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Dreambirds: The Strange History of the Ostrich in Fashion, Food, and Fortune
by
Rob Nixon
The ostrich is one of nature's misfits: a gigantic bird that can neither fly nor sing. But the fin-de-siecle fetish for feathers made ostrich plumes more precious than gold. Rob Nixon grew up near the South African desert where ostriches first boomed, and had an early passion for the outsize bird. Later, his rejection of apartheid led him to immigrate to the United States,...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
March 1st 2000
by Picador
(first published May 1st 1999)
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i was doing research for my master's thesis when i came upon a reference to rob nixon and his book about the adventures through the ages of possibly the world's oddest bird, the ostrich. i immediately ordered a copy and for two full days forgot all abotu my master's research.
from the "plume boom" of the late 19th century to wars between the ostrich vs emu farmers (in Texas and California, respectively) in the present day, nixon's book gives a comprehensive history of an animal most famous for se...more
from the "plume boom" of the late 19th century to wars between the ostrich vs emu farmers (in Texas and California, respectively) in the present day, nixon's book gives a comprehensive history of an animal most famous for se...more
The title is somewhat misrepresentative of the superb autobiographical elements woven throughout the narrative by the author.
Loved this book on the author's childhood in Africa, and a history of the ostrich. Very nicely written.
A thoroughly engaging and genre blending book. Beautifully written.
I learned enough about giant mutant birds so that if there's ever an ostrich category on "Jeopardy" I'll totally kick nerd butt. I guess there's a lesson about investing in fads here, too, as ostrich feathers went the way of the telegram. I liked Nixon's memories, but this book is an odd mix.
Very lyrical writing at times. Did a good job transitioning between memoir and natural history. Made me want to go to South Africa...and Arizona.
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