For Martin Gurdon chickens have featured throughout his life - albeit intermittently. Entranced as a child, captivated by chicks of another variety during adolescence before finally returning to his first, feathered love when leaving London for the country. With his dry wit, perfect pitch of pride and paternalism, his timely sense of humour and eye for the wry, he will entertain you with his chicken tales till you are all cried out and curled in a ball on the floor from laughter. From Mike the Headless Chicken of Colorado who survived a botched decapitation for an obscenely long amount of time and whose life is still celebrated today in annual festivals across the state, to the highly-strung Yvette, doyenne of the baby bouncer before turning into a doyen.. The bullied Gerald and the psychotic BB and a whole host of others, for all Martin's hens are named and obviously loved despite their many shortcomings. Huge vet bills are paid without complaint in an attempt to heal them while physiotherapy and psychotherapy are all par for the course. But above all, they become almost human in Martin's literary hands and the agony and anguish of their perils is lived to the full. A must for chicken lovers and a must for anyone with a wicked sense of humour - this is the funniest book I have read all year. - Lucy Watson
