Cait Johnson

Helen Macdonald, born in 1970, is an English writer and naturalist. Her childhood in Tekels Park, a private estate owned by the Theosophical Society, significantly influenced her writing. After studying English at Cambridge, she worked in falcon research before pursuing a career in writing and academia.

Macdonald gained widespread recognition for her 2014 book, 'H is for Hawk.' This work, which earned multiple awards, chronicles her experience training a goshawk following her father's death and incorporates biographical elements of T. H. White. Her other published works include 'Shaler's Fish,' 'Falcon,' and 'Vesper Flights,' a collection of essays on humanity's relationship with the natural world. She also co-authored the novel 'Prophet' in 2023. Macdonald has also contributed to radio and television, presenting documentaries and appearing in series focused on nature.

Born in 1970, Helen Macdonald spent her formative years in Camberley, Surrey. Her childhood home was in Tekels Park, a unique private estate managed by the Theosophical Society. Though her parents were journalists with no prior connection to theosophy, they were drawn to the Park, and it left an indelible mark on Macdonald's developing identity and future writing. This environment, described as a place of pine forests and specific social dynamics, became a foundational element of her literary journey. Macdonald pursued her academic interests by studying English at New Hall, Cambridge, from 1989 to 1992. Her early career involved practical experience in falcon research, taking her to locations in Wales and the Gulf States, before she moved into academic and literary pursuits.

Helen Macdonald has established a notable career as an author and academic. Her critically acclaimed book, 'H is for Hawk' (2014), received significant awards, including the Samuel Johnson Prize and the Costa Book Award. This memoir details her intense year training a goshawk named Mabel after the passing of her father, weaving in reflections on the life of naturalist T. H. White. Beyond this seminal work, Macdonald has authored 'Shaler's Fish' (2001), 'Falcon' (2006), and 'Vesper Flights' (2020), a collection of essays exploring the human connection to the natural world. In 2023, she ventured into fiction with the novel 'Prophet,' co-written with Sinistra Blaché. Macdonald has also engaged with broader audiences through media, including radio programs and television documentaries, such as 'The Hidden Wilds of the Motorway' (2020).

Macdonald's work often delves into the profound relationship between humans and the natural world, particularly through her deep connection with birds of prey. Her experiences with falconry are not merely observational but are presented as transformative processes that offer insights into instinct, wildness, and healing. 'H is for Hawk,' for example, uses the intense process of training a goshawk as a lens through which to examine grief, identity, and the boundaries between the human and non-human. Her later collection, 'Vesper Flights,' continues this exploration, gathering essays that contemplate various facets of our engagement with nature in contemporary society. Macdonald identifies as non-binary and uses they/she pronouns, and has spoken about living with ADHD, adding layers of personal experience to her reflections on perception and connection.

“I grew up in Camberley, a Victorian town on the A30 in Surrey. It was made of pine forests, golf courses, elderly army officers with parade ground voices, Conservative clubs and tea dances. In 1975 my parents had bought a little white house in Tekels Park, a private estate near the town centre. It was owned by the Theosophical Society. My parents were journalists and knew nothing of theosophy, but they loved the Park, and I did too. No place has so indelibly shaped my writing life”