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William Collins
An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF
First published in the United Kingdom by William Collins in 2017
This William Collins eBook edition published in 2018
Text © Simon Cooper 2017
Cover illustration © Curious Otter, 2003 (w/c on paper), Adlington, Mark/Private Collection/Bridgeman Images
The author asserts his moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.
Source ISBN: 9780008189747
Ebook Edition © March 2018 ISBN: 9780008189723
Version: 2018-09-26
‘He summarizes his observations by telling the detailed story of a mother and her young and the male otter with which they occasionally interact. He does so with the charm of a Kenneth Grahame but with the scientific rigour of modern behavioural science. It is the best popular account of the lives of otters written so far.’
Times Literary Supplement
‘Offers something new, and ultimately optimistic.’
New Scientist
‘A wonderful book.’
Daily Mail
Praise for Simon Cooper:
‘I loved the gentle flow of this book and the insight into both a pastime and a wonderful corner of the land.’
BBC Countryfile
‘Cooper’s enthusiasm is so infectious’
Daily Mail
‘[Simon Cooper] is a renowned fly-fisher himself and, in this book, he writes as well as he casts […] delightful […] Mr Cooper is in love with chalkstreams and anyone who reads this splendid book will soon hold the same view.’
Country Life
‘We are taken on a delightful journey overflowing with passages that capture our imagination […] It is both uplifting and therapeutic.’
Classic Angling
To Mary and Minnie – muses both.
‘It’ll be all right, my fine fellow,’ said the Otter (to Ratty). ‘I’m coming along with you, and I know every path blindfold; and if there’s a head that needs to be punched, you can confidently rely upon me to punch it.’
Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows
Contents
Chapter 2 A place to call home
Chapter 3 Something in the air
Chapter 4 Alone but determined
Chapter 5 And then there were five
Chapter 6 And then there were four …
Chapter 7 A country playground
Chapter 8 Life in the food chain