The Deorhord: An Old English Bestiary

'A dream! I learnt something new and fascinating on every page' - Lucy Mangan

'Invaluable - and hugely entertaining ... It is an absolute romp and a must-have for history and fantasy enthusiasts alike' - Eleanor Janega

'Endlessly fascinating' - The Spectator

Many of the animals we encounter in everyday life, from the creatures in our fields to those in our fantasies, have remained the same since medieval times — but the words we use, and the ways we describe them, have often changed beyond recognition...

A Journey into the Old English Bestiary

Over a thousand years ago, Old English was spoken, and during that time, every animal was a deor. In this glittering Old English bestiary, we uncover:

• Deors big and small, the ordinary and the extraordinary, the good, the bad, and the downright baffling.
• Fascinating creatures such as:
  • Walker-weavers (spiders)
  • Grey-cloaked ones (eagles)
  • Moon-heads and teeth-tyrants (historians are still puzzled about these!)

This is a world both familiar and strange, where:

• Ants could be monsters.
• Panthers could be your friends.
• Dog-headed men were as real as elephants.
• Whales were as sneaky as wolves.

From the author of The Wordhord comes another delightful dive into the realm of Old English — words and creatures that will change the way you see the world.