In Pursuit of Butterflies: A Fifty-year Affair

Oates ... writes entrancingly, with the sunniest good humour. His book, with its old-school, loving erudition, is nature-writing of the sort that never goes out of fashion. * The Sunday Times * This book is an infectious, instantly joyful love song to butterflies ... Written in prose as delicate and enticing as the creatures themselves, this read will release your inner flutter. -- Miriam Darlington * BBC Wildlife * A joy to read, bubbling with knowledge, enthusiasm and insight. * Robert Macfarlane * ... a memoir which is knowledgeable, cultured and a welcome throwback to a gently comic kind of English nature writing. * The Independent * Oates is unquestionably authentic and his voice is vivid, witty and unapologetic ... his writing is suffused with a love for the spirit of the English countryside. * The Guardian * Lyrical, eccentric, charming and historical, In Pursuit of Butterflies is altogether unique. * Butterfly magazine * One of the best summaries of why nature matters and how we should all care. * Spectator * The writing is perfectly judged, combining a gift for story-telling and for conveying fact with an ever-present sensitivity and self-awareness. There is the author’s own poetry too, deeply felt and beautifully crafted. * Rare Bird Alert * It reminded me of my childhood delight in butterflies - and indeed rekindled it. -- Helen Hewett * Cotswolds Life * When the weather turns stormy and the butterfly year is over I can turn to this book and be enchanted once again and dream of days to come next year. * Pembrokeshire Life * He [Oates] writes with lyrical affection about the wonderful variety of British butterflies and moths... His enthusiasm is never less than inspiring. * Daily Mail * It is his infectious enthusiasm as much as his deep knowledge that makes the book so worthwhile ... He writes entrancingly, with the sunniest good humour. His book, with its old-school, almost loving erudition, is nature-writing of the sort that never goes out of fashion. * The Sunday Times *