The Nightingale

'The Nightingale' is principally about the human art that has grown up around the nightingale; while it gives an elegantly-written overview of the natural history of the species, die-hard fans of nature-writing may find too much of the human in it.

It works very well as an audiobook; the author has spent years studying and being immersed in folklore, and he sings several pieces in one of the chapters. I only wish that audio of the nightingale itself had been included!

There's a wealth of cultural history around the nightingale that I was not aware of, such as Beatrice Harrison, 'the lady of the nightingales' (frustratingly, a Google search will try to take you to results about Florence Nightingale if you don't use Beatrice's name). I enjoyed the fable about how the nightingale gained its song, though one such story would have been enough for me; the longer fable about an emperor in the Far East was perhaps unnecessary.

The contemporary edge to the book comes when the author describes the nights when he takes groups of people to listen to the nightingales, and he skilfully ties in his experiences with the Extinction Rebellion movement; here's a person who acts on his beliefs.

I learned less about the biology of the nightingale than I was hoping for, and I admit to being dubious about the author's claim that the nightingale's song had an "epigenetic" effect on humans (no citation provided), as well as his reliance on quoting George Monbiot; some scientific references would've leant more credence. Still, I cannot fault the author's passion for nightingales, and the tender, poignant message he weaves throughout the book about the risk that we may be soon be listening to silence.

(With thanks to Cornerstone and NetGalley for this audiobook, in exchange for an honest review)

Folk singer, musician and passionate conservationist Sam Lee tells the story of the nightingale. This book tells of its migration patterns, habits and habitats and the story of its song. The nightingale can be found in Greek mythology, Persian poetry and English songs, and this book takes us through why this bird has been so celebrated from ancient history to the present day.

I don’t read a lot of nature non-fiction, but requested this because I loved the idea of combining songs with the facts, which this book does very well. The author takes the reader through the physical descriptions of the bird, it’s migration and breeding patterns and its song, and mixes these with the music and poetry which features this small bird. I loved the folk stories he included, such as how the nightingale got its song, and the Emperor of China and his nightingale. The mix between ancient verse, proverbs, folk song and popular poetry helps emphasise how important this bird has been within world culture. It has symbolised darkness and light, heartbreak and love and the author explores and explains this well.

The nightingale was the subject of the very first live wildlife broadcast on UK radio thanks to Beatrice Harrison and her cello in 1924, and Sam Lee tells this story.  But this is also a book with a message, and that is that the nightingale’s song will soon be silent in England. There is a belief that within 30 years there will be no nightingales in England, due to its habitation being destroyed. And the author wants to fight this, and uses this book to show how. One of the most striking chapters was the last as the author moved away from beautiful poetry of Keats and Clare to the reality of climate change, and uses this book as a way to encourage people to take action. There is a shift in tone, as the book moves towards the reality the world is facing. He gives real examples of how to help, such a volunteer litter picking, websites to visit and donate to, which clothes to avoid etc. I thought this change in tone was really effective, as it really makes you stop and think. It is a little jarring when combined with the nightingale in poetry and song but that almost seems to intentional. It brings you out of the warmth of the music to the real danger of the bird.

Sam Lee has a strong connection to the nightingale, and takes groups to sing with nightingales during the spring, and with that passion comes this book. The writing of this book is incredibly lyrical, especially in the audiobook. It’s read as a performance, including the author singing the folk songs included, for this reason I would suggest this book needs to be heard to really appreciate the story he is telling.

Thank you to Penguin Random House, Cornerstone, Sam Lee and NetGalley for this audio ARC to listen to and review.

I listened to the audio book, and I think I got more out of the book due to this as the songs and stories came to life with a tune. The book is an appreciation of the nightingale bird. It mentions facts, stories, and legends of the bird and the human and historical associations with it as well as a bit on conservation and preservation of its environment before its endangered.

The main thing missing however was the song of the bird! This was the perfect opportunity to include this as I don’t think I’ve ever heard one before. I think that a trick was missed here with the audio book being the perfect place to include the bird’s song.

However, I do recall Lumiere London in early 2019 I think with some art installation in Berkeley Square with birdsong and illuminated birds.

An enjoyable listen as we hear about the history of the nightingale, its migrations and the folklore surrounding it (the author also includes some folk songs into the mix). This little bird, of beautiful song, is said to be heading toward extinction in less than 30 years if we continue taking from the planet in the way we currently do. Apparently, the nightingale returns to our shores on April 12th each year (give or take only a day or two) and the author leads walks to areas where there is a good chance of viewing the little bird. This audio also deals with current global climate issues that are destroying our bird and wildlife as their natural habitat gets rapidly destroyed. Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House UK for my copy.

I enjoyed this book. I listened to it every day as I walked. It was lovely walking amongst the trees and fields listening to the history and nature of the Nightingale. It was a charming read. Sadly, despite our abundant forrests and wildlife, the Nightingale is not found in Scotland. I will need to travel further south to listen to the sounds insitu. In the meantime, through this book I was able to depen my understanding of its migrations, difficulties of maintianing their numbers and awareness of our responsibilities to ensure the future of the species. I was also able to find https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n6GJl1f2hw and hear Beatrice Harrison and the Nightingale after learning about her through this book.

Folktales, art and inspiration, the nightingale has been a muse for humans for hundreds of years. Now threatened by loss of habitat, we're in danger of loosing one of nature's most distinctive and beautiful voice. Sam Lee shares his passion for the nightingale, his search for that song and his he's helped in the fight for conservation. On his journey bye meets people equally enraptured by the tiny bird, as well as exploring the rich cultural history of the nightgale.

My favourite sections were these interspersed folktales and stories, such as how the nightingale got their song. The whimsy and childlike story telling hit just the right tone when interspersed by the heavier subject matter of environmentalism. I love exploring how humans have previously seen the world and nature, and this is lovingly retold here. You can also see the passion Sam Lee has for these little birds. His enthusiasm band joy for the subject matter leaps off the page.

What I wasn't so keen on were the chapters that skew more towards the political. There's a lot of discussion on extinction (an important topic, one that I does not a platform like this to open discussion) but I found it a little too dry at times, and the book looses a lot of its charm because of it. Listening to the audiobook, I also think they missed a trick by not including any nightingale song. Learning so much about the little bird, I was desperate for some song to really help imagine what the author describes.

At times I rather lovely and passionate story, that perhaps delves a little too deep into the political for me to really let go and enjoy.

The Nightingale by Sam Lee

The Nightingale is a folkloric natural history of an endangered bird. Told through the eyes of Sam Lee; a climate activist, barefooted wanderer and folk musician.

It is a beautiful and timely study on the nightingale. A bird which has inspired humans for generations with it’s beautiful song is now endangered in the UK due to loss of habitat. It is estimated that the bird will be extinct in the UK in as little as 30 years time. Sam Lee describes the natural and cultural history of the bird; from Beatrice Harrison whose duet with a cello and the Nightingale was broadcast by the BBC in 1924 to songs, poems and folk tales of how the bird got its song.

Sam has a deep and loving connection to the bird, taking musicians and nature lovers into the woods at night to sing with the nightingales. He also links the plight of the bird to his own activism with Extinction Rebellion.

As someone who reads a lot of nature writing it is heartening to read of someone who acts on their beliefs. It’s hard to find a modern nature book that does not mention climate change. Indeed the two are inextricably linked and this is a conversation that we cannot afford to shy away from any longer. Sam’s passion is inspiring and a call to action.

This is my favourite nature writing audiobook so far this year, I’m pretty sure it will stay top of my list! I highly recommend listening to this book as Sam Lee sings in one particular chapter. Although I’m sure it’s just as lovely to read! I will be recommending this to everyone, I adored it!

Thanks to @netgalley , Penguin Random House and Sam Lee for my ALC.

A lovely little novel all about The Nightingale, and Lee's connection and love to the bird, entwined with history, folklore, myths and literature makes for a really fascinating listen, whether super interested in nature writing or otherwise. It's almost a bridge between pure nature writing to a novel.

If you're interested in this read, I definitely recommend the audio version, Lee narrates beautifully, plus it brings the folk-songs and the poetry to life. I loved the singing and musical section. I've been trying really hard to seek out nightingales in the countryside since I started reading this.

Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Random House UK Audio and Sam Lee for an eAlc copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.