Torben Larsen - Hazards of butterfly collecting

[wollastoni]

Torben Larsen is one of the greatest living entomologists. Since his childhood, he has been exploring all the parts of the world hunting and studying butterflies. He is a great specialist of African, Indian and Middle-Oriental butterflies.

He has written a great book gathering all his adventures : "Hazards of butterfly collecting"

This book is fantastic because :
- it's well written,
- you learn a lot of things about many interesting species and places,
- it make you live Larsen's adventures in remote places,
- it's very fun
- very easy to read even for non-English native people.

I have found this book on Abebooks.

And you did you read it ?
What is your preferred story of Torben. Personnally I love the encountering with the African militia "And now we will have to shoot you Sir" :-)
His experience with his chameleon to check which butterfly is toxic or which is not is also very interesting.

[nomad]

There are many great collecting stories in this little paperback book. I have many favourites, including the one you mentioned. I like the especially like " I am a tiny man, ' United Kingdom, 1973. ' Harriet's leeches- Andamans, India 1988 and 'Pity poor Buddha-South India, September, 1986. Perhaps my favourite is " Well... you're talking to me now, aren't you?"- Papua New Guinea, 1983. However, its is really had to choose, I enjoyed them all. Many are about Torben's time in Africa and I expect 'Tom' after his adventures in Africa, would love this book. Anybody here met the man himself??.

[cabintom]

I'm thinking this might make for a great Christmas gift to myself.

[bobw]

I've not seen the book but I guess I read all the stories when they were first serialised in the Entomologists' Record; he used to submit one for every issue. I met Torben a couple of times at the Natural History Museum and corresponded with him for a while. He was very knowledgeable on African butterflies and great fun to chat with.

Bob

[africaone]

Torben is THE butterfly man for Africa !
Also a kind of encyclopedy

[exoticimports]

Darn, I bought "Dangerous World of Butterflies" when I thought I was buying Larsen's book. DWB is journalistic rubbish!


Chuck

[exoticimports]

I just got a copy off Abebooks.com. It's great! They still have a few copies available.

Chuck

[exoticimports]

Well I finished the book. I highly recommend it to those who desire to explore, and those who have since then. It's frightful warning to those who want to study insects overseas, and for those who have, a reflection on the crap one must deal with. It is also a sad reflection on the way things used to be.

It's also a story of a man's life. I feel as though I know him now. I hate the fact that he aged-- as I do.

Chuck