Insects Of Britain

Insects of Britain (1976) – Michael Chinery (Collins) | ISBN: 0002192160 | Condition: Good

Ah, the summer of 1976: drought, hosepipe bans, disco trousers — and Michael Chinery’s Insects of Britain, the book that promised to make you look at wasps, beetles, and suspiciously large moths with scholarly fascination instead of mild terror. Published by Collins, it’s part field guide, part endurance test for anyone who thought nature study was about cute hedgehogs and not about cataloguing things with too many legs.

This volume is gloriously 70s in every sense. The colour plates feature insects that look like they’ve posed patiently for a family portrait, even though you know full well they’d rather be dive-bombing your picnic. The text oozes entomological authority, confidently informing you of the difference between “harmless hoverflies” and “hornets that will ruin your afternoon.” It’s the kind of book you imagine earnest children in flared cords carrying into fields, only to discover the local cowpats were more interesting.

Our copy is in Good condition, which means it has survived nearly half a century of gardens, greenhouses, and possibly the odd squashed bluebottle trapped between its pages. The dust jacket (if it’s still clinging on) may have the sort of wear that suggests it was once left out in a shed. The pages are still firmly attached, albeit now seasoned with that heady aroma of “second-hand natural history section.”

Perfect for:

• Amateur entomologists who like their field guides vintage and their insect names mildly outdated.

• Gardeners who want to put a label on every creepy-crawly before deciding whether to squash it.

• Ironic collectors who enjoy the idea of displaying Insects of Britain on a minimalist bookshelf and waiting for guests to flinch.

From the buzzing, slightly dusty stacks of Crappy Old Books, where even the humble earwig gets its moment in the sun. Buy it now and remember: Britain’s insects haven’t changed much since 1976, but your ability to identify them at parties will make you sound delightfully eccentric.

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