Bees reflect human society - understand them and we can get a little closer to understanding ourselves.

Humans and bees have enjoyed a close relationship for millennia, and the entries in this book reflect at least two thousand years of fascination with the world's favourite insect.

Monarch, celebrity, monk, peasant, warrior or regular Joe, there are few who haven't fallen under the spell of bees and the riches they bring. From superstition to science, cake recipes to self-help, these quotes are a mirror to ourselves - our hopes and fears, our lives and deaths. Not to mention our taste-buds.

• Hardback Copy