Menagerie: The History of Exotic Animals in England

This is a really useful book for anyone interested in the history of animal portraiture.

Very thoroughly researched, it contains a number of twinking micro-narratives - but largely a definitive ‘go to’ information text (rather than a colourful or thought-provoking read).

Impeccable.

A handsome, very well produced history, with lots of illustrations, including some well chosen colour plates. Comprehensive, with its sixty pages of notes, glossary, references etc showing it is a serious work.Caroline Grigson is a zoologist rather than an historian and for all the information provided, there is little attempt to gather the facts into a cohesive story, or to chart any genuine development in attitudes to animals and Nature in general. Perhaps extending the time-period covered a bit longer, to a time of modern sensibilities, where Gerald Durrell, for example, tried to use zoos for more than entertainment, would have provided more opportunities for describing such a development .The short rather downbeat conclusion epitomises this lack of meaningful comment and interpretation.An authoritative and readable book which will appeal to the general reader. Less facts (long lists of the animals held at various times in various collections are slightly repetitive) and more consideration of the social and scientific attitudes revealed would make this a more memorable work.

I do not write reviews.

Just what I needed

I thoroughly enjoyed this colorful history of exotic animals in Britain. As an art lover I have seen many pictures from the Elizabethan age through to today where exotic animals are present but was unaware of the interesting history behind how they got to Britain and how they were kept etc etc. Caroline Grigson proves an invaluable guide through the history of how Royalty and others, took to keeping exotic animals for sport, for exhibition and sometimes just as pets. There is much of interest here and it is a jolly good read. Anyone interested in the subject can do no better than to procure this highly entertaining and original volume.

Well-researched and packed with fascinating anecdotes, Grigson’s study of exotic animals and their place in England over the centuries which came to its fruition in particular in Georgian England with the establishment of countless private and public menageries makes for some very interesting reading. Once seen as a badge of royal power and only available to the rich, the expanse of trade and navigation to all corners of the world meant that soon strange and marvellous beasts and birds were being imported, sold and displayed for everyone to see. Not surprisingly, a lack of concern for the animal welfare often led to some sad outcomes, but scientific knowledge was an integral part of the collecting of exotic animals, leading to the rather more enlightened zoos that we know today. All in all this is a deeply fascinating and well-told exploration of our obsession with unusual animals.

excellent

Have enjoyed reading the book. Ashamed that people could be so cruel to animals. But a genuine eye opener.

A+++

Well, it was very complete in terms of lists of who collected what and where they were kept and shown. But it falls well short as "history". There is no attempt to place the collection and showing of animals in a larger cultural context. The kings seem to have shipped their exotics off to the Tower of London. Was it a place where lots of people of various social classes liked to visit? We don't know. There were traveling exhibitions all over England, but really no sense of who attended.Very dry read, and didn't give the experience I was hoping for.