THE QUEST FOR THE PERFECT HIVE : A History of Innovation in Bee Culture - USA
By Gene KritskyFrom Publishers Weekly
In this charming book, entomology professor Kritsky (who describes himself as "stung with the love of bees") incorporates material gathered over decades, from all over the world, to present a lively history of beekeeping. No one knows exactly how long humans have been keeping bees, but depictions appear in 5,000-year-old Egyptian paintings and sculpture, using a hive style that can still be found in Egypt today (horizontal mud cylinders stacked in walls). The first beekeepers of northern Europe tended wild hives, gradually domesticating bees with log hives. With the industrial and agricultural revolutions of the 19th century, bee hives were inevitably targeted for improvement, though the Victorian tendency to over-design didn't always result in practical structures; it was the late-19th century development of removable frame hives-the familiar "white box" style still in wide use-that led to major changes in beekeeping in the U.S. and Europe (though traditional methods still prevail in many countries). Kritsky's passion for his subject translates into gentle yet clear prose, abundant historical illustrations, and careful explanations of what bees need to thrive, and how humans figured it out; though of limited appeal, this is an ideal introduction to the craft of beekeeping. 147 b&w illus.Copyright ?? Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Review"This utterly charming, informative book on the care of bees is attractive from its dust jacket and gold and black binding matching the color of bee skeps and bees respectively to its many archival illustrations."-- Chicago Botanic Garden"Gene Kritsky's The Quest for the Perfect Hive is a fascinating exploration of th[e] history of beehive innovation, from the early days of mud and straw hives to the commercial hives now used around the world. His well-sourced book contains detailed accounts of the patent battles and bizarre inventions--like glass-jar beekeeping--that have transformed the practice of keeping bees into a $16 billion industry."--Seed, Books to Read Now"In this charming book, entomology professor Kritsky (who describes himself as 'stung with the love of bees') incorporates material gathered over decades, from all over the world, to present a lively history of beekeeping. ... Kritsky's passion for his subject translates into gentle yet clear prose, abundant historical illustrations, and careful explanations of what bees need to thrive, and how humans figured it out."--Publisher's Weekly"Kritsky covers it all in this profusely illustrated, easy to read book. ... [A]nyone remotely interested in the history of beekeeping should have this book."--Bee Culture"Salted with anecdotes and facts, Kritsky weaves an excellent chronicle of man's time with the bees. Here is a great read for the beekeeper as well as the curious historian."--Illinois Beekeepers Association"We may [] be overdue for a new revolution in hive design, and Gene Kritsky's comprehensive look at past innovations is a great place to start."--Missouri Beekeepers Association"This is one of those books that will become a classic of beekeeping literature for its content, design, illustrations, and pure quality of the writing. No beekeeper should be without it."--Capital Area Beekeepers Association"Charming."--Washington Post"A concise and in-depth look at the development of beehives over the centuries. Any beekeeper, potential recruit or gardener will find this nuts-and-bolts history of hives, man, and honey, with illustrations, useful."--Philadelphia InquirerMentioned in Nature."[A]n important quality of this book is the energy which flows through and which can almost be felt physically. Somehow, the author managed to successfully plug into the energies of hundreds and thousands of innovators and numerous beekeepers through the thousands of years long history of beekeeping. He successfully transferred a great part of this energy to us, the readers." --The Beekeepers Quarterly
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