The Age of Deer: Trouble and Kinship with our Wild Neighbours

Humans and deer have a long and complex history, from royal harts to deer numbers exploding in recent years. Erika Howsare's The Age of Deer explores the relationship between our two species, reminding us of the poetry and violence of the natural world.

Format: Hardback
Publication date: 04 January 2024
Publisher: Icon Books

A stag leaps on an ancient brooch, its majestic form a testament to the power and grace of the animal. A doe and a fawn step across a field at first light, their delicate steps a delicate ballet of nature. A pair of antlers is silhouetted by the side of a busy road, a reminder of the wildness that still exists within our urbanized world.

From the earliest cave paintings to the present day, humans and deer have a long and complex history. Royal harts were the coveted quarry of European kings, their majestic horns a symbol of power and wealth. In the Americas, the first Americans relied on deer for everything from buckskins to arrowheads, a testament to their resourcefulness and adaptability.

However, the story of deer is not without its challenges. Once hunted to the point of extinction in some parts of the world, their numbers have exploded in recent years, causing tension between scientists and conservationists. While deer are a valuable resource for many communities, their presence can also have negative impacts on ecosystems, such as habitat destruction and disease transmission.

In her book, The Age of Deer, Erika Howsare deftly explores the relationship between our two species in the line where wildness meets humankind. Through a combination of history and reportage, she sheds light on the poetry and violence of the natural world, reminding us of the delicate balance that exists between us and the animals that share our planet.

Howsare is a talented writer, journalist, and teacher. Her essays, reviews, and interviews have appeared in numerous publications, including the Los Angeles Review of Books and The Rumpus. She is the author of two collections of poetry, How is Travel a Folded Form? and FILL: A Collection (with Kate Schapira). Based in the Blue Ridge in central Virginia, Howsare brings a fresh perspective to nature writing, combining her love for the outdoors with a deep understanding of the human-animal relationship.

Weight: 576g
Dimension: 163 x 243 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781785789465