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Few and Far Between: On The Trail of Britain's Rarest Animals
Seeking both the beautiful and the bizarre, Charlie Elder goes in search of Britain s rarest and most endangered animals. Travelling the length and breadth of the UK, and meeting up with experts along the way, he tracks down secretive and scarce mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects living on the brink ranging from the iconic Scottish Wildcat and surreal Spiny Seahorse to the striking Golden Oriole, outlandish Wart-biter Cricket and sinister Black Rat. Few and Far Between celebrates the diversity on our doorstep and highlights the natural treasures we risk losing.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published April 23, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 19, 2022
I really enjoyed the concept of the book however sometimes it would loose my attention as it covered some animals I don't personally find interesting but I guess it means many people's interests are covered.
September 6, 2015
This book is about the author’s travels to see 25 of Britain’s ‘rarest’ and ‘most threatened’ animals; five birds, five mammals, five ‘herptiles’, five fish and five ‘everything elses’ in one year.
It’s a good read and we readers are taken to some interesting places, some which I would definitely like to go to in person, and the descriptions of nature are personal and engaging. It’s well written.
The author made me smile often and laugh a few times too with his humour. I wanted him to see the species for which he was searching and to enjoy his times with them. And, clearly, he did.
I am probably one of relatively few people who, when they hear ‘Widewater Lagoon’, cannot but think in response ‘Ivell’s Sea Anemone’ but I did not know who Ivell is and I was pleased to discover the link to a member of staff at the Oxford Zoology Department in its story. There is lots of good stuff in here and it is an enjoyable read.
And yet I can’t help but feel that it isn’t quite satisfying enough. The choice of the 25 species is pretty much random – yes they are all British rarities but that’s about it. So I did ask myself ‘why these, exactly?’ and I got no particular answer from the author. Clearly the selection was slanted towards the furry and feathery end of things and invertebrates get rather low billing, but I enjoyed their appearances immensely – especially the Wartbiter Cricket and Great Raft Spider.
Although this is, in a leisurely way, a ‘road trip’ it isn’t written in chronological order and nor does it have much sense of the author gradually working through his list of species to add to the ‘tension’ of the narrative. But then the book doesn’t have tension, it is profoundly relaxing and a very pleasant reading experience.
If the setting off point, why the 25 species and why exactly these 25 species, is all left a bit hazy then the ending is limp; the book just ends. There is no conclusion, no bringing together of what it all should mean to the reader nor what it meant to the author. I feel this is a shame. I felt a little let down at the end – ‘Oh, is that it?’.
But once you get past the slightly unconvincing start and until you get to the abrupt ending, then you will be carried along on a very pleasurable journey through some of the nicest places of Britain and meeting some of the species that you almost certainly have not yourself seen. The author, a journalist, writes well and I kept turning pages. I learned things and was reminded of others.
This review first appeared on Mark Avery's blog http://markavery.info/2015/04/26/sund...
It’s a good read and we readers are taken to some interesting places, some which I would definitely like to go to in person, and the descriptions of nature are personal and engaging. It’s well written.
The author made me smile often and laugh a few times too with his humour. I wanted him to see the species for which he was searching and to enjoy his times with them. And, clearly, he did.
I am probably one of relatively few people who, when they hear ‘Widewater Lagoon’, cannot but think in response ‘Ivell’s Sea Anemone’ but I did not know who Ivell is and I was pleased to discover the link to a member of staff at the Oxford Zoology Department in its story. There is lots of good stuff in here and it is an enjoyable read.
And yet I can’t help but feel that it isn’t quite satisfying enough. The choice of the 25 species is pretty much random – yes they are all British rarities but that’s about it. So I did ask myself ‘why these, exactly?’ and I got no particular answer from the author. Clearly the selection was slanted towards the furry and feathery end of things and invertebrates get rather low billing, but I enjoyed their appearances immensely – especially the Wartbiter Cricket and Great Raft Spider.
Although this is, in a leisurely way, a ‘road trip’ it isn’t written in chronological order and nor does it have much sense of the author gradually working through his list of species to add to the ‘tension’ of the narrative. But then the book doesn’t have tension, it is profoundly relaxing and a very pleasant reading experience.
If the setting off point, why the 25 species and why exactly these 25 species, is all left a bit hazy then the ending is limp; the book just ends. There is no conclusion, no bringing together of what it all should mean to the reader nor what it meant to the author. I feel this is a shame. I felt a little let down at the end – ‘Oh, is that it?’.
But once you get past the slightly unconvincing start and until you get to the abrupt ending, then you will be carried along on a very pleasurable journey through some of the nicest places of Britain and meeting some of the species that you almost certainly have not yourself seen. The author, a journalist, writes well and I kept turning pages. I learned things and was reminded of others.
This review first appeared on Mark Avery's blog http://markavery.info/2015/04/26/sund...
March 7, 2019
Few and Far Between is a story about the search for some of the country's rarest animals from the elusive Scottish wildcat to the tiny streaked bombardier beetle. Charlie Elder goes on an adventure to try and see 25 rare species all across the United Kingdom including mammals, fish, invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles. I think this book really captures the excitement of going out to try and see wildlife, whether it's a national rarity or just the first time seeing a species in is natural habitat. The author also highlights the vital work of dedicated conservationists and volunteers up and down the country to protect wildlife. It certainly got me inspired to try and go out, explore and see what new species I can discover near me!
--George, Live Science Team, We The Curious
--George, Live Science Team, We The Curious
October 7, 2021
This book took me ages to read because I’ve been on and off reading but it got better as it went on and it’s really impressive how many species the author set out to find and it’s interesting to learn a little about each one along the way. I wish I had the get up and go that the author has in terms of going out searching for interesting species
August 3, 2024
One of my favourite books I've read this year! Charlie writes with such love, enthusiasm and humor about their subjects that it's impossible to not want to go out and spot them yourself! A brilliant writing style, beautiful evocative language - a dream!
October 10, 2020
A naturalist's travelogue, as Charlie Elder travels across the woods, waters and wastelands of the UK in search of some of Britain's rarest animals. The author is an entertaining guide and a good writer, but ultimately I don't share his passion for lesser-spotted species, and so this book wasn't as interesting as I hoped. The book became a bit repetitive, as each chapter recounted him looking for an animal, struggling to find it, and then eventually finding it. And there wasn't really an overarching narrative to tie it all together. I imagine many would disagree with this review, so if you're interested in this area, you might enjoy it!
September 30, 2019
An entirely pleasurable adventure looking for Britain's rarest and most elusive wildlife
4.5/5
The first thing to notice about Charlie Elder's writing is that his passion for the hunt for the UK's rarest animals shines through straight away, and stays peaked throughout not only the book, but through his entire search too. On the back of While Flocks Last Elder has honed his writing technique into very enjoyable and well structured prose.
Few and Far Between focuses on searching for 25 endangered species; 5 each of mammals, birds, reptiles/amphibians, fish and invertebrates. The animals chosen may seem arbitrary at first, but you soon realise that the variety is there so Elder can discuss anything from the plight of bumblebees in response to our agriculture to the degradation of fish communities through destruction of seagrass by boats.
Even though this book clocks over 250 pages, your attention is kept high through Elder's insightful knowledge, jolly adventures through the country's wilderness and his fun sense of humour. Anyone with even the slightest interest in nature conservation or the UK's changing environment should pick up this book, but with the warning that it's easy to read this book within a day or two!
4.5/5
The first thing to notice about Charlie Elder's writing is that his passion for the hunt for the UK's rarest animals shines through straight away, and stays peaked throughout not only the book, but through his entire search too. On the back of While Flocks Last Elder has honed his writing technique into very enjoyable and well structured prose.
Few and Far Between focuses on searching for 25 endangered species; 5 each of mammals, birds, reptiles/amphibians, fish and invertebrates. The animals chosen may seem arbitrary at first, but you soon realise that the variety is there so Elder can discuss anything from the plight of bumblebees in response to our agriculture to the degradation of fish communities through destruction of seagrass by boats.
Even though this book clocks over 250 pages, your attention is kept high through Elder's insightful knowledge, jolly adventures through the country's wilderness and his fun sense of humour. Anyone with even the slightest interest in nature conservation or the UK's changing environment should pick up this book, but with the warning that it's easy to read this book within a day or two!
May 6, 2015
I now want to be able to go to Kinguissie and see a wild cat. Chances are remote that any one would see one, so I will just have to be content I read the book. All the species are rare so it is just as well that every one is not going stomping all over their territory any way. Great book, written with passion.
April 17, 2017
Few and Far Between is a lighthearted, yet passionately argued and written explanation of some of the UK's rarest mammals, birds, amphibian, reptiles, fish, and even invertebrates. After choosing five species of each, Charlie Elder sets himself the task of setting eyes on all of them, no matter how difficult or challenging doing so might be. The results are often comic, but also show how close we are to losing so many of them, some of which we probably wouldn't even know were there without Elder's careful and colourful introduction.
I first encountered Elder's writing in 'While Flocks Last', where he worked his way down the avian 'red list', only to find at journey's end that the list had grown and even more species had been added to it. Similarly here, there is a cautionary tale of what we just might lose if it wasn't for the dedicated groups, individuals, and volunteers committed to wrenching extinction's grasp from our most vulnerable species.
What I like most about Elder's writing is that he makes no bones about his limitations in the field, and in his natural history knowledge. There is no lecturing, no posturing, or whimsical musings on the future. Elder is an everyman's naturalist, fallible, and therefore surprisingly genuine. Each species and encounter is met with a genuine and humbling sense of wonder. The result is, rather than feeling you've read a very impressive diary of a 'star' naturalist, Elder has taken you with him on each and every outing.
The most wonderful thing about this book though is that it will make you appreciate what we still have. Whether on your doorstep, or much further flung, you will be spurred into searching out your own special creatures and encounters. And you'll be thankful for the wonderful work of all who labour so hard to protect the underdog denizens of our natural world.
I first encountered Elder's writing in 'While Flocks Last', where he worked his way down the avian 'red list', only to find at journey's end that the list had grown and even more species had been added to it. Similarly here, there is a cautionary tale of what we just might lose if it wasn't for the dedicated groups, individuals, and volunteers committed to wrenching extinction's grasp from our most vulnerable species.
What I like most about Elder's writing is that he makes no bones about his limitations in the field, and in his natural history knowledge. There is no lecturing, no posturing, or whimsical musings on the future. Elder is an everyman's naturalist, fallible, and therefore surprisingly genuine. Each species and encounter is met with a genuine and humbling sense of wonder. The result is, rather than feeling you've read a very impressive diary of a 'star' naturalist, Elder has taken you with him on each and every outing.
The most wonderful thing about this book though is that it will make you appreciate what we still have. Whether on your doorstep, or much further flung, you will be spurred into searching out your own special creatures and encounters. And you'll be thankful for the wonderful work of all who labour so hard to protect the underdog denizens of our natural world.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews