Admitting that there are already a good many books on bees, this book, less romantic and more accurate than Maeterlinck's volume, less scientifically detailed than Fabre's, should appeal to bee-haters as well as bee-enthusiasts. Written in masterful English, the author describes the whole life of the hive, its intricate internal arrangements, and the vividly distinct personalities beedom. A boon to natural historians and to those who enjoy the skillful manipulation of the English language.