Duff Cooper Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 12 (1967) Winner
J. A. Baker
ジョン・エー・ベイカー
Jon Ē Beikā
Aliases:
John Alec Baker
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1926-08-06 （Chelmsford, Essex）
- Died
- 1987-12-26 （Chelmsford, Essex） age 61
- Nationality
- 英国, イギリス人
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Chelmsford, Essex
Career
- Occupations
- Manager of the Chelmsford branch of The Automobile Association, Manager of a Britvic depot, Author
- Active Years
- 1954-1987
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford | — | — | — | — | United Kingdom |
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
Country:
United Kingdom
Secondary education; often absent due to ill health
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Duff Cooper Prize | The Peregrine | — | — | Winner |
Duff Cooper Prize
1967
Work:
The Peregrine
Result:
Winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
The Peregrine
1967 Nature writingA lyrical account of the author's decade-long obsession with peregrine falcons wintering near Chelmsford, blending observation with personal transformation.
Peregrine falconsMan-bird fusionEssex countrysideWinter harshness
Adaptations
- [Radio] The Peregrine (read by David Attenborough) / David Attenborough (2019)
The Hill of Summer
1969 Nature writingA lyrical and visionary account of summer's progress across the wilder parts of southern England.
Summer landscapesSeasonal progressionPoetic observation
Bibliography
- The Peregrine (1967)
- The Hill of Summer (1969)
- The Peregrine: The Hill of Summer & Diaries (2011)
- The Peregrine: 50th Anniversary Edition (2017)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Lyrically charged prosePoetic intensityVisionary naturalism
- Recurring Motifs
- BirdwatchingEssex coast and countrysideSeasonal changesUnion of man and nature
Health
-
Rheumatic fever幼少期Frequently absent from school
-
Short-sightedness生涯Affected birdwatching with optical equipment
-
Ankylosing spondylitis1970年頃から1980年代Progressively crippled; later driven to sites by wife
-
Cancer晩年Likely from arthritis drugs; cause of death
Legacy
Renowned for The Peregrine, hailed as a masterpiece by Robert Macfarlane, Werner Herzog et al. Blue plaque, museum exhibition in Chelmsford, archive at University of Essex.
Museums
- Chelmsford Museum Chelmsford
Archives
- J. A. Baker Archive, University of Essex
In Popular Culture
- Blue Plaque by Chelmsford City Council (2020)
- Recommended by Werner Herzog for filmmakers
Trivia
- Worked for AA but unable to drive, travelled by bicycle
- Lived all life in Chelmsford
- Did not take field notes; wrote diaries at home
- Destroyed many daily notes