author

George Waring

1806–1878

A 19th-century writer for young readers, he turned close observation of animals into lively, story-shaped natural history. His best-known work invites children to look more carefully at the habits of squirrels, hedgehogs, moles, and other small British creatures.

1 Audiobook

The Squirrels and other animals Or, Illustrations of the habits and instincts of many of the smaller British quadrupeds

The Squirrels and other animals Or, Illustrations of the habits and instincts of many of the smaller British quadrupeds

by George Waring

About the author

George Waring was a British 19th-century author remembered today for The Squirrels and Other Animals; or, Illustrations of the Habits and Instincts of Many of the Smaller British Quadrupeds, published in London by Harvey and Darton around 1840. The book presents natural history in an accessible, engaging way, blending observation with a conversational style aimed at younger readers.

Some surviving editions also describe him as the author of Children's Missions, which suggests he wrote with a strong educational focus. Reliable biographical details about his life are scarce, so it is safest to say that his reputation now rests mainly on his animal writing and its gentle effort to make the natural world vivid for children.

What still makes his work appealing is its sense of curiosity. Rather than treating animals as dry specimens, he writes about their habits and instincts in a way that encourages readers to watch, wonder, and learn.