Dispar
The Online Journal of Lepidoptera
ISSN 2056-9246
The Online Journal of Lepidoptera
ISSN 2056-9246
Edited by Bryan Holden
Published by the Roseworld Productions, November 2013
Hardback, 208 pages. ISBN: 978-0-9926698-0-5
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From the publisher: BB's fascination for the 'elusive' Purple Emperor butterfly (Apatura iris) took hold when he was very young. He finally came 'face to antennae with iris' properly for the first time in 1946, after which he enjoyed many happy sightings before spraying to eliminate Oak Tortrix moths led to its extinction in the 1960s. The iris bug then bit BB even deeper. He learnt how to gather eggs successfully and so began his mission to hand rear 'His Imperial Majesty' in muslin-protected cages in his own garden, releasing the mature adults back into the wild in Fermyn Wood.
BB's Butterflies is a treasure trove of extracts from BB's many books and magazine articles featuring the Purple Emperor and other butterflies. Readers will delight in BB's descriptive prose which reveals what a marvellous observer and entomologist he was, interspersed throughout with BB's own distinctive colour illustrations, monotone scraper boards and colour photographs. Immerse yourself in the world of the Purple Emperor and Nature in general and enjoy this taster of BB's enormous literary output, along with first-hand contributions from many who knew and supported him in his conservation work; including Douglas Goddard, Butterfly Recorder for Northamptonshire, Badger Walker and Bill Humphreys, lifelong friends of BB and John McEwen, author and journalist.
"BB changed my life, for his book Brendon Chase helped set my path of direction. Sure enough, unravelling the mysteries of the Purple Emperor became my life's work." - Matthew Oates, the National Trust's specialist on butterflies, Foreword.
Denys Watkins-Pitchford, known as BB, wrote and illustrated 60 books, 30 of which are for children. "BB's Butterflies" takes us on a journey through the life and works of BB, starting with a wonderfully-written foreword by Matthew Oates, the National Trust's specialist on butterflies, whose own path into a career filled with nature was influenced by BB's Brendon Chase. The editor's introduction is followed by a series of articles, written by many of BB's friends and followers, who share their memories of BB.
The bulk of the book, however, is reserved for butterfly-related extracts from many of BB's works including, of course, Brendon Chase. These extracts, which are interspersed with photos and illustrations, transport the reader to a time gone by, when butterflies were abundant and a childhood spent chasing after them the norm. Reading them certainly took me back to my own past growing up in the Cotswolds.
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BB had a particular passion for the Purple Emperor butterfly and the book is filled with tales of this spectacular insect. There are also many references to BB's acute awareness of the Emperor's decline over the many years that he had observed them, leading him to raise this species in captivity in the hope of boosting their numbers each year. The book also makes mention of many other species found in the British Isles, including the Large Blue, Large Copper and Swallowtail. Many passages refer to BB's captive rearing exploits and the various chapters really bring to life the highs and lows felt by anyone that has a passion for butterflies.
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Matthew Oates first enlightened me in the works of BB while, of all things, looking for Purple Emperor eggs and larvae; BB would have been proud! With my interest peaked, the greatest compliment I can pay the authors is that they bring out a dimension of BB and his works that certainly does the man justice and left me satisfied. Beautifully written, anecdote-rich, highly recommended!
A donation is made to Butterfly Conservation for each book sold.
BB's Butterflies is in a limited print run of 950 at £40 each plus £5 post and packing. It, and other publications, is available from Roseworld Productions or at 0121 704 1002.