Carol Rumens's poem of the weekPoetryA brilliantly noisy evocation of a smithy from the 15th century still conjures quite a racket 550 years laterThis week's marvellously cacophonous poem, usually known as "The Blacksmiths," was written some time around the middle of the 15th century. As shown by William Langland's The Vision of Piers Plowman, the Old English alliterative tradition had begun, earlier in that century, to enjoy a revival. Was there a nationalist literary movement afoot? Read More...
Science and nature booksReviewA fascinating study of the fraught relationship between human beings and our feathered friends
Taking a numerical approach to the natural world – as in Simon Barnes’s History of the World in 100 Plants, for example – is a handy way to carve off a manageable slice from a potential plethora of examples. There are, for instance, nearly 10,000 bird species worldwide. In his new book, naturalist Stephen Moss wisely chooses just 10, but in doing so tells the story of the long relationship between birds and humanity – and it has mostly been a disastrous one. Read More...
New York This article is more than 1 year oldDo you have what it takes to be New York’s new rat czar?This article is more than 1 year oldThe city is looking for ‘somewhat bloodthirsty’ applicants to a new role designed to tackle its very old rodent problem
Hate rats? Are you a “somewhat bloodthirsty” New Yorker with excellent communication skills and “a general aura of badassery”? Then you might have what it takes to be the city’s new rat czar. Read More...
