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Square Peg swoops for Moss’ biography of the owl
Square Peg has acquired The Owl, the fifth in Stephen Moss’s series of bird biographies.
Marianne Tatepo, publishing director at Square Peg, acquired world all-language rights in a two-book deal from Broo Doherty at DHH Literary for The Owl and an unnamed second project. The Owl will be published on 5th October 2023.
The publisher says: “Following his bestselling biographies of some of our favourite birds – The Robin, The Wren, The Swallow and The Swan – author and naturalist Stephen Moss now turns his attention to a group of birds we rarely see, occasionally hear, yet are always on our minds: the owls.”
It goes on: “With this book, Stephen Moss takes us on a journey to discover the secret lives they live between twilight and dawn, from the moment they first hatch, to their nightly hunts and how they raise the next generation, weaving together his insights as a naturalist, his experiences encountering these birds in the wild, international folklore and history, and some tips for how – with a bit of luck – you can catch a glimpse of them yourself.”
Moss said: “As always with these bird biographies, I have really enjoyed discovering incredible facts and sharing fascinating stories about some of the world’s most distinctive and charismatic birds – the owls. I hope you enjoy the book too!”
Tatepo said: “Stephen is a stalwart of Square Peg and one of Britain’s most beloved naturalists. So it is fitting that he would turn his attention to one of our favourite and the most erudite of birds: the owl.
“With this new gifty bespoke hardback replete with full colour illustrations, we will be building on the global success of his five previous books from the ‘Bird Biography’ series – which now exceed 100,000 copies sold in the UK alone and have been translated the world over – to reveal the secret lives of the most elusive and storied bird in our collective imagination.
“Stephen’s warmth, passion and deft mix of zoological observations, cultural lore and historical facts, paired with expert tips on how to spot owls in our midst, comes through in this volume that follows the interactive approach of The Robin. We hope The Owl becomes an equally cherished volume among bird enthusiasts and nature lovers of all stripes.”
