The Language of Butterflies

BY WENDY WILLIAMS, SIMON & SCHUSTER, £20

Wendy Williams delivers a delightful investigation into the world’s obsession with butterflies. Their complex anatomy and ecology are introduced with ease and intrigue – it’s one that will be enjoyed by beginners and butterfly fanatics alike.

The dedicated people that have shaped our understanding of butterflies are as fascinating as the insects themselves. From the pioneering work of Maria Sibylla Merian, to the collectors of the Victorian era, Williams takes us through the history of butterfly research, and introduces some of today’s most passionate scientists.

Accounts of declines and extinctions are intertwined with conservation success stories, filling me with hope for the future.