The Feather Thief

Museum curators, including Tring museum’s Dr. Prys-Jones, and researchers believe the specimens in museum collections hold great value for current and future humankind. In contrast, many of the fly-tiers do not believe that the feathers in museum collections are advancing scientific knowledge. Instead, they would like to buy some feathers for their practice of the Victorian art of salmon fly-tying. Which perspective do you agree with? Why? How would the author respond to your argument?

Of the 299 bird skins that Rist stole, the police recovered 174 from his apartment. Out of those, only 102 skins still had their labels. Why are labels on museum specimens so important, and why were researchers and museum curators in the story so distraught to hear about how many bird skins were missing them? In your opinion, does the lack of labels on the recovered specimens represent a blow to the scientific record? Why or why not?

Discuss how people’s obsession with rare bird feathers has evolved in the Victorian- and modern-eras. Despite the known environmental and habitat destruction caused by the trade of rare birds, why are fly-tiers who practice the Victorian art of salmon fly-tying still obsessed with these rare bird feathers?

Andy Harman, Edwin Rist’s lawyer, describes Edwin’s actions, which included the theft of 299 rare bird skins, as “a very amateur burglary” (133). Despite the lawyer’s assertion, it took police over one-and-a-half years to catch Rist. Do you agree with Andy that Edwin’s actions were amateurish? Do you believe that Edwin might have had help either planning the burglary or on the night of the burglary itself? Why do the answers to these questions remain difficult to answer at the end of the book?

Why was Johnson suspicious to learn that Edwin was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome? Do you agree with the evidence he presents for his suspicions? Why or why not?

Do you believe that Edwin should have gone to jail for his actions? Why or why not? Does his acquittal make it more difficult for museums around the world to protect their collections?

The Feather Thief is classified as nonfiction, but it contains many classic thriller elements. In fact, Johnson blends these elements with the story of his own investigation into the feather heist with a discussion of the historical, cultural, and scientific context of humankind’s obsession with feathers. Why do you think Johnson chose to include all these different elements?

Why do you think Edwin Rist, especially after multiple refusals, and Long Nguyen agreed to speak with Johnson? Which conversation do you think was more valuable in helping Johnson better understand what happened to the missing bird specimens?