Summersdale has swooped for Swan – Portrait of a Majestic Bird, from Mythical Meanings to the Modern Day, the “majestic" debut book by Dan Keel. 

Commissioning editor Debbie Chapman acquired world rights in all languages directly from the author. Swan will be published on 14th July 2022. 

The publisher explained: “Dan Keel has been captivated by these birds since boyhood, studying their contrasting qualities over more than three decades. He’s spent countless hours documenting their power, beauty and vulnerability as a writer of nature journalism, as a wildlife photographer looking for the perfect shot, and as a pilot sharing the skies.

"In this labour of love, Dan speaks up for the mute, answering the essential questions about its nature and its future. Along the way, weaving his first-hand observations into the narrative, he shows us how swans have been portrayed in myth, art and culture for millennia, and how they have been venerated and imitated as well as harmed by humans.” 

Keel is a lifelong birdwatcher who has written for the Guardian, Daily Mail and Birdwatching Magazine, among other publications. More recently he has worked for the Home Office and the Commonwealth as head of media, working on environmental issues. 

He commented: “The swan is a fascinating creature which is full of contradictions. This bird is steeped in history and surrounded by ancient and modern myths. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to study the swan's natural life, its past and its future while answering questions such as: can a swan really break your arm, and does the Queen really own all the swans?"

Chapman added: “Dan Keel’s book is as majestic as the bird it profiles. He captures one of the nation’s favourite birds in all its glory – and in its romance, aggression, grace and goofiness. Everyone knows a 'fact' about swans (that they 'can break your arm', that they all belong to the queen), but this gorgeously written portrait of the mute swan will let you see them in a whole new light. It dives deep into the worlds of history, art, literature and science to explore all the fascinating trivia you’d ever want to know, through the lens of a lifelong birdwatcher and lover of the Great British countryside and its wildlife.”