Parrot (Animal Series) - Softcover

"Intereting . . . also some curious facts." -- Catherine Humble "Times Literary Supplement" (04/07/2006)

"Interesting . . . also some curious facts." -- Catherine Humble "Times Literary Supplement" (04/07/2006)

"Interesting . . . also some curious facts."--"Times Literary Supplement""" --Catherine Humble"Times Literary Supplement" (04/07/2006)

"A lively and lovely series. . . . This delightful series gives us animals as both alien and familiar. . . . An exhilarating, often astonishing and sometimes moving series of monographs."--Martin Levin"Globe and Mail" (05/04/2006)

"Interesting . . . also some curious facts."--Catherine Humble"Times Literary Supplement" (04/07/2006)

"A true fan who includes his favorite parrot jokes in the index."--Rachel Hartigan Shea"Washington Post" (05/21/2006)

"Dazzling. . . .After reading his marvellous book, I think he should be elevated instantly to the cockatoo chair atsome prestigious Pollytechnical. . . . Offers an amazingly broad survey of parrots in folklore, mythology, literature, and art, all accompanied by sumptuous illustrations. .. . Passionate and brilliant."--Eric Ormsby"New York Sun" (01/25/2006)"

"Interesting. . . also some curious facts."--Catherine Humble"Times Literary Supplement" (04/07/2006)"

"Humans will continue to be fascinated by parrots, whether as symbol, fantasy, or actual birds, and this book provides much to think about. Parrots, ultimately, is not so much about parrots but about what we can learn about ourselves through a consideration of our interactions with these exotic birds. . . . Most people who have an interest in parrots will want to own this book."--Patricia K. Anderson "Anthrozoos "

Paul Carter's "Parrot" is a fascinating natural and cultural history of parrots. It covers three broad areas: 'Parrotics' - the historical, cultural and scientific classifications of parrots; 'Parroternalia' - the association of parrots with the different language, ages, tastes and dreams of society; and 'Parrotology' - the mimicry of parrots and what that can tell us about our own systems of communication. Highly illustrated, with images drawn from a wide range of cultures, historical periods and media, "Parrot" is a humorous roller-coaster ride through parrots in literature, jokes, folklore, mythology, film, TV, and children's stories worldwide, as well as discussing parrot conservation, talking bird experiments and parrot portraiture. This book differs from previous histories, which have treated parrots as subjects of curiosity and a pretext for elegy. A new kind of animal history, "Parrot" is philosophical and poetic. It takes seriously the critical and ironic mirror that parrots hold up to human society.

Humorously written and wide-ranging in scope, "Parrot" will have wide appeal, and will be of interest to parrot enthusiasts and specialists, as well scholars of animals in culture.