A HIVE OF BEES THE HUNTING WASP
By
The 1986 republication of Crompton's nature classics The Snake and The Spider delighted all who relish natural-history writing that entertains as it enlightens. Now comes the welcome reprinting of two more Crompton titles; what Kirkus said upon the original publication of these books holds true today. Of A Hive of Bees (1958): ""Less romantic and more accurate than Maeterlinck's volume, less scientifically detailed than Fabre's, this joyous book by a semi-amateur of bees who is also a master or English should appeal to bee-haters as well as to bee-enthusiasts and apiarists, to students of natural history and the outdoors, and to those who enjoy well-written books. . ."" Of The Hunting Wasp (1955): ""Crompton makes no case for the wasp's likability but does underscore, in precise and adroit manner, a lot of curious and enticing information for his previous readers and all those who like their nature-lore in urbane style.