Fact and Fable, Life of WF Kirby

William Forsell Kirby (1844-1912) pioneering entomologists, folklorist, poet and linguist cognisant of ten languages, achieved academic success the hard way - initially pursuing part-time study while working as an assistant in a bookshop six days a week.

Author of 30 books and over 200 articles, he is today noted for his insect catalogues - his Synonymic Catalogue of Diurnal Lepidoptera bringing him international fame as an entomologist - and for his translation of Finland's epic Kalevala using the trochaic tetrameter of the original poem.

An account inspired by childhood memories of his orphaned granddaughter; compiled from a few family papers; publications; many letters now scattered across the globe in archival libraries; and illustrated with reproductions from the photograph album of his only son, William Egmont Kirby.