Science in the Snakepit: Tales of the often eccentric people who have studied serpents over the centuries and have sometimes paid with their lives

People have always been fascinated by snakes, but only during the last few decades have researchers begun to reveal the secret lives of these most mysterious of animals. Rick Shine is one of the most eminent of those scientists, and his book describes the adventures and misadventures of researchers who have investigated the ecology and biology of these fantastic beasts – and sometimes, have paid with their lives.

This richly-illustrated title chronicles the revolution in our understanding of...