Taxidermy classes are back with a vengeance. This important British craft of the 19th century, loved by the Victorians with their obsession for death and parlour decorations, fell out of favour in the 20th century. Now it’s back in fashion again – but why?

When I began researching my latest novel, I was astonished to realise how popular taxidermy had become. Most of the taxidermists I quizzed were young women. Many had come out of art schools (where there are more girls than boys), inspired by artists such as Damien Hirst and Polly Morgan. Today, “ethical taxidermy” is practised – whereby only animals who have died or been killed for other reasons are used. This is not the world of the Victorian hunter, shooting big game or trapping exotic birds wholesale.

A few chapters into my novel, I realised I needed to have a go myself, and took a lesson in stuffing a crow. This is the place to mention that I’m vegetarian, and don’t even cook meat, so I found the smell overwhelming. It was much harder than I expected – the messiness of it and the anatomy – but I was struck by how extraordinary it is that the process has barely changed since Victorian times.

Would I do it again? I doubt it. I lack the patience, the stomach, and the dexterity. I came away with a respect for the skill and the beauty of it. And, yes, I bought my first piece: a crow called Connie, a beautiful, glossy old bird. She sits on the bookshelf watching me work. Perfect company for a novelist …

To buy a copy of The Taxidermist’s Daughter by Kate Mosse for £13.59 (RRP £16.99), visit bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0330 333 6846