Synopses & Reviews
"Crows and people share similar traits and social strategies. To a surprising extent, to know the crow is to know ourselves." from the Preface
From the cave walls at Lascaux to the last painting by Van Gogh, from the works of Shakespeare to those of Mark Twain, there is clear evidence that crows and ravens influence human culture. Yet this influence is not unidirectional, say the authors of this fascinating book: people profoundly influence crow culture, ecology, and evolution as well.
John Marzluff and Tony Angell examine the often surprising ways that crows and humans interact. The authors contend that those interactions reflect a process of "cultural coevolution." They offer a challenging new view of the human-crow dynamic a view that may change our thinking not only about crows but also about ourselves.
Featuring more than 100 original drawings, the book takes a close look at the influences people have had on the lives of crows throughout history and at the significant ways crows have altered human lives. In the Company of Crows and Ravens illuminates the entwined histories of crows and people and concludes with an intriguing discussion of the crow-human relationship and how our attitudes toward crows may affect our cultural trajectory.
Review
"The text travels easily from science to folklore to literature, which, along with Angell's lively black-and-white illustrations, recommends this book highly." Booklist
Review
"[A] serious book well suited for academic or large public collections. Brief and beautifully illustrated." Library Journal
Review
"This fascinating book describes not only the role corvids have played in our folklore but more generally how corvids have influenced human culture and the impact of humans on corvids." Nicola Clayton, University of Cambridge
Review
"Sleek, evocative illustrations a mysterious light seems to come directly from the eyes and feathers of these birds....Learning how to slow down and observe animals around us is one simple way to form a stronger bond with nature." Susan Salter Reynolds, Los Angeles Times Book Review
Review
"Gorgeous illustrations....Though Crows and Ravens is beautiful enough for coffee-table-book status, it advances an edgy, even spooky scientific idea: that throughout history, crows and humans have changed one another's culture." Mary Ann Gwinn, Seattle Times
Review
"A fascinating look at the corvid family, illustrated with Mr. Angell's delightful black-and-white drawings." Stuart Ferguson, Wall Street Journal
About the Author
Q: How did you come to write this book?A: Seven years ago we set out to write a natural history of the American crow, but a much different book emergedand#151;a natural and cultural history of crows and ravens worldwide. Discovering the joint history of people and crows opened our eyes to the close and continuing relationship evolving between people and elements of the natural world. We hope others can experience our discovery. Crows are elegant without benefit of fancy and colorful plumage; they are animated and physically imposing, the fuel for artistic inspiration.Q: Youand#8217;ve studied crows and ravens extensively. Does it seem that they in turn study you?A: (Marzluff) I particularly remember a raven who carefully approached one of myb traps, stopped short of stepping into it, and reached over to pull the grass camouflage off the trapand#8217;s trigger. He turned to look down the road at me before emphatically throwing the grass into the road and deftly reaching over the trap to grab the bread I used as bait. He didnand#8217;t have to look at me, but he didand#151;like a celebratory football player who just scored!A: (Angell) My raven Macaw employed my and#147;greetingand#8221; each morning as a vocal initiation of each day. After a few months of my saying and#147;Hello, Macaw,and#8221; to him as a young bird, he would say and#147;Hello, Macaw,and#8221; sometimes before I spoke, rather like a and#147;Good morningand#8221; greeting. He always used it in this context during his time with me.Q: What might your readers be most surprised to learn about these birds?A: Our conclusion that crows have culture, and that it affects and is affected byand#160; human culture, makes us realize that we share more than some would like to think with other animals. The tales from people who have witnessed apparent crow murders, funerals, and visitations from dead relatives will certainly shake readers. We hope that by bringing up such controversial crow traits, others will study them and help us all understand the actions of these powerful birds. That crows and their kin possess culture that in some ways parallels our own is a consideration not easily addressed.