Swallow

Swallow is the latest in the beautiful series of books by Reaktion exploring the myths and legends surrounding an animal or bird. Elegant flyers, they seem attracted to humans, building their mud nests in the eves of houses and barns. They have inspired poetry, paintings and even tattoos as witnessed on the arm of Johnny Depp, when playing the part of Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean. * Scotland Outdoors * Swallow focuses on the relationship between people and hirundines, covering folk tales, customs and superstitious beliefs, literary and artistic references, as well as information about how humans have welcomed and helped hirundines in some areas for many generations. On the flip side, hirundines have also been exploited for medicine and for food. * BTO News * The author has clearly carried out a substantial amount of research, and the book contains lots of interesting information about the interlinked history of people andswallows. The photographs are of a high standard . . . Authors, poets, composers and artists have all played their role in the tales of the swallow . . . if you read it you will never look on swallows in the same way again. * Highland News *