The Great Auk: Its Extraordinary Life, Hideous Death and Mysterious Afterlife

Mesmerising ... There’s something endlessly pleasurable in listening to a person talk about a subject on which they’re both an enthusiast and an authority, and Tim Birkhead has both qualities in abundance. * The Telegraph * As Tim Birkhead reminds us in this wide-ranging and deeply researched study, human exploitation of the species goes back millennia … A lively and meticulous book. * The Spectator * The story of the Great Auk reveals how the attitudes and values of people cause entire species to be condemned to extinction. From the fragments of written historical accounts and the eggs and skins collected as the species teetered at the edge of oblivion, Birkhead expertly charts the demise and afterlife of a bird that while to this day is often discussed will never again be seen alive. This is the brilliantly told true story of a legend. * Tony Juniper * Weaves a fascinating 20,000-year history of encounters with these intriguing birds into a deeper narrative exploring the tragedy of how human wonder and passion can mutate into destructive obsession. * Rebecca Wragg Sykes, author of Kindred * What a story! I was completely gripped by both the biology and the very human tale and Tim Birkhead’s perseverance in following it, not to mention his eloquence in telling it. * Matt Ridley, author of The Red Queen * The many strands that are the mark of the author, Tim Birkhead, are drawn together to tell the story of the Great Auk that is both expert and fascinating … A lifetime of experience and deep passion are woven into the pages of this book, and we are left with the message that all of us have a duty to make sure that this tragedy must not happen again. * Mary Colwell, author of Curlew Moon * A comprehensive and beautifully written account of this extinct bird. * Errol Fuller, author of Lost Animals *