[PDF] The Tower Menagerie eBook

Author : Daniel Hahn
Publisher : Tarcher
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 34,32 MB
Release : 2004
Category : Menageries
ISBN : 9781585423354

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A young poet and artist by the name of William Blake traveled to the Tower from his Lambeth home to paint and rhapsodize about a Tower tiger and its "fearful symmetry"; a lion named Crowly received frequent visits from an enamored Samuel Pepys; and one visitor seen dropping in on the creatures of the Menagerie in 1389 was the man in charge of Tower upkeep during the reign of King Richard II, Geoffrey Chaucer." "Daniel Hahn's history of the Royal Menagerie in the Tower of London tells the story of the many exotic creatures who found a home in one of the world's most forbidding and infamous fortresses, and explores the way in which the concept of animal captivity for the purposes of entertainment, enlightenment, and science evolved over hundreds of years." "The Tower Menagerie provides survey of our changing attitudes toward animals, and a hugely entertaining journey through six centuries of British history."--BOOK JACKET.

Author : Caroline Grigson
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 376 pages
File Size : 31,82 MB
Release : 2016-01-29
Category : History
ISBN : 0191024112

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Menagerie is the story of the panoply of exotic animals that were brought into Britain from time immemorial until the foundation of the London Zoo — a tale replete with the extravagant, the eccentric, and — on occasion — the downright bizarre. From Henry III's elephant at the Tower, to George IV's love affair with Britain's first giraffe and Lady Castlereagh's recalcitrant ostriches, Caroline Grigson's tour through the centuries amounts to the first detailed history of exotic animals in Britain. On the way we encounter a host of fascinating and outlandish creatures, including the first peacocks and popinjays, Thomas More's monkey, James I's cassowaries in St James's Park, and Lord Clive's zebra — which refused to mate with a donkey, until the donkey was painted with stripes. But this is not just the story of the animals themselves. It also the story of all those who came into contact with them: the people who owned them, the merchants who bought and sold them, the seamen who carried them to our shores, the naturalists who wrote about them, the artists who painted them, the itinerant showmen who worked with them, the collectors who collected them. And last but not least, it is about all those who simply came to see and wonder at them, from kings, queens, and nobles to ordinary men, women, and children, often impelled by no more than simple curiosity and a craving for novelty.

Author : Daniel Hahn
Publisher :
Page : 308 pages
File Size : 46,29 MB
Release : 2003
Category : History
ISBN :

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When King Henry III was given three leopards by his new brother-in-law, Frederick, the Holy Roman Emperor, he ordered -- in desperation -- that they be sent to the Tower of London, his great fortress by the bank of the Thames. After all, where does one keep such things? Soon after the leopards' arrival in 1235 they were joined by an even greater wonder, a huge Norwegian polar bear which was encouraged to catch its own food from the river to save on upkeep expenses. And over the next 600 years -- until the menagerie was closed down by Wellington in 1835, a few years before it became clear he had an interest in the soon-to-open London Zoo -- the Tower played host to thousands more exotic creatures, all brought from overseas by returning explorers or VIP guests. Daniel Hahn's charming history of the first zoo explores the uses and abuses of the menagerie and the legion of Great and Good who came to behold its wonders, from William Blake, who came to look at the 'tygers', to John Wesley, who played his flute to the Tower lions in an attempt to establish if they had souls. Fascinating and insightful in equal measure, THE TOWER MENAGERIE is both an intriguing survey of our changing attitudes to animals and a hugely entertaining canter through six centuries of British history.

Author : William Harvey
Publisher : Prabhat Prakashan
Page : 204 pages
File Size : 16,25 MB
Release : 2023-10-01
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN :

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The Tower Menagerie by Edward Turner Bennett: A Fascinating Glimpse into the Historical Menagerie at the Tower of London: "The Tower Menagerie" by Edward Turner Bennett offers a captivating account of the menagerie that once existed within the iconic Tower of London. Through detailed descriptions and historical anecdotes, Bennett brings to life the exotic animals, royal connections, and curious events that characterized this unique collection, providing readers with a glimpse into the history and intrigue of the Tower Menagerie. Key Aspects of the Book "The Tower Menagerie": Historical Menagerie: The book explores the history of the menagerie at the Tower of London, shedding light on its purpose, the animals housed there, and the significance of this fascinating institution. Exotic Animals: Bennett introduces readers to the diverse array of exotic animals that were once part of the menagerie, including lions, tigers, elephants, and other creatures that captivated visitors and played a role in royal spectacles. Curiosities and Anecdotes: "The Tower Menagerie" presents intriguing stories, curious events, and historical anecdotes surrounding the menagerie, painting a vivid picture of the unique environment and the people and animals that inhabited it. Edward Turner Bennett was a British zoologist and writer who lived from 1797 to 1836. He made significant contributions to the field of zoology and was known for his work on the classification of animals. Bennett's fascination with the Tower Menagerie led him to research and document its history, providing valuable insights into this extraordinary aspect of British culture and zoological heritage. "The Tower Menagerie" stands as a testament to Bennett's passion for the natural world and his dedication to preserving historical knowledge.

Author : Edward Turner Bennett
Publisher : Good Press
Page : 212 pages
File Size : 41,47 MB
Release : 2019-12-16
Category : Fiction
ISBN :

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By Edward Turner Bennett: A comprehensive exploration of the animals housed in the Tower Menagerie in London. Bennett provides detailed natural histories of the animals, accompanied by intriguing anecdotes about their behaviors and backgrounds. A must-read for animal enthusiasts and those interested in the history of zoological collections in England.

Author : Edward Turner Bennett
Publisher : Hardpress Publishing
Page : 270 pages
File Size : 13,25 MB
Release : 2012-01
Category :
ISBN : 9781290167178

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Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Author : Christopher Plumb
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
Page : 200 pages
File Size : 39,47 MB
Release : 2015-06-26
Category : History
ISBN : 085773928X

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In the eighteenth century, it would not have been impossible to encounter an elephant or a kangaroo making its way down the Strand, heading towards the menagerie of Mr. Pidcock at the Exeter Change. Pidcock's was just one of a number of commercial menagerists who plied their trade in London in this period the predecessors to the zoological societies of the Victorian era. As the British Empire expanded and seaborne trade flooded into London's ports, the menagerists gained access to animals from the most far-flung corners of the globe, and these strange creatures became the objects of fascination and wonder. Many aristocratic families sought to create their own private menageries with which to entertain their guests, while for the less well-heeled, touring exhibitions of exotic creatures both alive and dead satisfied their curiosity for the animal world. While many exotic creatures were treasured as a form of spectacle, others fared less well turtles went into soups and civet cats were sought after for ingredients for perfume. In this entertaining and enlightening book, Plumb introduces the many tales of exotic animals in London.

Author : Tracy Borman
Publisher : Merrell
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 38,83 MB
Release : 2015
Category : Fortification
ISBN : 9781858946337

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This book reveals the stories, events and colourful characters that make up the Tower of London's long and varied history, from its Roman origins to the present day.