The Peregrine

By: J. A. Baker

Narrated by: David Attenborough

Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

The nation's greatest voice, David Attenborough, reads J. A. Baker's extraordinary classic of British nature writing, The Peregrine.

J. A. Baker's classic of British nature writing was first published in 1967. Greeted with acclaim, it went on to win the Duff Cooper Prize, the pre-eminent literary prize of the time. Luminaries such as Ted Hughes, Barry Lopez and Andrew Motion have cited it as one of the most important books in 20th-century nature writing.

Despite the association of peregrines with the wild, outer reaches of the British Isles, The Peregrine is set on the flat marshes of the Essex coast, where J. A. Baker spent long winters looking and writing about the visitors from the uplands peregrines that spend the winter hunting the huge flocks of pigeons and waders that share the desolate landscape with them.

©1967 J. A. Baker (P)1967 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"Passionately fierce but also wonderfully tender." (Andrew Motion)

"An inspiring example to future writers, and a gift to lovers of nature." (Times Literary Supplement)

"A literary masterpiece, one of the 20th century's outstanding examples of nature writing." (Independent)

Ravishing

A classic of literary natural history, masterfully read by Sir David Attenborough. On my 3rd listen and it just gets better.

Masterpiece

Truly a masterpiece work of art. Attenborough brings it to a whole other level. Highly recommended!

A perfect meditation on the natural world

It doesn't matter where I drop the needle on this meditative collection of thoughts and observations, I'm always engaged, drawn-in. I love to close my eyes and let the narrator transport me into a natural world I care not to leave. Great find for me. Thank you, tj granack

A read for the retina…

From the peregrine to the rods & cones to the optic nerve to the occipital lobe & settling all over the cerebral cortex…

Inefable

Baker is a man who became. He achieved a transformation that is beyond most of us. And it all began with infatuation.The magnitude of his obsession is illustrated with a brush that is both planetary and minute. The book begins with Baker's extraordinary perception, a detailed sense of the otherness of birds and ends with the author merging into that otherness, with his becoming. The lyrical gravitas of it all is so beautiful, it is almost unbearable.

This is so fantastic that it makes me angry

The Peregrine is a classic, and a masterpiece. I did not think anything could be done to improve upon it, but now hearing Mr. Attenborough READ this I feel I can finally die a truly happy man. If you've already read this, or are brand new to The Peregrine please abandon anything you are currently reading and start this right now.

A beautiful book

The prose in the book is incredible. It is like poetry. The images conjured up by this book have enriched me.

Being a hawk!

An extraordinary mind space to go into visually with the succulent voice of David Attenborough leading the way.

Opening a new world

From our flat landscape to a world without horizons, the Peregrine may open a new world.

I tried to like this

I bought this title on the strength of David Attenborough's narration and the subject of peregrine falcons are of interest. I tried to like this, but in the end, the flowery overly descriptive writing was too much and I had to call it quits.