The Curious Life of the Cuckoo

by John Lewis-Stempel

The perfect gift for nature lovers, in this beautifully illustrated small format hardback, John Lewis-Stempel delves into the cuckoo's unique behaviour and captivating role in our cultural imagination, in folklore, myth, literature and music, turning his exquisite prose to one of the strangest tales of the countryside.
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Is there any bird more mysterious than the cuckoo?

It is invariably heard, and not seen. And if seen, it is mistaken for a sharp-winged hawk. The female cuckoo - by a trick that borders on alchemy - is able to disguise its egg as another's. In Greek myth the god Zeus assumed the form of a cuckoo to seduce Hera.

But we forgive the cuckoo its con-artistry, because it is the true herald of spring. It is the bird that uplifts our wintered hearts, with that first two-note 'cuk-koo' unmistakable as it sounds across the country.

In The Curious Life of the Cuckoo, John Lewis-Stempel explains one of nature's greatest enigmas in vivid, lyrical prose, and celebrates this iconic bird.
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‘That John Lewis-Stempel is one of the best nature writers of his generation is undisputed.’ – Country Life

‘His immense, patient powers of observation – along with a flair for the anthropomorphic – mean he is able to offer a portrait of animal life that's rare in its colour and drama.’ – Observer

‘Engaging, closely-observed and beautiful ... this author’s deep love of the world around him is as inspiring as it is entertaining.’ – Daily Mail

‘John Lewis-Stempel is the hottest nature writer around.’ – Spectator

‘It’s his observation of the natural world – the sight, the sound, the smell of it – that is so memorable. He has a distinctively brisk, muscular style of writing that has a poetic intensity and concision. – Guardian

‘His prose is immaculate’ – Der Spiege

‘Lewis-Stempel sees and hears things others will never see and hear, and he can write about them as no one else can.’– Daily Summer Reads

Genres: Nature

95 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 6, 2025

Reviews

[Stephen the Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating compendium

A mini cornucopia of delights exploring this mischievous of birds
Facts, poetry,history and even music lyrics portray this bird with a reputation as the harbinger of Spring and a hijacker of nests

John Lewis- Stempel’s prose is charming and heart-felt.

A perfect read to dip into and great book for bird lovers

[Ivan Monckton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The latest, and best, of Lewis-Stempel’s small nature books on single species. I have complained in the past that some of them contain very little of the author’s own work, being padded out with long quotations from other’s work, both prose, poetry and illustration. This volume bucks that trend, and though the writer is synthesising other people’s work, that is standard practice, and given this book is about cuckoos, perfectly valid. What we end up with is a lot of information presented in very readable fashion, making learning a joy.
Everybody, certainly those living in the countryside know what a cuckoo sounds like, and that the hen lays her eggs in other birds’ nests, but very little else. This latest slim volume can begin to change that!

[Pangur Ban · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is good, and (as with all Lewis-Stempel's books), well worth a read. With so many nature books available, it is lovely to have something with a focus on a particular species. My rating would have been four stars, but I was baffled why the author didn't include the mass shooting of migrating birds that is one of the reasons for their decline.

[Karen Mace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a lovely little read about such an interesting bird!

the author uses facts, poetry, literary mentions and even song lyrics to show how the impact of this bird has impacted on nature and the world around it. I learned a lot about the bird itself, as well as being introduced to some poets I'd not read about before but am now interested to read more from!

[Phil Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erudite and atmospheric

[Thomas Cornish · Rating 3 out of 5]

To much poetry for me but very interesting