The Butterfly Isles : A Summer In Search Of Our Emperors And Admirals

Butterflies animate our summers but the fifty-nine species found in the British Isles can be surprisingly elusive.

Some bask unseen at the top of trees in London parks; others lurk at the bottom of damp bogs in Scotland.

A few survive for months while other ephemeral creatures only fly for three days.

Several are virtually extinct. This bewitching book charts Patrick Barkham's quest to find each of them - from the Adonis Blue to the Dingy Skipper - in one unforgettable summer. Wry, attentive, full of infectious delight and curiosity, written with a beautifully light touch, The Butterfly Isles is set to become a classic of British nature writing.