Henri Fabre (1823-1915) was a famous French scientist and popular science writer. Born in a peasant family, he lived in extreme poverty since he was a child. He worked as a middle school teacher and studied on his own in his spare time. He spent 12 years earning a bachelor's degree, a double bachelor's degree and a doctorate. He taught hard in middle schools for more than 20 years and observed and studied insects in his spare time. and plants. He published outstanding papers and was recognized by Darwin. He was rewarded by the Imperial Ministry of Education. However, his dream of "going to the university podium" has never been realized, and his desire to open an independent entomology laboratory has never been supported. . He was impoverished in the first half of his life, and barely had enough food and clothing in the second half of his life, but Fabre did not succumb to "prejudice" and "poverty". He is still diligent in self-study, expanding his knowledge reserve, carefully determining research directions, persevering in observing experiments, constantly obtaining new results, and fighting back against "prejudice" again and again. He taught students new knowledge of natural science, and also offended many biological colleagues who used physiological functions to explain instincts. He was not afraid of people accusing him of not being consistent with the cell theory and the theory of evolution among the "three major discoveries of natural science in the 19th century." He was almost forgetting everything. Fabre's greatest interest in life was to explore the true face of the living world and discover the scientific truths contained in nature. It is precisely because of his love for truth that when he wrote "Insects", he always "accurately recorded the observed facts, neither adding anything nor omitting anything." It was this great cause of revealing and grasping the "truth - truth" that Fabre devoted his life to. This became his life's highest ideal and lofty labor, and he was happy and comforted by it. He gathered all his qualities and talents under this spirit and made his own unique contribution to mankind.
Fabre was the first scientist to study insects in the natural environment. He spent his whole life going deep into the insect world, observing and experimenting with insects in the natural environment, and truly recording the instincts and behaviors of insects. Habits became the entomology masterpiece "Insects". Fabre's heart was filled with love for life and admiration for all things in nature. He observed the nature of insects with human nature. The instincts, habits, labor, marriage and love, reproduction and death of insects are all permeated with humanistic care; Reflecting on social life, wise philosophical thoughts appear on the page. In his simple writing, a serious academic work is like beautiful prose, from which people can not only gain knowledge and ideas, but reading itself is a unique aesthetic process.
"Insects" is not only steeped in awe of life, but also contains a certain spirit. That spirit is truth-seeking, that is, pursuing truth and exploring the truth. This is the spirit of Fabre. Without that spirit, there would be no "Insects", and one fruit of wisdom would be missing from the tree of human spirit.
Fabre wrote "Insects" with his brilliant pen, which is famous all over the world. This masterpiece has its place in the history of French natural science and literature. What this masterpiece describes is the struggle of insects for survival. The struggle represents an indescribable and astonishing spirituality. Fabre recorded most of the results and experiences of his lifelong research on insects in the form of prose. He observed in detail the life of insects and their struggle for survival and reproduction of the species. The blending of human nature makes the world of insects a literary form for humans to gain knowledge, interest, beauty and ideas. The topic of a mere insect is turned into a masterpiece with multi-layered meanings and all-round value. Such a work is unprecedented in the world. No entomologist has such a superb talent for literary expression, and no writer has such broad and profound entomological attainments. The author of "Insects" was hailed as "the founder of animal psychology" by the French and international academic circles at that time. In his later years, Fabre published the last few volumes of "Insects", which won him many readers not only in France, but also in European countries and all over the world. Literary circles honored him as the "Virgil of the Insect World", and French academic and literary circles recommended Fabre as a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature. It is a pity that this great poet who praised insects passed away before the Nobel Committee decided to award him this award.
"Insects" has been translated into many languages ??and published. He is known as the "Insect Poet", and a large number of his works have been translated and published in our country.
"Insects" is the result of Fabre's lifelong time and energy to observe the life of insects and their struggle for survival and reproduction of the species in detail, and then recorded detailed and accurate notes based on his observations. Finally compiled into a book.
"Insects" consists of ten volumes, each containing several chapters. Each chapter describes the life of one or several insects in detail and profoundly: spiders, bees, praying mantises, scorpions, cicadas, beetles, crickets, etc.