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Errol Fuller

エロール・フラー

Errol Fuller

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1947-06-19 （Blackpool, Lancashire, England）
Nationality
British
Languages
English
Residence History
South London (grew up) → Tunbridge Wells, Kent (resides)

Career

Occupations
Author, Painter
Active Years
1980-
Influenced By
J.G. Keulemans, Edward Lear, Joseph Wolf

Education

Addey and Stanhope School
Country: United Kingdom

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Extinct Birds

1987 Natural history / Ornithology

A compilation of historical illustrations and accounts of many extinct bird species, providing context on their extinctions and biographical notes about the people involved.

extinctionnatural historyhistorical illustration

The Great Auk

1999 Natural history / extinction history 450 pages

A comprehensive book devoted to the extinct great auk, covering its history, ecology, distribution, and detailed records of specimens and eggs worldwide; notable for its wealth of illustrations and archival material.

extinctionspecimen researchhistorical records

Dodo: From Extinction to Icon

2002 Natural history / cultural history

Explores how the dodo became a cultural icon, using historical sources and illustrations to discuss both its extinction and the formation of its image in culture.

extinctioncultural historyimage formation

The Passenger Pigeon

2014 Natural history / extinction record

A visually focused account of the passenger pigeon's history and extinction, richly illustrated with rare photographs and images; offers an accessible introduction alongside archival material.

extinctionphotographic recordvisual documentation

Lost Animals: Extinction and the Photographic Record

2013 Natural history / photographic record

Collects photographic records of extinct animals and examines the significance of photographic documentation of lost species.

extinctionhistory of photographyrecord preservation

Bibliography

  • Studies & Sketches of a Bird Painter (1981, with Raymond Ching)
  • Extinct Birds (1987)
  • Kiwis (1990)
  • The Lost Birds of Paradise (1995)
  • The Great Auk (1999)
  • Extinct Birds (Revised ed., 2000)
  • Dodo: From Extinction to Icon (2002)
  • The Dodo: Extinction in Paradise (2003)
  • The Great Auk: The Extinction of the Original Penguin (2003)
  • Mammoths: Giants of the Ice Age (2004)
  • Lost Worlds (2004)
  • Dana Quarry and Its Dinosaurs (2009)
  • Hedley Fitton: The Accent of Truth (2010)
  • Drawn from Paradise (2012, with David Attenborough)
  • Lost Animals: Extinction and the Photographic Record (2013)
  • Voodoo Salon Taxidermy (2014)
  • The Passenger Pigeon (2014)

Adaptations

  • TV appearance: Extinct (Channel 4, 2001)
  • TV appearance: The Dodo's Guide to Surviving Extinction (BBC Four, 2007)
  • TV appearance: The One Show (BBC One, 2010)
  • TV appearance: Four Rooms (Channel 4, 2012)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Visual-heavy non-fiction using many illustrations and archival materialsChronological and source-driven natural history narrative
Recurring Motifs
extinction and its historyspecimens and illustrationsremembrance of lost species

Legacy

Errol Fuller is known for his books that systematically present illustrative and historical records of extinct animals, raising awareness of the importance of natural-history documentation. His publications have influenced both scholars and general readers, promoting preservation and reappraisal of visual records of extinction.

In Popular Culture

  • Appeared on TV programs such as BBC and Channel 4 to present extinction history to a general audience

Quotes

  • Errol Fuller's magnificent self-published The Great Auk was 'everything you wanted to know about an extinct bird' and an astonishing book that captured a buccaneering spirit.
    Source: Claire Armitstead (The Guardian, 2000) (2000)
  • The Passenger Pigeon provides a good introduction for those who know little about the bird; many pages are lavishly illustrated with rare photographs.
    Source: GrrlScientist (The Guardian blog, 2014) (2014)

Trivia

  • The Great Auk attracted attention in part as a self-published work.
  • Maintains an official website (http://errolfuller.com/).