Butterfly Isles

By Patrick Barkham,

Book cover of Butterfly Isles: A Summer in Search of Our Emperors and Admirals

Book description

Butterflies animate our summers but the 59 butterfly species of 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…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Butterfly Isles as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This book is a classic natural history quest: Patrick Barkham tries to find all the butterfly species in Britain and Ireland in one summer. It explores our age-old relationship with these fantastic insects, the eccentricities of the butterfly watcher's world, and the author’s adventures along the way, all tied together by the challenge he’s set himself. This is a really entertaining book and brilliantly captures the butterfly obsession, offering an excellent portrayal of what makes butterfly watchers tick.

From Leif's list on nature in Britain.

Want books like Butterfly Isles?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Butterfly Isles.

Browse books like Butterfly Isles

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in butterflies, Scotland, and presidential biography?

11,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about butterflies, Scotland, and presidential biography.

Butterflies Explore 37 books about butterflies
Scotland Explore 321 books about Scotland
Presidential Biography Explore 19 books about presidential biography