The Queen Must Die: And Other Affairs of Bees and Men [Paperback]

William Longgood (Author), Pamela Johnson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 17, 1988

"An engaging collection of observations about honeybees and their activities."—Publishers Weekly

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (May 17, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393305287
• ISBN-13: 978-0393305289
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #123,339 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #56 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Animals > Insects & Spiders

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book, August 17, 2005

By 

TCM - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Queen Must Die: And Other Affairs of Bees and Men (Paperback)

I LOVED this book. As Joanne Lauck in her book The Voice of the Infinite in the Small says, "The affinity of beekeepers for their bees is called `bee fever.' Its onset might be slow or fast, but the end result is the same. You fall in love with honeybees and get your first hive. Later as puzzled friends and relatives ask you why, you try to explain, calling the malady a blessing." William Longgood caught his bee fever after he got his first hive, and this is the story of its manifestation. I have discovered something in the reading of his book... "bee fever" is contagious. I think I have caught it. Mr. Longgood, a Pulitzer Prize winner, brings his deep observational skills to bear in this delightful book. I recommend it to anyone who has an affinity for other forms of life on our planet. I HIGHLY recommend it for someone who is afraid of bees as I was before I read this book. I still have a bit of the shadow of my former fear, but much of it has been replaced by respect and curiosity. I truly believe that affinity and compassion is the best defense against fear, and certainly Mr. Longgood's book aides the development of both for the honeybee. I was very sorry to discover that Mr. Longgood has passed into the Infinite in August of 2000, but I cannot imagine he would need a better legacy than this wonderful book.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars delightful read, March 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Queen Must Die: And Other Affairs of Bees and Men (Paperback)

Without being highly educated in scientific terms or history, this book was a wonderful and enertaining read. I have always been fascinated by insects, especially bees and ants, and this book fulfilled every question I had on bees. Longgood has written it so well that it is like reading a novel rather than nonfiction. This book makes one want to go out in the hills and study the nearest colony of insects all day long.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS BOOK MAKES A BEELOVER OUT OF EVERYONE., August 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Queen Must Die: And Other Affairs of Bees and Men (Paperback)

MR LONGGOOD HAS TAKEN THE SEEMINGLY MUNDANE CHORES OF LIFE WITHIN THE BEE HIVE AND GIVEN THEM A PERSPECTIVE THAT EVEN THE THE MOST STAUNCH INSECT HATER WILL FIND FACINATING. THIS BOOK BRINGS YOU TO A LEVEL OF FASCINATION WITH LITTLE CREATURES WHICH WILL FOSTER AN APPRECIATION FOR BEES THAT YOU NEVER COULD HAVE IMAGAGINED.