Philip Hensher

The beauty – and tragedy – of our nesting swans 

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issue 13 January 2024

There won’t be any cygnets this year. The cob was on the lake this morning on his own, occasionally slapping the water, floating without any evident purpose. His last children were taken away to new homes a year ago. His mate of years, the pen, died last spring.

People who live in the country always assume that no one in inner London has much idea of the seasons.

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Written by
Philip Hensher
Philip Hensher is professor of Creative Writing at Bath Spa University and the author of 11 novels including A Small Revolution in Germany.

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