Beaver: An Alphabet of Typical Specimens Together with Notes and a Terminal Essay on the Manners and Customs of Beavering Men

"Beaver: An Alphabet of Typical Specimens" by John Kettelwell is a lighthearted examination of bearded men, likely penned in the early 1900s. Through an A-to-Z format, the book offers a quirky guide to different beard styles, blending satire and witty observations. It mockingly categorizes facial hair, treating beards as valuable collector's items. The author comically details beard varieties such as the "Admiral-Beaver" and the "Zebra-King-Beaver," supplementing each with funny descriptions and images. Kettelwell introduces a playful scoring method for these "beaver" types and shares whimsical thoughts on the historical importance of beards. The concluding essay presents a fanciful reflection on the behaviors associated with bearded men, emphasizing the novelty and appeal of the beard-free world and the timeless charm of facial hair.