Hunting The Wren: Transformation Bird Symbol

by Elizabeth Atwood Lawrence

A unique interdisciplinary study, this book examines the British and European tradition of the wren hunt, in which a bird ordinarily revered and protected for most of the year was killed around the time of the annual solstice. In focusing on this ancient ritual, Elizabeth Atwood Lawrence draws on her training in cultural anthropology and biology to cast a fresh light on the complexities of human-animal relationships.

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published April 18, 1997

Reviews

[The_Philosoph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book inspires me to write stories and be more empathetic, qualities which put it among the best in scholarly works. However, it also entertains a little bit of sophistry as a treat (some of the Freudian stuff) and needs more robust substantiation on some of its claims (i.e. tracing the Mabinogi figure of Llew Llau Gyffes back to an ancient Celtic sun god?? Where is the evidence to it, it's such a neat idea but has no parenthetical citation).

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Atwood does a good job of presenting all the evidence, and covers the main theories about this folk practice. Her style makes it hard work.