The Natural History of UnicornsThe Natural History of Unicorns
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Book, 2009
Current format, Book, 2009, , All copies in use.Book, 2009
Current format, Book, 2009, , All copies in use. Offered in 0 more formatsExplores the many ways in which unicorns have influenced ideas about the natural world, in philosophical circles, and in religious organizations throughout history.
Chronicles the mythology and legends attributed to the unicorn in biblical stories, modern literature, and other works; exploring the myriad ways in which unicorns have influenced ideas about the natural world, in philosophical circles, and in religious organizations throughout the past 2,500 years. 25,000 first printing.
For over two thousand years, unicorns have inspired, enchanted and eluded humanity. The beast appears in Old Testament texts and Greek and Roman natural histories; Christians adopted it as a symbol of Christ, the Middle Ages as a symbol of courtly love. There was a brisk trade in unicorn parts in medieval and Renaissance times, and travelers regularly reported sightings into the modern era. But by the early twentieth century the real-life contenders for the beast had been ruled out, and scientists concluded that the unicorn never existed. It turns out they were a little hasty.
Where did the unicorn come from, and how was it accepted as a part of the animal kingdom for so long? Chris Lavers argues that although the unicorn of our imagination isn't real, traces of its character can be found in existing species. In this lively and vivid exploration of the natural world, Lavers follows the beast's trail to the plateaus of India and into the jungles of Africa to unearth the flesh and blood ancestors of our iconic unicorn.
Along the way, Lavers introduces the peoples, historians, explorers, traders, and scientists who believed in the unicorn, and describes their efforts to pin it down. Its changing status - from one-horned ass to religious symbol to pure myth - reflects man's journey from superstition to scientific understanding, ultimately leading to a greater insight into the natural world.
Chronicles the mythology and legends attributed to the unicorn in biblical stories, modern literature, and other works; exploring the myriad ways in which unicorns have influenced ideas about the natural world, in philosophical circles, and in religious organizations throughout the past 2,500 years. 25,000 first printing.
For over two thousand years, unicorns have inspired, enchanted and eluded humanity. The beast appears in Old Testament texts and Greek and Roman natural histories; Christians adopted it as a symbol of Christ, the Middle Ages as a symbol of courtly love. There was a brisk trade in unicorn parts in medieval and Renaissance times, and travelers regularly reported sightings into the modern era. But by the early twentieth century the real-life contenders for the beast had been ruled out, and scientists concluded that the unicorn never existed. It turns out they were a little hasty.
Where did the unicorn come from, and how was it accepted as a part of the animal kingdom for so long? Chris Lavers argues that although the unicorn of our imagination isn't real, traces of its character can be found in existing species. In this lively and vivid exploration of the natural world, Lavers follows the beast's trail to the plateaus of India and into the jungles of Africa to unearth the flesh and blood ancestors of our iconic unicorn.
Along the way, Lavers introduces the peoples, historians, explorers, traders, and scientists who believed in the unicorn, and describes their efforts to pin it down. Its changing status - from one-horned ass to religious symbol to pure myth - reflects man's journey from superstition to scientific understanding, ultimately leading to a greater insight into the natural world.
&;Lavers keeps his intellectual detective story passionate and suspenseful.&;
&; Washington Post Book World
 
From Biblical stories about virgins to adventures with Harry Potter, unicorns have enchanted people for millennia. In the endlessly fascinating The Natural History of Unicorns, author Chris Lavers ingeniously traces the legend of this mysterious creature to the real people, places, and animals that have influenced its story.
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- New York : Wm. Morrow, 2009.
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