"Intriguing stories from the history of the human relationship with birds, including their symbolism in art, literature, religion, and folklore" ( Booklist ).Even the most well-informed wildlife enthusiast will be entertained by the stories and fascinating facts in this beautifully illustrated book.Our ancestors hunted, tamed, worshipped, and depicted birds, and even bestowed magical properties upon them. Why did a...

Make Arbor Day every day with little known and intriguing facts about the plants that populate our forests, give us shade, and clean our air.Have you ever wondered how trees got their names? What did our ancestors think about trees, and how were they used in the past? This fascinating book will answer many of your questions, but also reveal interesting stories that are not widely known. For example, the nut from which tree was predicted to pay off the UK's national...

What were the principal causes of death in the past? Could your ancestor have been affected? How was disease investigated and treated, and what did our ancestors think about the illnesses and the accidents that might befall them? Simon Willss fascinating survey of the diseases that had an impact on their lives seeks to answer these questions. His graphic, detailed account offers an unusual and informative view of the threats that our ancestors lived with and died of. He describes the commo...

What was a merchant seamans life like in the past, what experiences would he have had, what were the ships like that he sailed in, and what risks did he run? Was he shipwrecked, rewarded for bravery, or punished? And how can you find out about an ancestor who was a member of the long British maritime tradition? Simon Wills concise and informative historical guide takes the reader and researcher through the fascinating story of Britains merchant service, and he shows you how to trace indivi...

From the days of sail to the majestic ocean liners of the twentieth century, this is a history of British sea travel from a passenger's point of view.Each chapter of Voyages from the Past: A History of Passengers at Sea narrates one traveler's journey based on their first-hand description, and the day-to-day details of their experience. Their stories, some previously unpublished, illustrate the evolution of ocean voyages, exploring three and a half centuri...

Photographs of your seafaring ancestors may tell you more about their lives than you realize, and Simon Willss helpful and practical guide shows you how to identify and interpret the evidence caught on camera. Since maritime roles have been so vital to Britains prosperity and military might, they are among the commonest professions depicted in photographs of our ancestors, and his handbook is the ideal introduction to them.Maybe your ancestor was a seaman in the Royal Navy, a ships captain...

A fascinating guide to uncovering forgotten lives through the hidden histories of everyday heirlooms.Old photographs without names. Family heirlooms with unknown origins. Objects whispering stories lost to time. In this fascinating journey of historical detective work, experienced genealogist Simon Wills pieces together the mysteries behind everyday artefacts, from portraits and tobacco jars to diaries, and even a simple silver cigarette case, allowing us to create...

The history of shipwrecks involves many shocking episodes: from men who saw shipmates eaten by sharks, to castaways who ate each other. Learn about the cowardly captain who deserted his passengers on a sinking ship, the obstinate ship-designer who took 480 men to their deaths, and the first mate who wrecked his own ship for insurance money. Historian and genealogist Dr Simon Wills is maritime adviser to BBC's Who Do You Think You Are? program. In this fascinating book he uses objects assoc...

Based on a true story, a riveting novel of a deadly hurricane, a dramatic rescue attempt, and a quest for redemption in a nineteenth-century English town . . .Dorset, England, 1866: The worst hurricane in over a century is devastating the south coast of England. In the town of Poole, the newly appointed lifeboat is launched to aid the numerous stricken ships in the vicinity—but unaccountably fails to save any lives. Many sailors drown as a result.In an era ...

The loss of the Costa Concordia in 2012 shocked Europe when thirty-two passengers died on a luxury liner. Yet in mid-Victorian times, more lives than this were lost in shipwrecks every week. This book will tell the story of one particularly notorious Victorian wreck that the author has been researching for over ten years. The sinking of the SS London in 1866 provoked incredulity because of the especially heavy death toll: a large, new, luxury liner en route to Australia went down shortly a...

"A captivating page-turner of a book that blends history, science, and chemistry together into an evocative story." —Stephen Buchmann, author of What a Bee KnowsA fascinating exploration of the natural history of scent and human perceptions of fragrance from the viewpoint of plant and pollinator.Plants have long harnessed the chemical characteristics of aromatic compounds to shape the world around them. Frankincense resin from the...

Amidst the tragedy of wild species extinction lies a hidden world of survival and wonder. Conservationists are embroiled in a high-stakes clash with a drug cartel to save a porpoise. Scientists are fighting to save a flightless bird that romances rocks. Unconventional animals are upending 21st century beauty standards, and financiers are betting on whale poo to make its debut on Wall Street.This is a story of survival and extinction, of life and death, of curiosity and perversion, ...