The Birds

Daphne du Maurier’s famous antagonist swoops down on Fowey in remembrance of the beloved Cornwall-based writer

- Daphne du Maurier

The harbour town of Fowey will forever be connected to bestselling writer Daphne du Maurier and alongside an annual literary festival in her name, the town has recognised her adopted home town (she lived in nearby Menabilly for many years) with a new artwork featuring one of her most memorable creations.

The Rook with a Book represents her short story The Birds, which Alfred Hitchcock took (and had totally rewrote) into his movie of the same name.

Originally undertaking a two-year residency in the town’s Berrill’s Yard, the Rook with a Book has now found a permanent perch in Town Quay where tourists spent the summer in selfie heaven (look up #rookwithabook and you can see for yourself).

Father and son Gary and Thomas Thrussell who are based at Temple at Bodmin Moor created the sculpture – which took an estimated 500 hours over three years to create.

“There is a beak under the beak,” says Gary who reworked it. They also played artistic license with the feet which pedants might notice are larger than they should be to ensure safe perching - ornithologists look away now.