{"title":"Jean Boucault","description":"\u003cp\u003eDiscover the enchanting world of \u003cem\u003eJean Boucault\u003c\/em\u003e, an author celebrated for the immersive exploration of the natural world, particularly the intricate beauty of birdlife. Known most prominently for the captivating series \u003cstrong\u003eThe Bird Singers\u003c\/strong\u003e, Boucault's works invite readers into the mesmerising and melodic universe of avian wonders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a profound appreciation for nature, Jean Boucault weaves intricate narratives that blend scientific insights with lyrical prose, making each page a testament to the splendor and mystery of our natural surroundings. Perfectly capturing the wonders of birdlife, these books serve both as an educational resource and a source of inspiration, stirring a deep appreciation for conservation and biodiversity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you're a seasoned birdwatcher or new to the avian world, Jean Boucault’s writings provide a gateway into understanding and cherishing the diverse and delightful world of birds, combining the thrill of discovery with poetic storytelling. Dive into this literary collection and let the harmonious calls of \u003cem\u003eThe Bird Singers\u003c\/em\u003e resonate through your adventures in nature.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-bird-singers-by-jean-boucault-9781778401831","title":"The Bird Singers","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis captivating memoir takes readers into the eccentric world of competitive bird-calling\u003c\/b\u003e, following the coming-of-age story of two boys who found their voice in the natural world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis captivating book brings together two birds of a feather: Jean and Johnny, boys from very different worlds growing up in a small village in France. Jean is the genteel pharmacist's son, dressed in his Sunday best; Johnny's father is a rough, working-class sheep herder, always with the odour of animals clinging to him. Each year, over three hundred bird species visit their village, which intersects a major migratory flyway.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe two boys' stories converge when Jean enters a bird-calling contest. He places second, and at only eleven years old becomes a child celebrity on the bird-calling circuit. Then Johnny starts to compete as well. At the annual bird festival, both boys are standouts, and a long, admiring rivalry develops between them, eventually culminating in the European championships.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs they evolve as performers, the two boys' identities become more distinct: Jean is soft-spoken, while Johnny likes to play to the crowd. While most of their competitors are adult men, hunters who learned to call birds for sport, the two boys are fascinated with the pure beauty of birdsong, and in trying to transcend themselves through imitating birds. Their shared passion develops into an enduring partnership as performers, and they go on to tour the world in concert as the Bird Singers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a story as much about friendship as it is about birdsong. The setting is timeless and bucolic, with long walks to small village schools, games of pick-up soccer, and father-son birding trips. The chapters, which bounce back and forth between the two narrators, are woven through with descriptions of colourful characters in the bird-calling competition circuit and the kind of ornithological detail that can only come from a true passion for birds. There is poetry in the description of the different birds, from common seagulls to thrushes and bluethroats and nightingales, and something like communion in the way Jean and Johnny understand the feathered friends they imitate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUnique, evocative, and cinematic, \u003ci\u003eThe Bird Singers\u003c\/i\u003e is the story of an unlikely friendship, sparked by a desire to speak with the avian world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A mesmerising tale like no other.' - Priyanka Kumar, author of \u003ci\u003eConversations with Birds\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A beautiful book. The writing about birds—their songs and sounds, what birds mean to us, the wonder and joy they evoke in us—is among the most original, insightful, and enjoyable I've read.' - James Macdonald Lockhart, author of \u003ci\u003eWild Air: In Search of Birdsong\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46998663037164,"sku":"9781778401831","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/4804723482821.jpg?v=1763225217"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/jean-boucault.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}