Das Leben der Bienen by Maurice Maeterlinck

"Das Leben der Bienen" by Maurice Maeterlinck is a philosophical exploration of the life cycle and social structure of bees, written in the late 19th century. The work is not a guide to beekeeping or a scientific treatise but rather a reflective analysis of the bees' organizational life, their roles, and the deeper meanings behind their existence. Maeterlinck invites readers to view the intricate world of the bee colony through a lens of wonder and mystery, suggesting that the bees embody profound truths about nature and existence. The opening of the text sets the stage for this exploration by clarifying Maeterlinck’s intent; he does not aim to provide practical advice or scientific facts typically expected in beekeeping literature. Instead, he emphasizes the beauty and complexity of the bee's life, discussing their social order, the roles of the queen, worker bees, and drones, and alluding to the philosophical implications of their existence. Through vivid imagery and thoughtful prose, Maeterlinck invites readers to ponder the nature of sacrifice, society, and the uncanny similarities between human and bee behavior, establishing a thematic framework that transcends mere observation and delves into existential inquiry. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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About this eBook

Author Maeterlinck, Maurice, 1862-1949
Illustrator Müller-Schönefeld, Wilh., 1867-1944
Translator Oppeln-Bronikowski, Friedrich von, 1873-1936
Title Das Leben der Bienen
Credits Produced by Jens Sadowski and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net. This book was
produced from images made available by the HathiTrust
Digital Library.
Reading Level Reading ease score: 60.3 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
Language German
LoC Class PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
LoC Class QL: Science: Zoology
Subject Bees
Category Text
eBook-No. 61584
Release Date
Last Update Oct 17, 2024
Copyright Public domain in the USA.
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