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Awful Creatures

Encounters with Britain's Misunderstood Animals

Awful Creatures cover

Description

Meet the British animals we tend to ignore – and discover why they matter more than we think.

From midge clouds and riverside bat walks to slug-slick gardens and wasps' nests in the eaves, Awful Creatures follows writer Saskia McCracken as she seeks out the British animals we dismiss, shun or quietly resent.

Travelling across the country, she encounters species often labelled pests – midges, slugs, wasps, toads, pigeons, ravens and jellyfish – uncovering the remarkable roles they play in British ecosystems and asking what changes when we look at these animals with curiosity rather than discomfort. Along the way, she explores how these creatures have shaped our histories, folklore and everyday lives, from village superstition to modern conservation.

Blending travel writing with natural and cultural history, McCracken reveals a world of unexpected connections between people, animals and place. Rich in observation and insight, Awful Creatures offers a fresh perspective on the hidden forces shaping British landscapes and the changing relationship between humans and the natural world.

Accessibility Information

Additional accessibility information

  • EPUB 3.0
  • Conforms with the requirements of EPUB Accessibility Spec v1.1
  • WCAG level AA
  • WCAG v2.2 compliant
  • accessibility@bloomsbury.com

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Rich content

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Table of Contents

Prologue

Part One - Repellent
Chapter 1 - Midges
Chapter 2 - Slugs
Chapter 3 - Moths

Part Two - Ill Omens
Chapter 4 - Ravens
Chapter 5 - Toads
Chapter 6 - Bats

Part Three - Heroes and Villains
Chapter 7 - Wasps and Bees
Chapter 8 - Grey Squirrels and Red Squirrels
Chapter 9 - Stoats and the Orkney Vole

Part Four - Inheritors of the Earth, Skies and Sea
Chapter 10 - Rats
Chapter 11 - Pigeons
Chapter 12 - Jellyfish

Epilogue
What Now?


Author Acknowledgements
References
Index

Product details

Published 11 Mar 2027
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Pages 272
ISBN 9781399425926
Imprint Bloomsbury Wildlife
Illustrations Black-and-white illustrations at the start of each chapter
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Saskia McCracken

Saskia McCracken is a poet and author based in Gla…

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