The History of Bees
The Radio 2 Bookclub selection
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4.1 • 86 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
England, 1852. William is a biologist and seed merchant, who sets out to build a new type of beehive—one that will give both him and his children honour and fame.
United States, 2007. George is a beekeeper and fights an uphill battle against modern farming, but hopes that his son can be their salvation.
China, 2098. Tao hand paints pollen onto the fruit trees now that the bees have long since disappeared. When Tao’s young son is taken away by the authorities after a tragic accident—and is kept in the dark about his whereabouts and condition—she sets out on a grueling journey to find out what happened to him.
Haunting, illuminating, and deftly written, The History of Bees joins these three very different narratives into one gripping and thought provoking story that is just as much about the powerful relationships between children and parents as it is about our very relationship to nature and humanity.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
An elegant examination of insects’ role as a barometer for our planet’s wellbeing, The History of Bees is inspired by the real-life phenomenon Colony Collapse Disorder, in which worker bees abandon their queen en masse. Norwegian author Maja Lunde follows beekeepers in three distinct eras: 1850s England, 2007 America and, most ambitiously, a post-disaster China of 2098. Told in short, alternating chapters, the nuanced narrative unpacks timeless themes of parenthood, survival, legacy and loss—as well as more urgent ones surrounding climate change. Equally warm-hearted and well-researched, this novel reads partly as a warning but remains surprisingly hopeful in the end.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In her first adult novel, Norwegian children's author Lunde posits an apocalyptic future, weaving together stories on three continents in three different time periods that revolve around honeybees. In 2098, Tao, a human pollinator for fruit trees in a world devoid of bees, struggles along with her husband to make ends meet. She's is devoted to her three-year-old son, Wei-Wen, who suddenly has a mysterious and catastrophic accident. In 1851, William Savage, a father of eight in Hertfordshire, England, believes he has finally come up with an ingenious design for the perfect beehive, which will not only save the family from financial decline but will also bond him with his only son, Edmund. George, a beekeeper in 2007 Ohio, is desperate to have his son, Tom, take over the family business, even though Tom is pursuing an academic career. George prides himself on his work and the hand-built hives that have been in his family for generations, but everything changes when disaster strikes apiaries across the U.S. As the author adroitly switches back and forth among the intense stories, she explores the link between parents and children, and the delicate balance of expressing parental expectations versus allowing grown children to follow their own passions. There is also the strong theme about the potentially bleak outcome for a world that ignores the warning signs of environmental catastrophe and allows honeybees to disappear. Lunde's novel provides both a multifaceted story and a convincing and timely wake-up call.
Customer Reviews
Very intersting
I found this book very interesting. A look at what is possible for our world. A bit scary, but well written with very interesting characters. Enjoyed it a lot.