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Very little is known about M. F. Lewis—not even her first name. Mysterious, prolific, and deeply enamored with the world of mushrooms, she left us a treasure trove of mycological illustrations. For over forty years, from 1860 to 1902, Lewis rambled across England and Wales, recording an astonishing biodiversity of fungi. Her delicately drawn, boldly colored images evoke the strange and powerful beauty of this kingdom.
This handsome volume collects hundreds of Lewis's watercolors, contextualized by a foreword from mycologist Dr. Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian. It's a must-have for today's mushroom lovers who are curious about the history of mycology and for any admirer of vintage botanical illustration who wants to discover something different.
FASCINATING FUNGI: Mushrooms are having a real moment, but they've always captured our imaginations, even in Victorian times. Lewis's gorgeous artwork offers the modern mushroom fan a new way to appreciate their favorite kingdom.
VINTAGE AESTHETIC: This lovely clothbound volume evokes the magic of uncovering a treasure in a jumbled vintage bookstore.
FEMINIST HISTORY: While little is known of the elusive M. F. Lewis, we can celebrate the legacy that she and other female naturalists of the 19th century left for women in science and art today.
ARTFUL SCIENCE: Lewis's illustrated field notes showcase the intersection of art and science at its best.
Perfect for:
- Mushroom hunters, eaters, and admirers
- Fans of cottagecore and goblincore aesthetics
- Collectors of vintage books and vintage botanical illustration
- Collectors of Victorian ephemera
- Readers of feminist history
- Environmentalists, scientists, and artists
