Feathers and Eggshells

by Natalie Lawrence

The author, Natalie Lawrence, already had a passion for wild birds as a teenager. Here she takes us on an extended tour of her favourite bird watching area - Hampstead Heath in London, a haven for wildlife comprising different habitats. From the mating dance of the Great Crested Grebe to the delicacy of the Treecreeper's beak, she reveals the beauty and diversity of the local bird life using drawings and photographs, prose and poetry. This is a jewel of a book, the kind of small volume that all bird lovers will surely wish to own, indeed treasure. It reveals a wealth of beautiful things, and as such, is an inspiration for young and old alike.

72 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1877

About the author

I am an author and illustrator who explores our relationship with the natural world, looking through multiple lenses - from the biological to the mythic and psychoanalytic. I have a first-class MCantab in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge, during which I spent most of my time in the Zoology department. After that, I completed a MSc and Ph.D. in History and Philosophy of Science at Cambridge, exploring the making and meanings of monstrous creatures in seventeenth century Europe.

I published my first book when I was a teenager, Feathers and Eggshells, inspired by my very favourite place, Hampstead Heath and the birds I was entranced by as a child. I have given a TedX talk, appeared on BBC Radio, and worked with installation artists. Currently, I live in a converted church in London with my partner and two Maine coons, Loki and Thor. My study is filled with plants and a natural history collection - which includes everything from megalodon teeth to Venus flower baskets and hornbill skulls