The World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting »

This definitive work by world-renowned bee authority Eva Crane offers a fascinating account of bees and their complex relations with both humans and animals. Comprehensive, absorbing, and lavishly illustrated, this scholarly, yet accessible volume explores how bees, honey and other bee products have been gathered and utilized throughout the world.

Beginning with the rock paintings of the Mesolithic cave dwellers, readers will learn about the variety of methods used by human beekeepers, the stratagems used by animal honey-hunters, and the multitude of products humans have derived from bees. The first in-depth book on the subject, the World History of Beekeeping and Honey-Hunting is the ultimate work on bees for scholars in biology and the life sciences, professional and amateur beekeepers, and anyone who is interested in bees or the collection of honey.

Booknews

Crane was director of the International Bee Research Association for a quarter of a century. Here she updates and expands her 1983 by incorporating subsequent findings and bringing the coverage up to the present. She begins with the evidence of rock art for prehistoric bee hunting and archeological indications of early beekeeping. She traces the probably route of transmission of hives within the Mediterranean region, northern Europe, eastern and western Asia, and the Americas. The technology, she shows, changed little from the earlier days until the 19th century, and has been tinkered with considerably ever since. Other topics include the history of bee products and the symbolic importance of bees, hives, honey, and wax in both literature and religion. Her text is abundantly supported with black-and-white illustrations. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)