An entertaining and wide-ranging romp through the cultural history of a peculiar bird.
 
The cuckoo is peculiar for inspiring such divergent ideas: a symbol of foolishness to both Aristophanes and Cocoa Puffs, a reliable harbinger of spring and the hours of a cuckoo clock, and the source of innumerable innuendos inspired by a habit of laying eggs in others’ nests. In this short, entertaining book, Cynthia Chris explores both the natural and cultural history of the cuckoo as well as the many stories told throughout the centuries about this fascinating bird.

Cynthia Chris is professor of media culture at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York. Her previous books include Crab, also published in Reaktion Books’ Animal series.

1. What Is a Cuckoo?
2. ‘Dear Cuckold’
3. Myth and Madness
4. Nature’s Timekeeper
5. The Cuckoo’s Song
6. Cuckoo Futures
Timeline of the Cuckoo

References
Select Bibliography
Associations and Websites
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index