Description
Falconry in Literature is a layman’s guide to falconry as presented in literary texts and commences with a background to the practice of the sport, moving on to look at the theory of the allocation of raptor species to different classes of society. This popular notion, it argues, is erroneous – it was a case of social imagery rather than practical reality.
The book then moves on to explore the symbolic functions of the sport and raptors in general through contemporary references, culminating with the conclusion that the sport itself became influenced by the literary conventions it had originally inspired.
It contains a great many passages from poems and plays of interest to anyone with a love of birds of prey, and is illustrated with both contemporary images and photographs of the species of hawks and falcons used within the period from the modern day hawking field.
David Horobin describes himself as “passionately addicted to the chase in all its forms” and is “currently seeking employment more conducive to falconry.” In addition to hawking with friends whenever possible, he is a keen follower of the Albrighten Woodland Hunt and other packs of hounds, and also enjoys rifle and shotgun shooting. He has contributed several articles to local and national publications, and his work frequently appears in The Austringer–the journal of the Welsh Hawking Club. This is his first book, though he now aims to research the use of shortwings in early English falconry.
