Was Beethoven a Birdwatcher? : A Bird's Eye History of the World

The heart-warming tale of one dog and her owner, who face daily physical and mental challenges with a sense of humor and determination as the walk the entire coastline of Britain Take one headstrong dog and a feisty young woman, and send them off on a walk for the equivalent distance of London to Delhi. Tess the dog flirts outrageously with good-looking farmers and charms unsuspecting toddlers into parting with their ice cream as her apologetic owner follows. From sleepy fishing villages to urban streets, spotting avocets and flamingos along the way, Spud slows life down for a year and experie.;Front Cover; Copyright; Dedication; Acknowledgements; Contents; Foreword; Preface; 1 -- London to Cromer; 2 -- Cromer to Hull; 3 -- Hull to Redcar; 4 -- Redcar to Edinburgh; 5 -- Edinburgh to Fraserburgh; 6 -- Fraserburgh to John O'Groats; 7 -- John O'Groats to Ullapool; 8 -- Ullapool to Glenuig; 9 -- Glenuig to Glasgow; 10 -- Glasgow to Carlisle; 11 -- Carlisle to Liverpool; 12 -- Liverpool to Aberystwyth; 13 -- Aberystwyth to Carmarthen; 14 -- Carmarthen to Bristol; 15 -- Bristol to Boscastle; 16 -- Boscastle to Plymouth; 17 -- Plymouth to Swanage; 18 -- Swanage to Hastings; 19 -- Hastings to London; Epilogue. Did the Cetti's Warbler inspire the opening notes of the last movement of Beethoven's Second Symphony? Is the emu nature's most devoted dad? Find out the answers to these ornithological conundrums and others this engaging book that delves into literature, science, religion, fine art and popular culture to reveal how a bird can be far more than the sum of its feathered, winged and webbed parts. Worshipped as gods and damned as agents of the Devil in equal measure, birds have also fostered scientific breakthroughs and even helped provoke a war. This entertaining guide is full of fascinating insights into the humble bird's surprisingly large role in history and culture. Front Cover Copyright Dedication Acknowledgements Contents Foreword Preface 1 -- London to Cromer 2 -- Cromer to Hull 3 -- Hull to Redcar 4 -- Redcar to Edinburgh 5 -- Edinburgh to Fraserburgh 6 -- Fraserburgh to John O'Groats 7 -- John O'Groats to Ullapool 8 -- Ullapool to Glenuig 9 -- Glenuig to Glasgow 10 -- Glasgow to Carlisle 11 -- Carlisle to Liverpool 12 -- Liverpool to Aberystwyth 13 -- Aberystwyth to Carmarthen 14 -- Carmarthen to Bristol 15 -- Bristol to Boscastle 16 -- Boscastle to Plymouth 17 -- Plymouth to Swanage 18 -- Swanage to Hastings 19 -- Hastings to London Epilogue. 2009And lastly ... Plate section. An engaging guide that illustrates the significance of birds throughout history Did the Cettia's Warbler inspire the opening notes of the last movement of Beethoven's Second Symphony? Who among a host of rivals wrote the best poem about the nightingale? And is there a James Bond film named after a duck? Find out the answers to these ornithological conundrums and others in this engaging book that delves into literature, science, religion, fine art, and popular culture to reveal how a bird can be far more than the sum of its feathered, winged, and webbed parts. Worshipped as gods and damned as a