Ambitiously conceived and grandly executed natural history books, with their sumptuous large-format illustrations, are now some of the most expensive antiquarian collectors' items. This book attempts to put them in context; though the last chapter (on 'clerics as authors') does sit rather uncomfortably alongide treatments of Temple of Flora, Birds of America and Flora Graeca. Printed on high quality heavyweight paper, this book's 176 pages are crammed with interesting insights. In the words of one of the chapter headings, 'a curious tale'.