In 2014, Helen Macdonald's father died suddenly. In the wake of his death, she was consumed by grief and a sense of purposelessness. Seeking solace and meaning, she decided to adopt a goshawk, a bird of prey known for its wildness and intelligence.
4.2 out of 5
| Language | : | English |
| File size | : | 1179 KB |
| Text-to-Speech | : | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | : | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | : | Enabled |
| X-Ray | : | Enabled |
| Word Wise | : | Enabled |
| Print length | : | 305 pages |
Macdonald named the goshawk Mabel, and over the next two years, she immersed herself in the world of falconry. She learned to hunt with Mabel, to care for her, and to understand her complex nature. In the process, she began to heal from her grief and to discover a new sense of purpose and connection to the natural world.
Is for Hawk is a beautifully written and deeply moving memoir that explores the complex and interconnected themes of grief, nature, and the human spirit. Macdonald's honest and lyrical prose captures the raw emotions of loss and the transformative power of nature. She writes with great passion and insight about the natural world, and her descriptions of Mabel and the other birds she encounters are both vivid and poetic.
Is for Hawk is a must-read for anyone who has ever experienced loss or who is interested in the natural world. It is a book that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
Praise for Is for Hawk
"A powerful and moving memoir that explores the transformative power of nature. Macdonald's writing is lyrical and insightful, and her story is both heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting." - The New York Times
"Is for Hawk is a beautifully written and deeply moving memoir. Macdonald's honest and insightful prose captures the raw emotions of loss and the transformative power of nature. This is a must-read for anyone who has ever experienced loss or who is interested in the natural world." - The Guardian
"Macdonald's memoir is a masterpiece of nature writing. It is a book that will stay with you long after you finish reading it." - The Independent
About the Author
Helen Macdonald is an award-winning nature writer and poet. She is the author of several books, including H Is for Hawk, which won the Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction and the Costa Book of the Year Award. Macdonald is also a professor of literature at the University of Cambridge.
