His Imperial Majesty : A Natural History of the Purple Emperor

A witty, informative, and myth-busting account of the Purple Emperor butterfly, one of Britain's most captivating butterfly species.

The Purple Emperor is one of England's most elusive and least-known butterflies. Matthew Oates has spent fifty years trying to unravel the Emperor's secrets. Many mysteries remain unsolved, but enough are revealed in this book to enable experts and non-experts alike to go out in search of a butterfly that thrills and enthralls all who encounter it.

This is a good-news species, at a time of massive wildlife decline. And this is a joyous--often rapturous--account, written in plain English, as a labor of love.

“One of the greatest naturalists of our time, Matthew is also one of science's most articulate and generous communicators, the kind of champion nature needs now more than ever.” —Isabella Tree, author of Wilding

“Dogbarking wood, cherry-pickers, shrimp paste, caterpillars called Sir Cloudesley Shovell – this monumental, transcendent, hilarious book is a natural history like no other. This profound work of genius brings us alive to the pulsating wonder of an English woodland in June – to life, the universe and everything.” —Patrick Barkham, author of The Butterfly Isles

“Matthew Oates's beautification of one of our most – he would say the most – spectacular insects is a total delight. In prose which soars as high as its subject, he blends mythology, history, biology and exceptional field skills to create the ultimate butterfly biography.” —Brett Westwood, presenter and author