What do you think?
Rate this book
A Single Swallow
From the slums of Cape Town to the palaces of Algiers, through Pygmy villages where pineapples grow wild, to the Gulf of Guinea where the sea blazes with oil flares, across two continents and fourteen countries - this epic journey is nothing to swallows, they do it twice a year. But for Horatio Clare, writer and birdwatcher, it is the expedition of a lifetime. Along the way he discovers old empires and modern tribes, a witch-doctor's recipe for stewed swallow, explains how to travel without money or a passport, and describes a terrifying incident involving three Spanish soldiers and a tiny orange dog. By trains, motorbikes, canoes, one camel and three ships, Clare follows the swallows from reed beds in South Africa, where millions roost in February, to a barn in Wales, where a pair nest in May.
327 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
20 people are currently reading
338 people want to read
About the author
Horatio Clare
33Ìýbooks92ÌýfollowersHoratio Clare (b. 1973) is a writer, radio producer and journalist. Born in London, he and his brother Alexander grew up on a hill farm in the Black Mountains of south Wales. Clare describes the experience in his first book Running for the Hills (John Murray 2006) in which he sets out to trace the course and causes of his parents divorce, and recalls the eccentric, romantic and often harsh conditions of his childhood. The book was widely and favourably reviewed in the UK, where it became a bestseller, as in the US.
Running for the Hills was nominated for the Guardian First Book Award and shortlisted for the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award. Horatio has written about Ethiopia, Namibia and Morocco, and now divides his time between South Wales, Lancashire and London. He was awarded a Somerset Maugham Award for the writing of A Single Swallow (Chatto and Windus, 2009).
Running for the Hills was nominated for the Guardian First Book Award and shortlisted for the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award. Horatio has written about Ethiopia, Namibia and Morocco, and now divides his time between South Wales, Lancashire and London. He was awarded a Somerset Maugham Award for the writing of A Single Swallow (Chatto and Windus, 2009).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 12, 2023
I really liked this
February 10, 2016
An interesting idea - to follow the migratory route of swallows from the tip of Africa back to their nesting grounds in England. However, after the first few chapters the book becomes more a journey through Africa while the swallows disappear into the background.
March 10, 2024
Despite the title, not that much about swallows! Interesting to follow Clare's route through Africa and up into Spain, France and the UK, but didn't warm to him particularly, which limited my investment in his journey.
January 14, 2020
This book is more about Horatio Clare's journey of self-discovery following the migration route of the swallows from South Africa to South Wales. After having witnessed these beautiful birds in flight on numerous travels to Spain. I would have liked to have read and learnt more about the swallows to get more of an insight into the nature of the birds, because it seemed to be more about the travails of traveling through Africa.
On a more positive note I found reading this book gave me more information about Africa and it's history. The prose was fluent, intelligent and well-written by a gifted travel writer.
On a more positive note I found reading this book gave me more information about Africa and it's history. The prose was fluent, intelligent and well-written by a gifted travel writer.
October 27, 2022
I didn’t get off to a good start with this book in that I thought it was a book devoted to that magnificent bird the swallow and how it manages every year to fly to Africa and back .In reality it’s a travel book in which the swallows journey is used as the excuse to go from Africa to Britain. So I grumbled at the first fifty pages before warming considerably .Compared with many travel books it’s a very honest account that doesn’t hide the grime.It’s also very personal without being ott,the author doesn’t spare himself .He is also a very good and engaging writer with an eye and ear for his audience .so by the end I was impressed .now can anyone recommend a book about swallows?
July 2, 2017
Not that much of this book is about swallows, so some readers like me may be a bit disappointed in the small amount of natural history. It is more about the travails of travelling around Africa and the generosity of the people he meets. The journey is more his own personal emotional journey. A certain amount is learnt about swallows. Despite not being about swallows very much, it is well written and is a sympathetic and sensitive portrayal of the various countries he travels through.
February 20, 2018
The author follows the swallows from South Africa to South Wales, through rich crowd of fellow travellers and natives of various lands. He struggles with the meaning of British, something I empathise with. His understanding of swallows and foreign lands grows with beautiful prose and an engaging intelligence and vulnerability. A deserving award winning book that shines and protests in small ways.
March 26, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. As others have commented, it is not so much about swallows - although their migration from South Africa to Europe each spring to breed provides the raison d’être for the book - as about Africa, or indeed the author himself.
The writing is excellent, and made me want to read more of this author. I also learnt a good deal about African history, especially the history of European colonialism, and its aftermath. The exploitation of natural resources was very shocking, especially the destruction of the hardwood rainforest in Central Africa, so that Europeans can show off their tropical hardwood kitchen units...
The increasing influence and investment of China in African countries is also mentioned. The book was published in 2009 and written during the economic crisis of 2007/2008. No doubt many trends have accelerated since then.
However, this is no dry political travelogue. The characters that the author meets en route are the stars of the show; Clare himself is frank about his personal mental state as he travels, ending by throwing his rucksack off a cliff in Morocco, containing all his notes and diaries of the journey, then abandoning his passport and wallet in Spain....I see that a more recent book is about the further development of his struggle with mental health.
Highly recommended.
The writing is excellent, and made me want to read more of this author. I also learnt a good deal about African history, especially the history of European colonialism, and its aftermath. The exploitation of natural resources was very shocking, especially the destruction of the hardwood rainforest in Central Africa, so that Europeans can show off their tropical hardwood kitchen units...
The increasing influence and investment of China in African countries is also mentioned. The book was published in 2009 and written during the economic crisis of 2007/2008. No doubt many trends have accelerated since then.
However, this is no dry political travelogue. The characters that the author meets en route are the stars of the show; Clare himself is frank about his personal mental state as he travels, ending by throwing his rucksack off a cliff in Morocco, containing all his notes and diaries of the journey, then abandoning his passport and wallet in Spain....I see that a more recent book is about the further development of his struggle with mental health.
Highly recommended.
December 19, 2023
The swallow angle I found a reader 'hook' as an attempt to differentiate this one from other African travel narratives, one star deducted from that. The swallows are introduced early on, and brought back near the end. Meanwhile, they are rarely mentioned.
What we have here is (another) African travel book. Okay in that regard, but I wouldn't say outstanding, usual observations of locals getting along best they can, some desperate to emigrate. Solid descriptions of scenery, though little I recall featuring birds, or even sites where the swallows stop en route.
Deducting another star, or can't round up to 4 from 3.5, as I didn't care for the Morocco and European chapters later on. Those were more about the author himself, as well as a return to the birds, a bit late for me.
Free (library) or used copy best way to go here if interested or curious.
What we have here is (another) African travel book. Okay in that regard, but I wouldn't say outstanding, usual observations of locals getting along best they can, some desperate to emigrate. Solid descriptions of scenery, though little I recall featuring birds, or even sites where the swallows stop en route.
Deducting another star, or can't round up to 4 from 3.5, as I didn't care for the Morocco and European chapters later on. Those were more about the author himself, as well as a return to the birds, a bit late for me.
Free (library) or used copy best way to go here if interested or curious.
October 7, 2024
Very interesting read, particularly for anyone who has visited and loves Africa. His overland journey follows the migration of swallows from South Africa to Wales in a spontaneous and slightly chaotic manner. He describes the characters he meets along the way, the kindness of strangers, the strange lives we humans live. He arrives home disorientated and changed, as those of us who have spent time in developing countries inevitably do. The writing is inspired at times, but the quality is variable.
December 1, 2022
It was an interesting read, the clever uses in language and poetic writing was so enjoyable, there were parts of the story through the middle that I got a little bored with reading, but towards the end of the book the author became alive again & his play on words became interesting once again. Its got some good History pieces in, good humour and most importantly the interesting story of the Barn Swallows Migration from Cape Town to Wales.
January 2, 2023
I felt this was two books that didn’t quite fit together: the swallows� migration, and the author’s physical and personal journey…the mixing of the two jarred for me. And I simply could not understand the logic of the constant switching between past and present tense…however, the book was filled with astoundingly good descriptions !
February 20, 2023
3- Vreemd rommelig boek. Het heeft er zeker onder geleden dat ik hiervoor Landlijnen van Raynor Winn gelezen heb. Een heerlijk boek op het ritme van je eigen voetstappen. Dit in tegenstelling tot het wat warrige verhaal van een schrijver die zich laat leiden door de trek van de zwaluwen. Een jonge romanticus, rusteloos, die zich niet bekommert om de tijd waarin hij zijn reisverslag neerpent. Ja hij maakt wat mee, wie zou dat niet die Kaapstad als zuidelijkste vertrekpunt terug naar Wales neemt. Per auto, bus, vliegtuig, veerpont, boot en te voet. En daarbij allerlei mensen op zijn weg vindt, soms voor langere trajecten en voor de duur daarvan vriendschap sluit. Het best te genieten valt het nog als je het per land = hoofdstuk leest. Dat kan dus ook hap snap. Zo heb ik het tenminste gedaan, dan is het onderhoudend, nadat ik het eigenlijk al geïrriteerd had willen wegleggen. Er een einde aan breien kost de schrijver moeite, het verhaal meandert alle kanten op, waar wil hij heen? In het nawoord bedankt hij hartelijk zijn 'ongeëvenaarde' redacteur; wat zou zij gedaan hebben?
July 23, 2017
This is what great Travel Writing reads like. That said, I would've liked a bit more "swallow-time" or "nature-time". Not that the human component wasn't great, but I was looking forward to some amazing descriptions and information. All in all, excellent.
June 18, 2019
Such an informative book in so many ways - I’m not looking at the swallows outside in the same way anymore - they are such incredible birds. Thank you so much for sharing both your’s and the birds� travels.
June 24, 2021
Very interesting read! I am not used to reading travel writing and it was therefore a long read (lots of details, places and people) but I learned a lot through Clare’s adventures. Would recommend to any travel writing lover!
May 30, 2022
Really not very much about the birds -- bits here and there, and those were well written, but this is more a book for someone looking for a travelogue through Africa. I found the descriptions of poverty and corruption wearisome and gave up on it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2023
I really loved this book, its in fact travel writing and nature writing in one book. I don't think there was a single page I didn't enjoy. Thank you so much Horace for writing it. The open honesty and clarity I found within its pages was for once hugely refreshing.
February 18, 2019
A journey which, as far as I can tell, served no useful purpose.
October 26, 2020
At last I finished this. I don't know why it was such a hard read because it was interesting, especially the parts north of our borders.
November 15, 2022
I loved reading this, being taken away to other places. It seems quite dated now - I wonder what the author makes of our modern ‘always-connected� world.
July 8, 2021
good read. Interesting.
September 1, 2016
First things first. Thank you Mr B’s Reading Emporium for sending this book my way. Literally. And to the ‘bibliotherapist� who choose it for me. Impeccable taste.
And now a tip to all new parents: if you want your child to grow up and do, or be, something extraordinary � then give him, or her, an extraordinary name. I would wager that any boy named Horatio was odds on to make his mark. Travelling 6,000 miles in one journey is probably one way of doing that.
A Single Swallow is the most beguiling book I’ve had the good fortune to be introduced to in a very long time. From beginning to end it’s a charmer, introducing you to cultures, countries and peoples most of us never encounter. For the first time in my life I have an inkling of the true flavour of some of Africa’s countries � and I’m entranced.
A Single Swallow doesn’t flag once; it’s beautifully written, interlaced with wit and compassion and startling revelations. Although many of us know it already, especially if we’re fortunate enough to live in a free country with the freedom to travel to other countries, Horatio Clare’s book brings home the hardships so many folk endure. It also highlights the colour and music and openness of much of Africa.
Mmm. Off to buy another of Mr Clare’s books methinks. And who knows � maybe now I’ll go and visit one of those sand dams I’ve viewed from rather too far - for rather too long.
Thank you Mr Clare for your inspirational words.
And now a tip to all new parents: if you want your child to grow up and do, or be, something extraordinary � then give him, or her, an extraordinary name. I would wager that any boy named Horatio was odds on to make his mark. Travelling 6,000 miles in one journey is probably one way of doing that.
A Single Swallow is the most beguiling book I’ve had the good fortune to be introduced to in a very long time. From beginning to end it’s a charmer, introducing you to cultures, countries and peoples most of us never encounter. For the first time in my life I have an inkling of the true flavour of some of Africa’s countries � and I’m entranced.
A Single Swallow doesn’t flag once; it’s beautifully written, interlaced with wit and compassion and startling revelations. Although many of us know it already, especially if we’re fortunate enough to live in a free country with the freedom to travel to other countries, Horatio Clare’s book brings home the hardships so many folk endure. It also highlights the colour and music and openness of much of Africa.
Mmm. Off to buy another of Mr Clare’s books methinks. And who knows � maybe now I’ll go and visit one of those sand dams I’ve viewed from rather too far - for rather too long.
Thank you Mr Clare for your inspirational words.
April 7, 2011
Wow - I really hated this book. I think partly, I've realized that I need to like the narrators of the travel narratives I read, and I wasn't a huge fan of Horatio Clare, or perhaps I should say that his narration didn't resonate with me. Maybe also, having travelled in some of these same places, I feel as though I can see the way vignettes have been crafted, and can just think of all the things left out. Also, was that a psychic break in Gibralter? After watching the difficulty of people to cross borders without paperwork, he wantonly abandons passport and credit cards, then 2 days later seeks assistance with parents of friends, it seemed hypocritcal to me. Although I guess we all do some insensible things when travelling. I had just hoped for more sparrows.
July 16, 2012
A travelogue by genre, a journey by destiny. What is the difference between a travelogue and journey. A travelogue is all about exploring places. A journey is about exploring oneself. This book starts as a travelogue, but ends as a journey.
The author, Horatio Clare, in following the migration of Swallow from South Africa to Wales, discovers himself. On the way, he meets people and lives their life for a day or two, eventually moving on...
He even loses his sanity, but gains much more than that - Spirituality. A journey that transcends continents and, justifiably, mindsets.
Swallows, thus, becomes a metaphor, representing his inner self taking flight. A must read for those, who are looking for places and more!
The author, Horatio Clare, in following the migration of Swallow from South Africa to Wales, discovers himself. On the way, he meets people and lives their life for a day or two, eventually moving on...
He even loses his sanity, but gains much more than that - Spirituality. A journey that transcends continents and, justifiably, mindsets.
Swallows, thus, becomes a metaphor, representing his inner self taking flight. A must read for those, who are looking for places and more!
March 2, 2013
On the premise that he wants to follow the migration path of swallows, Horatio Clare sets out for South Africa to travel with the swallows back home to Wales. This is as much an account of his travelling as it is about him finding himself, nearly losing his sanity for a while along the way. That was an unexpected deviation from a fairly straightforward journey that I found at first unbelievable but began to understand as he hurried through the final stages of his journey through Spain and France. I enjoyed learning about swallows - I knew practically nothing about them before - and I'll start watching the skies in a few weeks when they're due to return and I'll appreciate the journey they've made with something close to awe.
December 15, 2015
An excellent book relating the author's journey following the northern migration of swallows from South Africa through the continent and Europe to his home in Wales. It is more travelogue than natural history. The natural history element here has a poetic element which while deeply personal to the author has the successful resonance in his writing that transmits clearly to other bird lovers and in particular swallow lovers. This resonance is almost akin to airing a madness or certainly an eccentricity which I myself fully subscribe to and it is this element that makes the book so special. It's great!
May 12, 2020
Quite a disappointment as it doesn't 'do what it says on the tin'. I wanted to read about this remarkable migration of swallows from Africa to England every year. But except for some info at the beginning and the end of the book, this is just a travel story through some of the most broken, dangerous and corrupt countries in Africa. It also left a bad taste when women were exploited as well. Obviously there was a psychotic breakdown in Spain so I found myself definitely on the side of the swallows, wherever they were. An opportunity missed. Compare this with "The Snow Geese" by William Fiennes, and "A Single Swallow" is a poor second.
February 15, 2016
"I am amazed at how precious and pressured everyone's time is: did I live like this, once, fitting everything into small windows of freedom between work and rest, like putting chocolates into an advent calendar? I want to talk and talk but I can hear myself talking too much...I feel I have become both too self-contained and too open for their comfort. The webs of email, text messages, carefully timetabled diaries, pencilling-ins and arrangements that will or will not be firmed up seem to hold everyone together in semi-presence."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2014
Interesting idea to follow (or try to follow) the migration path of the swallow from Africa back to Wales. Clare was also undertaking his own journey, and sometimes the swallows almost got forgotten. He certainly met some interesting people on the way, all with a tale to tell. Clare has an easy, natural way of writing which never seems forced or false.
I like a book that makes me look differently at things, and I'll definitely be taking more note of any swallows I see this year.
I like a book that makes me look differently at things, and I'll definitely be taking more note of any swallows I see this year.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.