| Christine E Jackson | John Beaufoy Publishing | 2022 | Hardback | 228 Pages | 12 Colour Plates | 60 Monochrome Illustrations | ISBN: 9781913679040 | £24.99p |
The Publisher’s View:
A Newsworthy Naturalist is a biography of William Yarrell (1784-1856), an influential naturalist at a time when natural history was becoming an important factor in 19th century society. He wrote two important books: A History of British Fishes and A History of British Birds, still being quoted as the authorities well into the next century and admired today, especially for their delightful wood engravings. He was a member and sometime Treasurer, Secretary and Vice-President of the Zoological, Linnean and Entomological Societies. He was known to, and greatly admired by, the leading naturalists; Charles Darwin sought Yarrell’s advice on several occasions.
In addition to his key role as an organiser and disseminator of knowledge about the British fish and bird fauna, Yarrell also conducted significant original scientific research, being perhaps best known as the first person to recognise Bewick’s Swan as a separate species from the Whooper Swan, naming it Cygnus bewickii after his illustrious ornithological predecessor. Yarrell owned the London newsagency, Jones and Yarrell, with his partner, Edward Jones from 1803 until 1850. They held a royal warrant and supplied the Houses of Parliament as well as royalty with newspapers.
Besides his work on natural history and running the newsagency, he was a popular figure with his friends, renowned for the good food and wine served at his convivial dinner parties, and he was a prolific correspondent.
The Author: Christine E. Jackson worked as a qualified librarian (A.L.A.) before retiring and writing on bird art. She breaks new ground with each title – pioneering studies first of bird illustration, then bird art, and also Fish in Art – and the biography of Yarrell is no exception. She is an occasional consultant to both auction houses, Sotheby’s and Christie’s, London. She has authored 16 books on biographies of naturalists and the history of bird illustration, as well as numerous articles. She transcribed or abstracted all of Yarrell’s correspondence as the basis for this first study of his life and work.
Fatbirder View:
Readers of my own books will know I am very interested in the history of science, particularly the lives of naturalists. Despite the author’s meticulous research, well written text and the wealth of illustrations drawn by the subject, William Yarrell’s private life left little record to give us a rounded picture of the man. Influential and well liked we rely on the public record and his prolific correspondence that said far more about science than about the man.
Nevertheless, there is a great deal here, not least his contact with all the great British naturalists of the day. It is also testament to the ‘age of science’.
The book fills a gap and will inform and entertain… what more can you ask?
Fatbirder