--- product_id: 326858463 title: "The Secret Life of the Owl: a beautifully illustrated and lyrical celebration of this mythical creature from bestselling and prize-winning author John Lewis-Stempel" price: "$34.08" currency: USD in_stock: true reviews_count: 5 url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/326858463-the-secret-life-of-the-owl-a-beautifully-illustrated-lyrical store_origin: US region: United States of America --- # 4.6/5 star acclaim Hardcover elegance Mythical owl focus The Secret Life of the Owl: a beautifully illustrated and lyrical celebration of this mythical creature from bestselling and prize-winning author John Lewis-Stempel **Price:** $34.08 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🦉 Unlock the enchanting secrets of the night with every page turn! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Secret Life of the Owl: a beautifully illustrated and lyrical celebration of this mythical creature from bestselling and prize-winning author John Lewis-Stempel - **How much does it cost?** $34.08 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/326858463-the-secret-life-of-the-owl-a-beautifully-illustrated-lyrical) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Highly Rated by Readers:** Join the community of 200+ readers who gave it a 4.6-star rating. - • **Timeless Hardcover Design:** Durable, premium binding that elevates your bookshelf aesthetic. - • **Lyrical & Poetic Narrative:** Immerse yourself in a beautifully written celebration of owls by a prize-winning author. - • **Bestselling Author Credibility:** John Lewis-Stempel’s acclaimed voice ensures a captivating read. - • **Stunning Illustrations Included:** Visual storytelling that brings the mysterious owl to life on every page. ## Overview The Secret Life of the Owl is a hardcover book published by Doubleday in 2017, featuring lyrical prose and beautiful illustrations by bestselling author John Lewis-Stempel. Celebrated for its poetic and informative take on owls, it holds a strong 4.6-star rating from over 200 readers. ## Description The perfect gift for nature lovers - The Book of the Owl is a beautifully illustrated small format hardback exploring the legend and history of the owl. A true celebration of this magnificent creature - its natural powers and its mythical glory. Fans of Stephen Moss and Fiona Stafford will not be disappointed. 'In this short, beautiful little book, the farmer and nature writer introduces us to the wisdom of owls.. every question you might ask ... is answered with economy and insight and the cultural references and quotations are as rich as you would expect from this brilliant writer.' -- Daily Mail 'John Lewis-Stempel is one of the best nature writers of his generation' -- Country Li fe 'One of our finest nature writers with an essay length portrait of a bird that has fascinated humans for millennia.' -- Mail on Sunday 'An absolute pleasure to read' -- ***** Reader review 'Hypnotic reading' -- ***** Reader review 'Absolutely fascinating' -- ***** Reader review 'Hard to put down once opened, it is finished all too quickly' -- ***** Reader review ******************************************************************************* 'Dusk is filling the valley. It is the time of the gloaming, the owl-light. Out in the wood, the resident tawny has started calling, Hoo-hoo-hoo-h-o-o-o.' There is something about owls . They feature in every major culture from the Stone Age onwards. They are creatures of the night, and thus of magic. They are the birds of ill-tidings, the avian messengers from the Other Side. But owls - with the sapient flatness of their faces, their big, round eyes, their paternal expressions - are also reassuringly familiar. We see them as wise, like Athena's owl, and loyal, like Harry Potter's Hedwig. Human-like, in other words. No other species has so captivated us. Review: Short but great overview of owls - Lewis-Stempel is one of my favorite authors to read. He has such a way of describing his surroundings and the natural world that just invites you in, and makes you want to know more. This short little book about owls is no different. I love owls, and this book was a great journey through folklore and poetry and facts about owls. If you love owls, I wouldn’t miss this one. It’s not overly scientific and includes mythology and other fun bits. Review: Beautifully written, informative and poetic. - I really enjoyed this. A small book but so interesting and informative, and written in the poetically beautiful language and imagery that I have come to find in John Lewis-Stempel's books. I only found them a year ago, the first one I read being "The Running Hare - the Secret Life of Farmland", a gorgeous book about the old-style farming I recall as a child, the wealth of wildlife and the work John put into one field to try and recapture that. Do read it. I confess I'd kind of imagined the author of these books as being an old grizzled chap, rather like dear old Jack Hargreaves from the "How" Tv programme, an old-style countryman with a wonderfully descriptive turn of phrase. How wrong I was - the author photo in the back of "The Secret Life of the Owl" shows a younger man, probably no more than 40 at most, with an open face and a pleasant countenance. I'd like to talk wildlife and nature with him just as much as I did with Jack Hargreaves when I was a child, I'm sure it would be both fascinating and fun! ## Features - Binding: hardcover - Language: english - Manufacturer: Doubleday - Brand: Doubleday - Publication date: 2017-10-19T00:00:01Z ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 202 Reviews | ## Images ![The Secret Life of the Owl: a beautifully illustrated and lyrical celebration of this mythical creature from bestselling and prize-winning author John Lewis-Stempel - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91RX1Yvp6UL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Short but great overview of owls *by C***E on 7 March 2020* Lewis-Stempel is one of my favorite authors to read. He has such a way of describing his surroundings and the natural world that just invites you in, and makes you want to know more. This short little book about owls is no different. I love owls, and this book was a great journey through folklore and poetry and facts about owls. If you love owls, I wouldn’t miss this one. It’s not overly scientific and includes mythology and other fun bits. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Beautifully written, informative and poetic. *by J***R on 9 June 2019* I really enjoyed this. A small book but so interesting and informative, and written in the poetically beautiful language and imagery that I have come to find in John Lewis-Stempel's books. I only found them a year ago, the first one I read being "The Running Hare - the Secret Life of Farmland", a gorgeous book about the old-style farming I recall as a child, the wealth of wildlife and the work John put into one field to try and recapture that. Do read it. I confess I'd kind of imagined the author of these books as being an old grizzled chap, rather like dear old Jack Hargreaves from the "How" Tv programme, an old-style countryman with a wonderfully descriptive turn of phrase. How wrong I was - the author photo in the back of "The Secret Life of the Owl" shows a younger man, probably no more than 40 at most, with an open face and a pleasant countenance. I'd like to talk wildlife and nature with him just as much as I did with Jack Hargreaves when I was a child, I'm sure it would be both fascinating and fun! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The wonderful world of Owls. *by J***T on 18 March 2026* John Lewis-Stempel is a wonderfully descriptive and atmospheric author when it comes to the English countryside. This book on Owls is one of a series, delving deep into the mysterious & mystical lives of animals; Owls have always held a fascination for me, I've seen a few at night fortunately, this book explains their habits, how they hunt their prey, where they nest and much more. An engrossing book, well worthy of a read. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.us/products/326858463-the-secret-life-of-the-owl-a-beautifully-illustrated-lyrical](https://www.desertcart.us/products/326858463-the-secret-life-of-the-owl-a-beautifully-illustrated-lyrical) --- *Product available on Desertcart United States of America* *Store origin: US* *Last updated: 2026-09-30*