Markus Lindholm
Pål Hermansen (photo)

The World of The Butterfly

Sommerfuglens verden

A beautifully written and visually stunning celebration of the butterfly’s strange, elegant and intricate world.

With delicate wings, vivid colours and striking patterns, butterflies have long fascinated us. But how do they live? Why do they look the way they do? And what role do they play in nature’s grand design?

The World of the Butterfly dives into these questions—and many more. Through poetic, though fact based text and breathtaking photography, biologist Markus Lindholm and photographer Pål Hermansen take readers on a journey into one of nature’s most captivating lifeforms.

Butterflies are part of a finely tuned ecological web. Each species often depends on a single flower to feed its caterpillars, while parasitic wasps constantly threaten their survival. From Arctic mountain slopes to the rainforests of the Americas, the book traces their surprising migrations, mysterious navigation systems, and astonishing resilience.

This is not a reference book—it’s an exploration. Iconic species like the Apollo, the Swallowtail, and the Morpho butterfly get their own chapters, but the true story lies in the wonder of their world: in their shimmering movements, their habitats, and the air they dance through.

Photos by Pål Hermansen.

Photo: Private

Markus Lindholm (b. 1964) is a biologist and professor of science education at the Steiner University College in Oslo. He has written several books, including Evolution: A Cultural History of Nature (2012) and Barefoot in the Amazon: The Story of Alfred Russel Wallace (2022).

Pål Hermansen (b. 1955) is a visual artist, author, and award-winning nature photographer with exhibitions and publications around the world, including honours from World Press Photo, Wildlife Photographer of the Year, and European Photographer of the Year. His works have been featured in National Geographic Magazine, Geo and BBC Wildlife Magazine.