Shortlisted for THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE 2017‘The best popular account of the lives of otters written so far’ Richard Shelton, Times Literary SupplementOtters hold an almost unique place in the animal kingdom of the British Isles, being one of the very few creatures that give birth once every two years. They are the most secretive yet also the most popular mammals – they are found in every county but are so rarely seen that they have been raised to mythical status.Shortlisted for THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE 2017‘The best popular account of the lives of otters written so far’ Richard Shelton, Times Literary SupplementWhen Simon Cooper bought an abandoned water mill that straddles a small chalkstream in southern England, little did he know that he would come to share the mill with a family of wild otters. Yet move in they did, allowing him to begin to observe them, soon immersing himself in their daily routines and movements. He developed an extraordinary close relationship with the family, which in turn gave him a unique insight into the life of these fascinating creatures.Cooper interweaves the personal story of the female otter, Kuschta, with the natural history of the otter in the British Isles, only recently brought back from the brink of extinction through tireless conservation efforts. Following in the footsteps of Henry Williamson’s classic 1920s tale Tarka the Otter, readers are taken on a journey through the calendar year, learning the most intimate detail of this most beautiful of British mammals. Cooper brings these beloved animals to life in all their wondrous complexity, revealing the previously hidden secrets of their lives in this beautifully told tale of the otter.Otters hold an almost unique place in the animal kingdom of the British Isles, being one of the very few creatures that give birth once every two years. They are the most secretive yet also the most popular mammals – they are found in every county but are so rarely seen that they have been raised to mythical status.When Simon Cooper bought an abandoned water mill that straddles a small chalkstream in southern England, little did he know that he would come to share the mill with a family of wild otters. Yet move in they did, allowing him to begin to observe them, soon immersing himself in their daily routines and movements. He developed an extraordinary close relationship with the family, which in turn gave him a unique insight into the life of these fascinating creatures.Cooper interweaves the personal story of the female otter, Kuschta, with the natural history of the otter in the British Isles, only recently brought back from the brink of extinction through tireless conservation efforts. Following in the footsteps of Henry Williamson’s classic 1920s tale Tarka the Otter, readers are taken on a journey through the calendar year, learning the most intimate detail of this most beautiful of British mammals. Cooper brings these beloved animals to life in all their wondrous complexity, revealing the previously hidden secrets of their lives in this beautifully told tale of the otter.‘He summarizes his observations by telling the detailed story of a mother and her young and the male otter with which they occasionally interact. He does so with the charm of a Kenneth Grahame but with the scientific rigour of modern behavioural science. It is the best popular account of the lives of otters written so far.’ Times Literary Supplement‘Offers something new, and ultimately optimistic.’ New Scientist‘Boldly imaginative and with great skill, conservationist Simon Cooper fictionalises the story of the otter family … Cooper's knowledge of otter behaviour is profound, but it's his brilliant storytelling that really brings the animals to life’ Daily MailPraise for Simon Cooper:‘I loved the gentle flow of this book and the insight into both a pastime and a wonderful corner of the land.’ BBC Countryfile‘Cooper’s enthusiasm is so infectious’ Daily Mail‘[Simon Cooper] is a renowned fly-fisher himself and, in this book, he writes as well as he casts […] delightful […] Mr Cooper is in love with chalkstreams and anyone who reads this splendid book will soon hold the same view.’ Country Life‘We are taken on a delightful journey overflowing with passages that capture our imagination […] It is both uplifting and therapeutic’ Classic AnglingSimon Cooper is one of the UK’s leading chalkstream conservationists. He lives and works on the English rivers, where otters are once again thriving.• Shortlisted for the prestigious Wainwright Book Prize. Official POS in the form of posters, bookmarks, stickers and official prize literature (featuring all the shortlisted titles) will be made available to retailers and libraries from 27th June 2017 to support the expectation building to the announcement of the winner on 3rd August 2017 in the national media.• The final unveiling of the Wainwright Prize award winner (and presentation of a cheque for £5,000) will take place at a ceremony on 3rd August in the National Trust Arena at a BBC Countryfile Live Event in Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire. The prize ceremony will be filmed for a future episode of Countryfile on BBC One (with an audience average of over 7million).• Otters are extremely secretive, rarely spotted and one of Britain’s most beloved mammals. They are fascinating creatures that have been brought back from the edge of extinction in recent years due to extensive conservation efforts.• Will be of interest to both the casual nature enthusiast and the dedicated conservationist. This is Simon’s second book following his widely acclaimed Life of a Chalkstream.• Certain to appeal to readers of Robert Macfarlane and Richard Mabey. A previous title on otters, Otter Country (2012) by Miriam Darlington, has TCMed nearly 7k (in both HB and PB).• Many readers will remember the hugely successful and highly influential Tarka the Otter by Henry Williamson, which in part inspired the author. It was first published in 1927 and has never been out-of-print since. A film was made by the English wildlife documentary filmmaker and author David Cobham in 1979. It was narrated by Sir Peter Ustinov, with a screenplay by Gerald Durrell. Sir David Attenborough narrated an audiobook version of the story in 1978.
Publicat de: HarperCollins Publishers