“It all started one day late in April, when
a friend rang me up to tell me he had a nest of
tawny owls in his garden; would I like one?”
There aren’t many animals with an Etonian
education, in fact Tawny owls Dee and Dum may be
the only ones. Jonathan Franklin was just sixteen
years old when he adopted the orphaned birds and
brought them back to school with him, giving his
house master only two days’ notice.
They trashed his room, caused him to be late to
many classes and caused mayhem at every turn, yet
Dum and Dee still managed to charm the entire faculty,
to the extent of Franklin being sent food parcels
from students and teachers alike. The school cat,
famous for his mouse catching prowess, became an
unlikely ally and meal provider.
First published in 1960 whilst Jonathan was still
at school, Two Owls at Eton is wonderfully witty,
brilliantly British and close enough to the rawness
of nature to ignite a childlike sense of wonder
in readers of any age.
For more information, review copies and interview
requests, please contact Emma Stokes at emma@blake.co.uk
or 07739 351623.
Serialised in the London Evening
Standard in 1960, it was in its top-ten best sellers
list for a fortnight.
