Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

A short book in celebration of the iconic Lark but reminding us of the threat to it's survival.
The author directs us to literature, music, poetry, sayings and symbolic references of the past as well as heralding the bird as inspirational.
A powerful quick read.
My thanks go to the publisher, author and Netgalley in providing this arc in return for a honest review.

A charming but somewhat slight book which collects the author's own observations of the skylark with their history and excerpts of poetry and literature featuring them.

I requested this on the strength of Meadowland: The Private Life of an English Field and The Running Hare: The Secret Life of Farmland, and whilst I think this would make a nice stocking-filler for a bird lover friend or family member I'll likely be sticking to John Lewis-Stempel's longer form work in the future.