The Conjurer's Bird: A NovelThe Conjurer’s Bird is a beautiful story in the spirit of Possession that is as exciting as The Club Dumas, inspired by one of the great puzzles of natural history: that of the Mysterious Bird of Ulieta. Seen only once, in 1774, by Captain Cook’s second expedition to the South Seas, a single specimen was captured, preserved, and brought back to England. The bird was given to famed naturalist Joseph Banks, who displayed it proudly in his collection until its sudden, unexplained disappearance. Two hundred years later, naturalists continue to wonder if the world will ever get another glimpse of the elusive bird. Were it not for a colored drawing done by the ship’s artist, there would be nothing to say that the bird had ever existed. The Conjurer’s Bird is a gripping literary mystery and passionate love story that tackles the intrigue surrounding the celebrated Banks, his secret affair with an enigmatic woman known only as “Miss B,” and the legendary bird that becomes a touchstone for their love. Seamlessly spanning two time periods, The Conjurer’s Bird is at once the story of this romance and of a present-day conservationist named Fitz, who is drawn into a thrilling and near-impossible race to find the elusive bird’s only known remains. An Alternate Selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club and Quality Paperback Book Club |
Contents
Section 19 | 170 |
Section 20 | 185 |
Section 21 | 196 |
Section 22 | 224 |
Section 23 | 237 |
Section 24 | 250 |
Section 25 | 272 |
Section 26 | 289 |
Section 9 | 63 |
Section 10 | 71 |
Section 11 | 80 |
Section 12 | 87 |
Section 13 | 97 |
Section 14 | 109 |
Section 15 | 124 |
Section 16 | 137 |
Section 17 | 146 |
Section 18 | 159 |
Section 27 | 297 |
Section 28 | 307 |
Section 29 | 317 |
Section 30 | 329 |
Section 31 | 336 |
Section 32 | 349 |
Section 33 | 363 |
Section 34 | 380 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
afternoon Ainsby Anderson arrival asked Banks's began Burlington Street Burnett called Congo peacock Cook Daniel Solander dark daughter door drawing expedition extinct birds eyes Fabricius face father feel felt Fitz Fitzgerald Forster front Gabby Gabriella glass gone grandfather hand head James Chapin Johann Forster Joseph Banks Karl Karl Anderson Katya knew laughed leave letter Lincolnshire London looked lych-gate Madeira Martha Matthew Fox Miss mistress months morning moved never night nodded Orchard Street paintings paper paused peacock Perhaps Ponsonby Potts reached replied Revesby Revesby Abbey seemed shook smile Solander someone sort specimen spectacled cormorant Spix's macaw Stamford stood suddenly sure talk Ted Staest tell there's things thought told took trees turned Ulieta bird voice voyage Vulpes waited walked wanted watched woman woods