Restless Brilliance: The Story of J.A. Baker and The Peregrine

A black and white photo of JA Baker sitting on a log by the waterside.

The Peregrine by J.A. Baker was first published in 1967. The book was an immediate success. Reviews called it a masterpiece of nature writing and it won several awards. Since then, Baker’s unique poetic writing has continued to inspire a new generation of nature writers and naturalists, and The Peregrine was recently voted one of the UK’s top 10 favourite nature books. But despite all this success, very little was known about Baker himself.

John Alec Baker (1926 – 1987) was born, and lived almost his whole life, in Chelmsford. His writing is based on walks and cycle rides around the Blackwater estuary, Danbury Hill and the Chelmsford area. Here he followed and studied peregrine falcons, condensing all his observations into the book The Peregrine.

“For ten years I spent all my winters searching for that restless brilliance, for the sudden passion and violence that peregrines flush from the sky.”

In this exhibition we explore Baker’s life, his love of nature and writing through the archive of his work held by the Albert Sloman Library, University of Essex. It is the first time that this archive has been on public display.

Find out more about the exhibition in this City Life article.

With this exhibition, we want to encourage you to get out into nature just like J.A. Baker. To explore and be inspired by our local green spaces and their important wildlife. We have created a map of local areas and have highlighted the work of regional partners who are restoring and conserving our landscape so that future generations can enjoy the thriving wildlife.

Download the map here

This exhibition is a collaboration between Chelmsford Museum and the Albert Sloman Library, University of Essex.

Event Programme for Restless Brilliance

Two men in jumpers smiling at the camera. Behind them are maps on the wall and diaries of J.A. Baker on display.

Protecting Peregrines in East Anglia

On 18 July, join us to hear the story of how peregrine falcons have made a successful return to the East Anglian countryside.

David Simmonds smiling inside the J.A. Baker exhibition. Behind him is a glass case filled with Baker's items, such as binoculars and journals.

A walk in J.A. Baker Country (Writtle)

On 14 August, join David Simmonds for a walk through ‘Baker Country’ visiting sites listed in author, J.A. Baker’s diaries and identified in his seminal work The Peregrine (1967).

A walk in J.A. Baker Country (Little Baddow)

on 7 September, join David Simmonds for a walk through ‘Baker Country’ visiting sites listed in author, J.A. Baker’s diaries and identified in his seminal work The Peregrine (1967).

A woman with shoulder length brown hair standing in font of a glass case filled with manuscripts and maps.

Curator's Tour: Restless Brilliance

On 11 September, join curator Sarah Harvey to explore author JA Baker’s life, writing and love of nature on a tour of the Restless Brilliance exhibition.