Butterflies animate our summers but the 59 butterfly species of the British Isles can be surprisingly elusive. Several are virtually extinct. This bewitching book charts Patrick Barkham¿s quest to find all 59 in one unforgettable summer. He witnesses a swarming invasion of Painted Ladies, experiences the curse of the Purple Emperor, makes a euphoric sighting of an exceedingly rare migrant and as summer draws to a close, suffers from butterfly burnout. As he goes, he looks back at the butterfly collectors of the past and ahead to a future in which many of our butterflies will struggle to survive on an overcrowded and overheating island. Wry, attentive and full of infectious delight, The Butterfly Isles will become a classic of British nature writing.