The Goshawk

T.H. White chronicles his attempt to train a goshawk using traditional falconry methods in the English countryside. The narrative takes place over several months as White, a novice falconer, works to establish a bond with his bird using techniques from historical falconry manuals. The book documents the day-to-day challenges of manning a hawk, from early morning training sessions to the constant vigilance required to keep the powerful raptor properly fed and housed. White's observations capture both the physical demands of falconry and the mental strain of working with a creature that resists domestication. The relationship between man and hawk forms the center of this memoir, which explores themes of wildness, control, and the limits of human understanding. Through his struggles with the goshawk, White examines broader questions about nature, civilization, and the desire to connect with something fundamentally untamable.

Readers describe this as a raw, honest account of failure and obsession. Many appreciate White's brutal self-reflection and detailed observations of both hawk and handler. The prose captures intense emotional states without becoming sentimental. Readers highlight: - Vivid descriptions of the English countryside - Complex relationship between man and bird - Historical insights into traditional falconry methods Common criticisms: - Slow pacing, especially in technical sections - Dated language can be challenging - Too much focus on White's personal struggles - Some find the training methods disturbing A frequent comment is that the book works better as a psychological study than a falconry manual. Several readers note the stark contrast with Helen Macdonald's "H is for Hawk." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (200+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.0/5 (400+ ratings) "More about human nature than hawks" appears in multiple reader reviews.

H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald A memoir of grief intertwined with the author's experience training a goshawk while processing her father's death.

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George A story of a young boy who learns falconry and survival skills while living alone in the Catskill Mountains.

The Peregrine by J.A. Baker A naturalist's chronicle of tracking and observing peregrine falcons through the English countryside over multiple seasons.

Falconer on the Edge by Rachel Dickinson The account of a modern-day falconer's life and his obsessive pursuit of sage grouse with his peregrine falcon.

The Once and Future King by T. H. White White's masterwork incorporates his deep knowledge of falconry and medieval life into the retelling of Arthurian legends.

🦅 T.H. White wrote "The Goshawk" while living in a remote cottage during World War II, using falconry as a way to escape from the horrors of war and his own personal demons. 🦅 The author had no prior experience with hawks when he began this endeavor, learning entirely from old falconry books and making numerous mistakes that he candidly shares in the narrative. 🦅 Helen Macdonald, author of "H is for Hawk," was deeply influenced by White's book and references it extensively in her own work, drawing parallels between their shared experiences of grief and hawk training. 🦅 The goshawk White attempted to train, whom he named Gos, was considered one of the most difficult species of hawk to manage, known for its fierce temperament and stubborn nature. 🦅 Many of the medieval falconry techniques described in the book were later incorporated into White's most famous work, "The Once and Future King," particularly in the scenes where Merlin transforms young Arthur into various birds.