Lyrebird

by Cecelia Ahern

  It is irresistibly attracted to reside in places of supreme loveliness and grandeur filled perennially with the most pleasing perfumes of the bush.

  Its nature is amiable and kindly and it has a decidedly sociable disposition.

  It is capable of loyal friendship with human beings, but its friendship cannot be won – as that of all other wild creatures – with offerings of food.

  Its domestic life is exemplary and never disfigured by quarrels.

  Ambrose Pratt, The Lore of the Lyrebird

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  It is with thanks to the insightful musings of Ambrose Pratt in The Lore of the Lyrebird that I was able to immerse myself in the world of the lyrebird, this peculiar quirky little bird that I fell in love with. Pratt’s obvious love, curiosity and admiration for the lyrebird, and The Lyrebird – Australia’s wonder-songster by R.T. Littlejohns, allowed me to take the characteristics and traits of a lyrebird and build my Laura, a woman with her own unique and powerful lore.

  Enormous thanks to my little family; David, Robin and Sonny. Thanks for your support, your love, your energy. My heart is full because of you all.

  Thank you my beautiful parents, Georgina, Nicky, my patient bonkers friends, Marianne Gunn O’Connor, Lynne Drew, Martha Ashby, Liz Dawson, Charlie Redmayne, Kate Elton, Roger Cazalet, Tony Purdue, Mary Byrne, Ann-Marie Dolan and the entire HarperCollins team for your creativity and support. I appreciate you all so much.

  To the readers, thanks for going on a new adventure with me. I hope you all enjoy the journey as much as I have.

  ‘Beautiful and unexpected … both thought-provoking and life-affirming’ Sunday Express

  ‘Intricate and emotional … really completely lovely’ Grazia

  ‘Brilliant characters, piles of pathos and intrigue … quite simply fantastic’ Heat

  ‘Both moving and thought-provoking’ Irish Independent

  Click here to buy now 9780007501830

  About the Author

  Cecelia Ahern was born and grew up in Dublin. She is now published in nearly fifty countries, and has sold over twenty-five million copies of her novels worldwide. Two of her books have been adapted as films and she has created several TV series. She and her books have won numerous awards, including the Irish Book Award for Popular Fiction for The Year I Met You.

  For more information on Cecelia, her writing, books and events, follow her on Twitter @Cecelia_ Ahern, join her on Facebook www.facebook.com/‌CeceliaAhe‌rnofficial and visit her website www.cecelia-ahern.com, where she would love to hear from you.

  Also by Cecelia Ahern

  P.S. I Love You

  Where Rainbows End (also know as Love, Rosie)

  If You Could See Me Now

  A Place Called Here

  Thanks for the Memories

  The Gift

  The Book of Tomorrow

  The Time of My Life

  One Hundred Names

  How to Fall in Love

  The Year I Met You

  The Marble Collector

  Young Adult

  Flawed

  About the Publisher

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  http://www.harpercollins.co.uk

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