“British nature writer and conservationist Marren remembers the butterfly collecting of his youth as a life-changing encounter with nature. Such an intense response to butterflies is not uncommon, and the author examines the emotional appeal of butterflies to naturalists, artists, novelists, and collectors during the past three hundred years. . . . Marren is a master of concise, elegant writing, and this passionate, personal work is not only a fascinating cultural study of these creatures but also an example of superb nature writing. . . . Highly recommended for all nature enthusiasts.”

Library Journal, starred review

“A prizewinning British wildlife writer reveals the special place of butterflies in our imagination and cultural life. . . . Marren has a firm grasp of history and biology, filling his narrative with vivid accounts of interesting events and encounters with writers, illustrators, hobbyists, and scientists. With an easy style, the author considers butterflies in art and literature—from ancient manuscripts to Vladimir Nabokov and John Fowles—and even advertising. . . . This is not a field guide or a natural history but rather a celebration of butterflies with a note of sadness over the decline of these creatures. . . . An erudite, engaging book.”

Kirkus Reviews

“Marren’s Rainbow Dust is a history of butterflies in Great Britain. By this we mean, of course, a history of humans and butterflies. (What is with all these Brits writing about nature? There’s a strong elegiac tone in these works, as well as celebration, as well as inspiration to do god-damned better, mates!)”

Backyard and Beyond

“An elegantly written and superbly researched account of how the human bond with butterflies has changed over centuries.”

Patrick Barkham | Guardian, Best Books of 2015

“To and fro, the book flitty-floats, elegantly, intentionally, like a butterfly between blooms. . . . He’s a genial, entertaining guide, is Peter Marren. . . . Butterflies have found their champion. Is Rainbow Dust worth a flutter? Oh, absolutely.”

John Lewis-Stempel | Times

“A subtly brilliant cultural and scientific history of lepidoptery, interspersed with vignettes from Marren’s own life in the field.”

Barbara Kiser | Nature

“Rainbow Dust is Marren’s love letter to the butterfly. . . . His passion is infectious. Beautifully written and thoroughly researched, Rainbow Dust is a truly marvelous book.”

Sophia Waugh | Telegraph

“As charming and colorful as its winged subjects.”

Financial Times

“Reveal[s] the fascinating world of these winged jewels.”

Stephen Moss | Guardian, Best Nature Books of 2015

“Marren’s Rainbow Dust, a captivating cultural life of . . . butterflies, is crammed with such fascinating stories. The real reason for those bright colors? One scientist chewed on this for years—literally.”

Martin Jones | Guardian, Readers’ Books of the Year 2015

“[Rainbow Dust] is the distilled essence from a lifetime’s reading, looking, and taking pleasure in butterflies.”

Mark Cocker | Guardian

“[A] superbly distilled statement on our . . . obsession with butterflies. . . . Marren is insightful on all this psychology, but he is equally adept at exploring our scientific investigations of butterflies. . . . What is most fascinating about Marren’s history of butterfly science is the range of personalities that were devoted to collecting them.”

Mark Cocker | Spectator

“Good nature writing like that in Rainbow Dust . . . will inspire us to get involved.”

New Scientist

“Whether you know a lot or a little about butterflies, this is an essential read.”

Independent

“Marren’s book is stunning: as stunning as the first red admiral on a June morning.”

Resurgence and Ecologist

“[A] must read. . . . Marren’s celebration of butterflies explores their natural history; role in art, literature, and science; the melancholy catalogue of lost species and the measures being taken to conserve these most beautiful of creatures. Their very names are redolent of an English summertime: Clouded Yellow, Chalkhill Blue, and the rare Purple Emperor.”

Daily Mail

"Part history, part memoir, Rainbow Dust leads the reader on a delightful tour of what butterflies have meant to Westerners—mostly the English—from the days of John Ray to the dawn of the twenty-first century. . . . Rainbow Dust offers a lively account of British butterflies and those amateur and professional naturalists who have been impassioned by them."

Isis