Jean-Henri Fabre

Jean Henri Fabre, nineteenth-century French entomologist and author of the massive Souvenirs Entomoligies, has inspired perhaps more modern writer/naturalists than any other chronicler of the natural world. Edwin Way Teale's selection of the most compelling of Fabre's writing makes The Insect World of J. Henri Fabre the essential edition of the writer Darwin called the incomparable observer.

Jean-Henri Fabre's discussions of insects in the natural world are filled with expressive detail, the author's enthusiasm demystifying the intriguing life processes of these creatures. Working for several decades as an entomologist, Fabre meticulously studied a variety of insect species, charting their life cycles and defining behaviors. Beginning with a description of his workshop and methods, the author proceeds to describe a succession of insects, such as scarab beetles, cicadas, and praying mantis. What makes each creature unique is discussed; whether it be how they construct their living spaces, how they work alone or in large groups to survive, and how they multiply and raise their young. Unlike many academics interested in the natural world, Fabre wrote most of his works in a lively, conversational style, his descriptions bursting with both accuracy and an authentic passion for the subjects tackled. These qualities make Fabre's books accessible and readable for those unfamiliar with insects and their habitats. As well as his extensive writings, Fabre made several fascinating discoveries, such as how to predict weather events by observing the behaviors of certain caterpillars.

Jean Henri Fabre reveals the wondrous nature of items we use and encounter daily, explaining how such things commonly taken for granted are fascinating and intricate. Everyday things encountered in nature and at home carry many fascinating properties, from foodstuffs to common creatures to the physics behind light and heat. Simple tools like the needle and thread, or the dyes in clothing, or the usual methods of cookery are revealed as the result of many years of human effort; the chemical and physical processes behind so many inventions we consider ordinary or benign are anything but. As an entomologist who studied nature and insects, Fabre goes on to keenly explain how small creatures in nature fulfil many roles. The various foods - chocolate, coffee, olive oil - are shown to have important properties and origins. Weather such as rain and snow, and the forces and phenomena of physics - light and sound - are also visited. A common theme throughout this work is the vivid and engaging style of the author; a capable explainer who wrote many books, Fabre brings life and fascination to objects and topics that would otherwise be thought mundane.