European BoP Guide - superbly illustrated Danish guide (1 Viewer)

[John Cantelo]

Hi all,

I know that the Danish book on birds of prey "Rovfugle i felten" by Klaus Malling Olsen & Carl Christian Tofte was mentioned on a thread I started on the then new edition of Gensbol's book a while back, but I have since actually seen the book and have to report that it absolutely superb! In fact, I suspect that if I had fibbed & entitled this 'a new guide to raptors illustrated by Lars Jonsson" nobody would have noticed that the plates weren't by the great man. Yes, they're THAT good (see poor quality photos attached). I can't judge the quality of the text which (obviously) was in Danish, but written by luminary like Olsen it has to be good and it seemed impressively organised, laid out and, as far as i could judge, pretty thorough. My only complaint (I was in SW Spain) was that it didn't cover ruppell's Vulture. Can we start a campaign to have an English version of this gem?

 

[AStevenson]

Does indeed look like a quality publication - who is the artist?

 

[John Cantelo]

He's given equal credit with Mr Olsen - Carl Christian Tofte. Having had a good look at the plates, I feel he's the first artist I've come across whose work I would struggle to distinguish from that of Lars Jonsson. It has a similar confidence of line and that astonishing way in which, when looking closely, percieved detail is revealed as unfussy brush work thus keeping the bird alive. Imagine the fuss if the plates had been executed by Jonsson himself - we certainly wouldn't be wondering if an English edition would appear, but rather when it would appear. Combined with Klaus Malling Olsen's undoubtedly expert text it's simply too good to be the preserve solely of Danish speakers. I still think it would be (marginally) improved by the addition of a few more species, but even "as is" I'm convinced it would quickly become a 'standard guide' and sell well enough to justify publication in English. Forsman is very good, of course, but surely there's room for such a brilliantly executed 'artistic' guide.

From previous posts, I know various publishers (via their editors) keep an eye on BF so what about it guys?

 

[TwoDipsfromAmsterdam]

Agree entirely John. From your photos it looks first rate. As, of course, Forsman is photographic this would be appear to be a superb complement, so I would certainly echo your call for an English language version.

David

PS: As I was reading your first post and you mentioned a campaign I thought you were going to mount a campaign for it to include Ruppell's!

 

[chris butterworth]

I agree with you, John. It MUST be translated into English ( although the rest of the world doesn't seem to have that much difficulty in learning other languages - must be something in UK water! ) The illustrations look superb and, if they are up to those of Lars Jonsson, then it must be a book in a thousand.
Chris

 

[njlarsen]

Some more about the artist. Text is in Danish, but there is a couple of illustrations.

Cheers
Niels

 

[gmax]

Hi all,

I know that the Danish book on birds of prey "Rovfugle i felten" by Klaus Malling Olsen & Carl Christian Tofte was mentioned on a thread I started on the then new edition of Gensbol's book a while back, but I have since actually seen the book and have to report that it absolutely superb! In fact, I suspect that if I had fibbed & entitled this 'a new guide to raptors illustrated by Lars Jonsson" nobody would have noticed that the plates weren't by the great man. Yes, they're THAT good (see poor quality photos attached). I can't judge the quality of the text which (obviously) was in Danish, but written by luminary like Olsen it has to be good and it seemed impressively organised, laid out and, as far as i could judge, pretty thorough. My only complaint (I was in SW Spain) was that it didn't cover ruppell's Vulture. Can we start a campaign to have an English version of this gem?

Thank you John for your informative thread - as usual.
I would echo your request for an English version of this fine book, which I've already heard of ... if only it appeared also in Italian :king:

 

[Swissboy]

There must be something about the country, as the Gensbol raptor book also originates in Denmark. From there it was then published in German, and only later in English as well.

Anyway, let's hope we will not have to wait for translations into other languages for too long. I agree, however, that the inclusion of some additional species would be desirable. Nevertheless, no reason for a first edition without those additions. Publishers will certainly sell more of a second one if those additional species have to wait that long to be included.

 

[njlarsen]

There must be something about the country, as the Gensbol raptor book also originates in Denmark.

Well, Skagen is one of the best two raptor migration sites in northern Europe. The other one, Falsterbo, is now about 1½ hour drive from Copenhagen (used to be 2½, but then they built a bridge ...)

Niels (an expat Dane, if you had any doubt :-O )

 

[John Cantelo]

Yes, I suspect being in a country where you have such a concentration of birders and BoPs must be a big help!

 

[TroelsPetersen]

Hi John

I'm the danish guy you met in Cazalla in Tarifa a couple of weeks ago. I'm glad to hear you found your way to Trafico and met Kristian who had with him the Malling Olsen BoP field guide, and I'm glad you like the book!

Just to let you know, I posted a link to this thread on the danish website www.netfugl.dk (http://netfugl.dk/forum.php?id=thread&forum_id=6&thread_id=17073). I wrote (in danish) that you liked the book, and I asked if anyone knows whether it's to be published in english too some day.

Troels

 

[John Cantelo]

Hi John

I'm the danish guy you met in Cazalla in Tarifa a couple of weeks ago. I'm glad to hear you found your way to Trafico and met Kristian who had with him the Malling Olsen BoP field guide, and I'm glad you like the book!

Just to let you know, I posted a link to this thread on the danish website www.netfugl.dk (http://netfugl.dk/forum.php?id=thread&forum_id=6&thread_id=17073). I wrote (in danish) that you liked the book, and I asked if anyone knows whether it's to be published in english too some day.

Troels

Hi Troels,

Many thanks, once again, for your help in finally seeing a copy of this book and also for posting a link on the Danish site. As for the chances of an English language version, I think we should all have our 'fingers crossed' - I find it hard to believe that such a well executed book, written by such an esteemed birder and illustrated so well won't find a willing UK publisher,

 

[njlarsen]

Hi John

I'm the danish guy you met in Cazalla in Tarifa a couple of weeks ago. I'm glad to hear you found your way to Trafico and met Kristian who had with him the Malling Olsen BoP field guide, and I'm glad you like the book!

Just to let you know, I posted a link to this thread on the danish website www.netfugl.dk (http://netfugl.dk/forum.php?id=thread&forum_id=6&thread_id=17073). I wrote (in danish) that you liked the book, and I asked if anyone knows whether it's to be published in english too some day.

Troels

The answer is already in from KMO, that promoting this book to foreign publishers is the right and responsibility of the Danish publisher, not of the authors.

Troels,
welcome to Birdforum!

Niels

 

[John Cantelo]

The answer is already in from KMO, that promoting this book to foreign publishers is the right and responsibility of the Danish publisher, not of the authors.

Troels,
welcome to Birdforum!

Niels

Thanks Niels & Troels for the info on the link. I've just run the comments through an online translator - somehow they forgot to teach me Danish at school! Naturally there were a few glitches, but I think I got the gist of what was said. So thanks, once again, Troels - both for your generosity in letting me see the book and in your flattering description of me! Yes, I was enthusiastic about the book, but, given its quality, I could scarcely be anything else! Since there are over x10 more native English speakers in Europe than those who speak Danish (and goodness knows how many more who have English as a second language), I can't help feeling that it would be firmly in the interests of the Danish publisher encourage an English edition. Failing this, I'll darn well learn Danish myself to enjoy the benefit of this fine guide!

 

[njlarsen]

Failing this, I'll darn well learn Danish myself to enjoy the benefit of this fine guide!

B B B B B

 

[Swissboy]

B B B B B

:t: :-O

 

[spizaetos]

Thanks to you John, I've ordered this fine book and since today morning
I'm it's pride owner!
Though Danish is much more closed related to German than English, it's still extremely
difficult to me to understand.
Hoping that it will be published soon in English, I enjoy at least the Illustrations!
I recommend it to everyone!

Paschalis

 

[Edward]

Failing this, I'll darn well learn Danish myself to enjoy the benefit of this fine guide!

Learn Norwegian instead, John. It's virtually the same as Danish but sounds much nicer (with apologies in advance to Niels ).

Any idea when it was published, John? Shame I didn't see it this summer when I was in Denmark. As a bibliophile who can read Danish I visited a few bookshops and looked at a fair few bird books but didn't come across this one.

 

[njlarsen]

Learn Norwegian instead, John. It's virtually the same as Danish but sounds much nicer (with apologies in advance to Niels ).

Any idea when it was published, John? Shame I didn't see it this summer when I was in Denmark. As a bibliophile who can read Danish I visited a few bookshops and looked at a fair few bird books but didn't come across this one.

Edward, I will forgive you this time

Take a look at this link, I know they send outside Denmark. The shop is associated with the Danish Ornithological Society.

Niels

 

[Edward]

Tak for det, Niels. After having paid DKK 55 for a glass of water this summer in Denmark I thought I'd never be able to afford Danish prices again but DKK 199 seems pretty reasonable for a book like this.