Eric Fitch Daglish (1892–1966): naturalist, illustrator, author and editor

Abstract

Eric Fitch Daglish (1892–1966) was a naturalist by inclination, a free-lance author and editor in business and, by practice, a wood-engraver of high repute. Taught wood-engraving skills by Paul Nash, he was a close friend also of other famous engravers (John Nash, Eric Gill) within the Society of Wood Engravers. He applied these skills to illustrating his own books for popular audiences on topics ranging from flowers to birds, beasts and the English countryside. Fluent in German, he translated books from that language to supplement his income in the years succeeding the First World War. He is perhaps best known for his bird books: Woodcuts of British birds, The life story of birds and Birds of the British Isles, but was also a prolific writer about dogs. His oeuvre is examined, and his contribution compared with other contemporary bird artists who embraced wood-engraving techniques. A bibliography of his natural history works as author and as editor is included.