Fabre's Book of Insects (Annotated)

Fabre's Book of Insects (Annotated)

Enriched Edition. Classic Natural History Essays on Insect Behavior, Field Observation, and the Miniature Life of ProvenceBy Jean-Henri Fabre
Michael Caine
Listen with Sir Michael Caine™ and 1,000+ voices
Length7h 37m

About this audiobook

Fabre's Book of Insects presents the marvels of insect life through episodes drawn from Jean-Henri Fabre's celebrated entomological writings: the habits of wasps, beetles, cicadas, caterpillars, spiders, and other small creatures observed with patient exactitude. Its style is at once scientific and literary, transforming field notes into lucid narratives of behavior, instinct, struggle, and adaptation. In the tradition of nineteenth-century natural history, the book bridges empirical observation and moral wonder, making the miniature world of insects appear dramatic, intelligible, and profound. Jean-Henri Fabre (1823–1915), a French naturalist, teacher, and pioneering entomologist, spent much of his life observing insects in Provence, especially at his home and open-air laboratory, the Harmas. Largely self-taught and often working outside academic institutions, he developed a distinctive method grounded in direct experiment and long contemplation. His modest circumstances, pedagogical vocation, and deep attachment to the southern French landscape shaped his desire to make science vivid and accessible. This book is warmly recommended to readers who value natural history, elegant prose, and close attention to the living world. It will especially delight students, educators, and general readers seeking an introduction to entomology that is humane, exacting, and imaginatively alive. This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience. - A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes. - The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists. - A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing. - A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings. - Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life. - Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance. - Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.

Audiobook details

Rating★★★★★ 4.6 (127)
Includes Amazon
GenreScience and Nature
Length7 hrs 37 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateDec 10, 2023
LanguageEnglish

Table of contents

1Fabre's Book of Insects (Annotated)
26THE PRAYING MANTIS
2Introduction
27I
3Synopsis
28HER HUNTING
4Historical Context
29II
5CHAPTER I
30HER NEST
Show all chapters
6MY WORK AND MY WORKSHOP
31III
7CHAPTER II
32THE HATCHING OF HER EGGS
8THE SACRED BEETLE
33CHAPTER V
9I
34THE GLOW-WORM
10THE BALL
35I
11II
36HIS SURGICAL INSTRUMENT
12THE PEAR
37II
13III
38HIS ROSETTE
14THE GROWING-UP OF THE SCARAB
39III
15CHAPTER III
40HIS LAMP
16THE CICADA
41CHAPTER VI
17I
42A MASON-WASP
18THE CICADA AND THE ANT
43I
19II
44HER CHOICE OF A BUILDING-SITE
20THE CICADA’S BURROW
45II
21III
46HER BUILDING
22THE CICADA’S MUSIC
47III
23IV
48HER PROVISIONS
24THE CICADA’S EGGS
49IV
25CHAPTER IV
50HER ORIGIN

More from Jean-Henri Fabre

A Brief History of Intelligence
A Brief History of IntelligenceMax S. Bennett12h 18m4.6 (6.6K)$29 · $0.00
The Story of Birds
The Story of BirdsSteve Brusatte11h 49m4.6 (401)$29 · $0.00
My Life Among the Underdogs
My Life Among the UnderdogsTia Torres5h 51m4.5 (4K)$24 · $0.00
What It Takes to Save a Life
What It Takes to Save a LifeKwane Stewart6h4.6 (556)$24 · $0.00
Pastoral Song
Pastoral SongJames Rebanks8h 35m4.5 (12K)$26 · $0.00
How Stella Learned to Talk
How Stella Learned to TalkChristina Hunger7h4.5 (10.9K)$24 · $0.00
Craig & Fred
Craig & FredCraig Grossi8h 6m4.5 (9.6K)$26 · $0.00
Celebrating Birds
Celebrating BirdsNatalia Rojas, Ana Maria Martinez6h 47m4.6 (330)$24 · $0.00
Saving Jemima
Saving JemimaJulie Zickefoose4h 59m4.5 (749)$20 · $0.00
Will's Red Coat
Will's Red CoatTom Ryan8h 23m4.5 (2.3K)$26 · $0.00
Of Time and Turtles
Of Time and TurtlesSy Montgomery10h 34m4.5 (5K)$29 · $0.00
Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet
Zen and the Art of Saving the PlanetThich Nhat Hanh9h 20m4.5 (3.9K)$29 · $0.00
Bottle of Lies
Bottle of LiesKatherine Eban14h 25m4.4 (12K)$33 · $0.00
Ingrained
IngrainedCallum Robinson8h 10m4.5 (1.1K)$26 · $0.00
The Lion Tracker's Guide To Life
The Lion Tracker's Guide To LifeBoyd Varty3h 1m4.4 (4.8K)$18 · $0.00
Born for Love
Born for LoveBruce D. Perry, Maia Szalavitz11h 42m4.4 (4K)$29 · $0.00
The Mountains of California (With Original Drawings & Photographs) (Annotated)
The Mountains of California (With Original Drawings & Photographs) (Annotated)John Muir11h 35m4.5 (1.1K)$2 · $0.00
The New Guys
The New GuysMeredith Bagby16h 50m4.4 (1.2K)$40 · $0.00
Blue Pastures
Blue PasturesMary Oliver3h 23m4.4 (3.8K)$18 · $0.00
The Rise and Reign of the Mammals
The Rise and Reign of the MammalsSteve Brusatte13h 26m4.4 (11.1K)$33 · $0.00

You may also like

Fabre's Book of Insects
Fabre's Book of InsectsJean-Henri Fabre6h 48m4.2 (263)$2.30
Insect Life Souvenirs of a Naturalist
Insect Life Souvenirs of a NaturalistJean-Henri Fabre9h 25m4.3 (290)$2.30
The Life of the Spider
The Life of the SpiderJean-Henri Casimir Fabre8h 28m4.2 (433)$2 · $0.00
The Pioneers
The PioneersJames Fenimore Cooper18h 50m3.6 (4.9K)$1.20 · $0.00
The Life of the Bee
The Life of the BeeMaurice Maeterlinck7h 53m4.1 (1.5K)$1 · $0.00
Secrets of the Woods
Secrets of the WoodsWilliam J. Long4h 59m4.2 (1.1K)$2 · $0.00
Survival of the Sickest
Survival of the SickestSharon Moalem, Jonathan Prince6h 39m4.2 (12.9K)$24 · $0.00
Giants in the Earth
Giants in the EarthOle Edvart Rølvaag19h 36m4.1 (11.5K)$34 · $0.00
On the origin of species
On the origin of speciesCharles Darwin16h 50m4.2 (154.5K)$4 · $0.00
The Hidden World of the Fox
The Hidden World of the FoxAdele Brand5h 11m4.1 (2.3K)$24 · $0.00
The Mason-Wasps
The Mason-WaspsJean-Henri Fabre7h 41m4.0 (50)$1 · $0.00
More Hunting Wasps
More Hunting WaspsJean-Henri Fabre9h 15m$2 · $0.00
White Feathers
White FeathersBernd Heinrich7h 9m4.0 (171)$24 · $0.00
Squirrels and Other Fur-Bearers
Squirrels and Other Fur-BearersJohn Burroughs3h 26m4.1 (71)$2 · $0.00
Animal Life in Field and Garden
Animal Life in Field and GardenJean-Henri Fabre10h 49m4.2 (46)$1 · $0.00
Wilderness Ways
Wilderness WaysWilliam J. Long2h 57m4.1 (120)$2 · $0.00
The Essence of Wilderness: 9 Classic Wildlife Books
The Essence of Wilderness: 9 Classic Wildlife BooksAlfred Wellesley Rees, William Davenport Hulbert, John Burroughs, William J. Long, Joaquin Miller, William T. Hornaday, Enos A. Mills, Harry Perry Robinson52h 54m$1.99 · $0.00
American Lion
American LionR. Timothy Rush1h 5m4.4 (11)$14.10 · $0.00
Bombay Ducks
Bombay DucksDouglas Dewar7h 56m$2 · $0.00
Four against the Arctic
Four against the ArcticDavid Roberts10h 44m3.4 (415)$21