Synopses & Reviews
A classic of nature writing, long out of print, is paired here with jewel-like illustrations for a beautiful gift edition, The Passionate Observer. Renowned 19th-century entomologist Jean-Henri Fabre's witty and amusing collected writings about bugs, bees, and other creatures were published to instant success in France in 1879 as Souvenirs Entomologiques. Now selections from his clever musings are joined with the intricate, radiant paintings of Marlene McLoughlin into a single ode to the creatures and the countryside of the South of France. Whether celebrating the lacy texture of a dragonfly's wings, the pale delicacy of a hummingbird's egg, or the effect of afternoon light on the Provencal landscape, these two passionate observers recreate a vivid and marvelous world, making this exquisite book a wonderful way for new generations to experience a literary treasure.