“Art thou the bird whom Man loves best, The pious bird with the scarlet breast, Our little English Robin…” - William Wordsworth, The Redbreast Chasing the Butterfly

In twelve, exquisite chapters, natural history expert Stephen Moss transports us across the robin’s brief but glorious life. 

This is Britain’s favourite bird played out in full. It is an animal of contrasts; the born survivor, so pretty in feather and song, but fiercely territorial. This is a bird given to courage, its modest stature belying its ability to defend its turf. 

Beautifully presented with illustrations lifted from over a century of our shared culture, The Robin: A Biography is both a monthly chronicle of the bird’s life and also an investigation into why it symbolises so much. From being the gardener’s friend to its position in our folklore, Moss reveals this creature to be less a creature of the field as a mirror to ourselves.

Why Novel North recommends

‘This is a wonderfully endearing month by month account of a year in the life of a robin, accompanied with beautiful illustrations. Stephen Moss shares some of the quirky places robins have been found nesting, as well as well as many tidbits you’ll find yourself eagerly recounting to others and looking out for in the coming months.’

Author : Stephen Moss

Edition : Vintage Publishing, Hardback, 208 pages

ISBN : 9781910931318

Weight: 464g
Dimensions: 206 x 138 x 24mm