His name was Rolihlahla, "one who brings trouble on himself". Son of a tribal chief, he was groomed to take over this role himself one day. Instead, he became a lawyer and worked to free his people, taking the name by which he would become known throughout the world: Nelson Mandela.

"Helen Macdonald brings together a collection of her best loved essays with new pieces on topics ranging from nostalgia for a vanishing countryside to the tribulations of farming ostriches to her own private vespers while trying to fall asleep. Meditating on notions of captivity and freedom, immigration and flight, Helen invites us into her most intimate experiences: observing songbirds from the Empire State Building as they migrate through the Tribute...