Helen Macdonald Collections books in order

Helen Macdonald's poetry and essay collections include Simple Objects, Shaler's Fish, and the bestselling Vesper Flights.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Simple Objects 1993 Helen Macdonald Buy
2 Shaler’s Fish 2002 Helen Macdonald Buy
3 Vesper Flights 2020 Helen Macdonald Buy

Helen Macdonald’s collections span poetry and prose across three decades. Her first two published works were poetry collections: Simple Objects (1993) and Shaler’s Fish (2002), both rooted in her observations of the natural world and informed by her academic work in the history of science.

Vesper Flights (2020) is a collection of essays that confirmed Macdonald’s place among the leading nature writers in the English language. The essays range widely — from the migratory patterns of swifts to encounters with wild boar, from the experience of watching a total eclipse to reflections on nostalgia and belonging. Like H is for Hawk, the collection blends personal narrative with natural history.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Helen Macdonald Collections series?

There are 3 books in the Helen Macdonald Collections series, published between 1993 and 2020.

What is the first book in the Helen Macdonald Collections series?

The first book in the Helen Macdonald Collections series is Simple Objects, published in 1993.

What is Vesper Flights about?

Vesper Flights (2020) is a collection of essays about the natural world. Macdonald writes about topics ranging from swift migration and mushroom foraging to the secret lives of goshawks, drawing connections between nature, memory, and human experience.

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