The Natural History of Unicorns

A fascinating and lively quest for the real animals that gave rise to the unicorn of our fascination, by a leading natural historian.

For two and a half thousand years, unicorns have inspired, enchanted and eluded humanity. The beast appears in the 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. A brisk trade was had in unicorn parts in Medieval and Renaissance times, and travellers regularly reported sightings into the modern era. But by the early twentieth century the last physical evidence of the beast had been dismissed, and scientists conceded that the unicorn never existed. It turns out they were a little hasty.

Where do unicorns come from, and how was it accepted as a part of the animal kingdom for so long? In this lively and vivid exploration of the natural world, Chris 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, finding traces of it in a hotchpotch of existing species. He shows that the unicorn's changing status - from one-horned ass, to religious symbol, to pure myth - is also a reflection of man's journey from superstition to scientific understanding.

About Chris Lavers
Chris Lavers is a lecturer in the School of Geography, University of Nottingham. He is the author of Why Elephants have Ears (2000). He has written for the Spectator, New Statesman and New Scientist and has reviewed many popular science and history books for the Guardian. He lives and works in Nottingham.

The Natural History of Unicorns
Allen & Unwin
Author: Chris Lavers
ISBN: 9781847080622
RRP: $39.95