A Sparrow’s Life’s as Sweet as Ours: In Praise of Birds and Seasons

A Sparrow’s Life’s as Sweet as Ours is a collection based on the Bird of the Month column in The Oldie, which is written by an instigator of the magazine, John McEwen and illustrated by renowned wildlife artist Carry Akroyd. In this beautiful new book, painter and printmaker Carry Akroyd presents a sequence of her small screenprints, full of variety and colour, that illustrate British birds in all four seasons of the year. These stunning prints give full rein to her extensive knowledge of the British landscape, and what shines out of these dynamic designs is Carry’s deft capturing of each bird’s characteristics set beautifully in relation to its habitat. Her consideration of each species combines accuracy with elegant simplicity. John McEwen’s accompanying text is written with charm and concision, and his original columns have been updated for this new collection. John’s light, eclectic approach connects snippets of ornithology, history, etymology and cookery, all expressed with wit and knowledge. His writing is spiced with poetry – from Chaucer to the present – as well as facts and stories, while personal and other anecdotes are included to inform and, above all, entertain.