel has fascinated so many cultures, including those in places where camels are not indigenous.
A highly illustrated exploration of the ancient and fascinating relationship between human and dog.
Pig is a richly illustrated and compelling look at the natural and cultural history of the pig, and the long, complicated relationship between humans and these highly intelligent, sociable animals.
From ancient Babylon to Edward Lear's The Owl and the Pussycat and the grandiloquent, absent-minded Wol from Winnie-the-Pooh to David Lynch's Twin Peaks, owls have woven themselves into the fabric of human culture from earliest times. Beautiful, silent, pitiless predators of the night, possessing contradictory qualities of good and evil, they are enigmatic creatures that dwell throughout the world yet barely make their presence known. In this classic Reaktion title, now available in paperback, bestselling author and broadcaster Desmond Morris explores the natural and cultural history of one of nature's most popular creatures. He describes the evolution, the many species and the wide spread of owls around the world, as well as their appearance in folk tales, myths and legends, art, film, literature and popular culture. Originally published in 2009, this new format edition features many telling illustrations from nature and culture and will appeal to the many devotees of this emblematic bird.
In Vulture, Thom van Dooren counters the common association of the vulture with death and putrefaction, offering a concise and enlightening new history of this previously much-misunderstood bird.
Rhinoceros' wildness has roots in the ancient, prehistoric and mythic. Many sightings of the rhinoceros were thought to prove the existence of the mythical unicorn, which was said to be impossible to capture alive. This title asks whether the savagery of the rhino is a reality or a legacy of its mythic past.
An account of moles in nature, and cultures around the world.
A natural and cultural history of the majestic yet endangered polar bear.
From the milk we drink in the morning to the leather shoes we slip on for the day, to the steak we savour at dinner, our daily lives are thoroughly bound up with the cow. The author explores the complex story behind this seemingly benign creature, plumbing the rich trove of myth, fact and legend surrounding the cow, bull and ox.
Our frequent urban companion, cooing in the eaves of train stations or scavenging underfoot for breadcrumbs and discarded scraps, the pigeon has many detractors and even some fans. This title explores pigeon's cultural significance, comparing it to the dove.
Charlotte Sleigh's witty, readable Frog provides an entertaining and sometimes shocking account of this much-loved, and much-misunderstood animal. Sleigh weaves the natural history of the frog together with their mythology in a way that has not been done before.
A wide-ranging, thorough account of the spider, a creature with a rich symbolic presence in the human imagination, this book analyses the spider in art, literature, horror stories, science fiction and film and also looks at arachnophobia, and the psychological association of the spider with dominant women or mothers.
A new cultural and natural history of the flashing, iridescent kingfisher.
From fossils to ancient Greek theatre, modern horror fiction and the bitter battles of recent scientific research, Bedbug investigates the animal's natural history and examines how ordinary people, travellers, artists and scientists have experienced and confronted bedbugs over the centuries.
Although it might seem the most mundane of fish when pulled from the mud of creeks, ponds, rivers or the sea, the eel's life cycle is one of the most remarkable on the planet. The author chronicles these creatures in all their aspects: their natural history to their market value; their occurence in art and literature; and their threatened status.
Ein Portrait
Riesige, starre Augen, eine unheimliche Beweglichkeit des Kopfes, ein gespenstisch lautloser Flug: Eulen gehören mit ihren gut 200 Unterarten zu den faszinierendsten Spezies der gesamten Vogelwelt. Von allen anderen Vögeln als Raubtier gefürchtet, von den Menschen als Symbol der Weisheit verklärt und zugleich als Todesbote verdammt, verdient die ›Königin der Nacht‹ eine genaue, vorurteilsfreie Betrachtung. Desmond Morris entwirrt in diesem reich bebilderten Buch das dichte Gewölle der Eule als Symbol der Weis- oder gar Bosheit, verfolgt ihre Spuren abergläubischer Bedeutung in den verschiedenen Zeiten, Kulturen und Künsten und beleuchtet auch die realen Lebensgewohnheiten dieses Vogels, der immer noch als seltsamer Kauz missverstanden wird. Picassos verdrießliche Hauseule hat dabei ebenso einen Auftritt wie der entspannte Uhu, wegen dem 2007 im Olympiastadion von Helsinki ein Spiel der finnischen Fußballnationalmannschaft unterbrochen werden musste. Damit gelingt Morris das facetten- und anekdotenreiche, immer wieder überraschende Portrait eines Vogels, der uns mit seinem menschenähnlichen Antlitz vertraut und fremd zugleich ist.
The squat, noisy duck occupies a prominent role in the human cultural imagination, as evidenced by everything from the rubber duck of childhood baths to the flying ducks on living room walls. This title explores the universality of this quacking bird through the course of human culture and history.
Apes - to look at them is to see ourselves in a mirror. Our close genetic relatives fascinate and unnerve us with their similar behaviour and social personalities. The author delves into our contradictory relationship with the ape, which often reveals as much about us as humans as it does about the apes themselves.
A natural and cultural history of the 'perfect predator' - the leopard - and its depiction in literature, art, film, advertising and popular culture.
Examines the diverse symbolism and roles attached to the falcon throughout the centuries
The natural and cultural history of an opportunistic omnivore, the raccoon.
Claire Preston's Bee is a history of our long, complex relationship with this industrious, much-admired insect. The book moves from ancient political descriptions of the bee to Renaissance debates about monarchy, to the conversion of the virtuous, civil bee into the dangerous swarm of the Hollywood horror flick, and finally to the melancholy recognition that the modern decline of the bee is due to our use of harmful pesticides and destruction of the insect's habitat. Written in a lively, engaging style and containing many fascinating facts, anecdotes, fables and images, Bee is a wide-ranging, highly illustrated natural and cultural history of this familiar visitor to our gardens and parks. The book appeals to a wide audience: those who work with bees and honey; those who appreciate this hard-working, humble creature and its intricate, miniature society; and those too who have an interest in the way the bee has woven itself into the fabric of our culture.
A natural and cultural history of a much-loved animal, the otter.
Award-winning writer Kim Todd explores the complex history, biology and literary tradition of the cheeky and ubiquitous sparrow, including coverage of the nineteenth-century 'Sparrow War' in the United States over the sparrow's introduction which led to decades of discussion about invasive species.
The first in-depth account of the storied history of guinea pig and human interaction, this book shows how guinea pigs have influenced humans since earliest times, including scientists such as William Harvey, and painters from Jan Brueghel to Beatrix Potter.
Seal by Victoria Dickenson explores the natural and cultural history of an animal that has piqued and delighted human interest since ancient times, from their role in Roman spectacles to their frequent inhabitation of animal rescue centers today.
Hyena investigates this fascinating animal throughout history. Mikita Brottman offers an enlightening view to an often misunderstood animal, showing that the hyena is in fact a complex, intelligent and highly sociable creature.
Only coming to prominence in the mid-nineteenth century when English, French and American scientists encountered the animal for the first time, the gorilla's physical resemblance to humans immediately struck a chord. This book presents a history of this animal's influence on our culture, as well as its plight at the hands of humankind.
This book traces the history of the animal, moving from their evolution through their domestication and global spread to the role of goats in the modern world.
A horror and a healer, the leech has reared its head in many unexpected places and practices, revealing this creature to be among humanity's most enduring and peculiar companions. The Leech is one of nature's most tenacious yet mysterious animals. This book explores how this creature repeatedly surfaces throughout human history.
A celebration of the ancient, unassuming yet exceptional turtle.
People in most countries are familiar with the blue peacock. This book brings together all the facets of the peacock including natural and social history, its role in religions and mythology in the East and West, and its place in the history of art and artefacts.
In this book John Fletcher describes the evolution, species, habitats, behaviour and diet of the deer, as well as its portrayal in art and influence on popular culture, myth and song.
Biographie eines Räubers
Falken sind die schnellsten Tiere der Erde. Sie sind von einer erregenden Schönheit und strahlen eine natürliche, gefährliche Erhabenheit aus. Helen Macdonald, Autorin des preisgekrönten Bestsellers H wie Habicht, erkundet in ihrem brillant geschriebenen Buch die ganze Welt dieser Räuber, die die Menschheit seit Tausenden von Jahren magisch angezogen haben. In einer virtuosen Verbindung von Natur- und Kulturgeschichte schildert Helen Macdonald das Eigenleben der Falken ebenso wie unser Leben mit ihnen. Wie die Welt für einen Falken aussieht, wie der Vogel seine ehrfurchtgebietende Geschwindigkeit erreicht und seine Beute schlägt, stellt Macdonald so lebhaft und plastisch dar wie die Fantasien, welche die Menschen mit den Falken verknüpft, und den Nutzen, den sie aus ihnen gezogen haben. Falken wurden als Götter verehrt und zur Jagd abgerichtet, von Dichtern besungen und zur Spionage eingesetzt, sie dienten als erotische Symbole und für militärische Zwecke. Helen Macdonald führt einfühlsam und eindrucksvoll vor Augen, wie Falken dem Menschen seit Urzeiten als Gefährten gedient haben und trotzdem immer undurchdringlich fremde Wesen geblieben sind.
Donkey follows the story of this faithful, hard-working animal, which despite its critical role in human history, has often received little respect and explores the animal's variety of social, cultural, religious and symbolic meanings, especially its representations in Western art and literature.
For millenia the eagle has been one of the most important symbols in the human imagination. Exploring the rich history of this bird of prey and its portrayal in art, film, literature, and poetry, Eagle explains how this emblematic creature fulfils a diversity of roles in cultures around the world.
A natural and cultural history of the hedgehog that explores the symbolism of the animal, from Romans who regarded it as a weather prophet to Sonic the Hedgehog and children's books today.
Ants are legion: at present there are 11,006 species of ant known; they live everywhere in the world except the polar icecaps; and, the combined weight of the ant population has been estimated to make up half the mass of all insects alive today. This title elucidates the cultural reasons behind our varied reactions to these extraordinary insects. schovat popis
The moose is a fascinating but elusive animal of the north. This book focuses on its little-known natural history. It explains the animal's behaviour, evolution and diet, and describes its natural environments around the world, including in the USA, Canada and Scandinavia, where the moose is the national animal of Sweden and of Norway.