A Sting in the Tale
My Adventures with Bumblebees
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Vintage Publishing
Published:24th Apr '14
Currently unavailable, our supplier has not provided us a restock date
The author has always been obsessed with wildlife, from his childhood menagerie of exotic pets and dabbling in experimental taxidermy to his groundbreaking research into the mysterious ways of the bumblebee and his mission to protect our rarest bees. This book tells the story of his passionate drive.
**SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**
One man's quest to save the bumblebee...
Dave Goulson has always been obsessed with wildlife, from his childhood menagerie of exotic pets and dabbling in experimental taxidermy to his groundbreaking research into the mysterious ways of the bumblebee and his mission to protect our rarest bees.
Once commonly found in the marshes of Kent, the short-haired bumblebee is now extinct in the UK, but still exists in the wilds of New Zealand, descended from a few queen bees shipped over in the nineteenth century.
A Sting in the Tale tells the story of Goulson's passionate drive to reintroduce it to its native land and contains groundbreaking research into these curious creatures, history's relationship with the bumblebee, the disastrous effects intensive farming has had on our bee populations and the potential dangers if we are to continue down this path.
[Goulson’s] book is not only enormously informative, but also hugely entertaining: its light touch and constant humour make cutting-edge research a pleasure to read about… For anyone interested in the natural world, this is essential reading. -- Michael McCarthy * Independent *
Goulson reminds himself that he ‘began studying bumblebees not because they are important pollinators but because they are fascinating, because they behave in interesting and mysterious ways, and because they are rather loveable.’ It’s worth reading A Sting in the Tale for the same reasons. -- Hannah Rosefield * Literary Review *
A worthy book of the year. -- Mary Beard * Observer *
Goulson has plenty of wondrous biological stories to tell, as well as the tale of his own struggle to return the short-haired bumblebee to Britain. -- Patrick Barkham * Guardian *
This isn’t one of those natural science books that simply tells you things – it admits how much we don’t know. -- Mark Mason * Spectator *
Goulson combines enthusiasm with academic authority, addressing the amateur beekeeper and professional apiarist in well-judged proportion. -- Iain Finlayson * The Times *
Goulson's case for the importance of bumblebees will live long in my memory for its sheer passion and scientific detail. -- Shami Chakrabarti * Guardian *
Entertaining and enlightening… Wholly engaging…A must for all gardeners. -- Naomi Schillinger * Garden Answers *
A very readable introduction to the remarkable world of bees and bee conservation. * Good Book Guide *
This book will make you bee-conscious. You will learn a lot, not just about bumblebees, and you will never have a dull moment… So read this book. Do it for the bees. -- Nicholas Lezard * Guardian *
- Short-listed for Samuel Johnson Prize 2013 (UK)
ISBN: 9780099575122
Dimensions: 198mm x 130mm x 18mm
Weight: 204g
288 pages