Fungi Collected in Shropshire and Other Neighbourhoods by M. F. Lewis

Venture into the woods alongside a pioneering female mycologist. This
one-of-a-kind, keepsake volume celebrates the timeless fascination of
fungi.
Very little is known about M. F. Lewis-not even her first name. Mysterious,
prolific, and deeply enamored with the world of mushrooms, she left us a
treasure trove of mycological illustrations. For over forty years, from 1860 to
1902, Lewis rambled across England and Wales, recording an astonishing
biodiversity of fungi. Her delicately drawn, boldly colored images evoke the
strange and powerful beauty of this kingdom.
This handsome volume collects hundreds of Lewis's watercolors,
contextualized by a foreword from mycologist Dr. Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian.
It's a must-have for today's mushroom lovers who are curious about the
history of mycology and for any admirer of vintage botanical illustration who
wants to discover something different.
FASCINATING FUNGI: Mushrooms are having a real moment, but they've
always captured our imaginations, even in Victorian times. Lewis's gorgeous
artwork offers the modern mushroom fan a new way to appreciate their
favorite kingdom.
VINTAGE AESTHETIC: This lovely clothbound volume evokes the magic of
uncovering a treasure in a jumbled vintage bookstore.
FEMINIST HISTORY: While little is known of the elusive M. F. Lewis, we can
celebrate the legacy that she and other female naturalists of the 19th century
left for women in science and art today.
ARTFUL SCIENCE: Lewis's illustrated field notes showcase the intersection of
art and science at its best.

M. F. Lewis was a mycologist who recorded fungi across England and Wales
from 1860 to 1902.
Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian, PhD is a mycologist, educator, and writer, and a
visiting professor of biology at Bard College in New York.

Chronicle Books
On Sale: Sep 26/23
6 x 8 • 168 pages
9781797227412 • $34.95 • CL - Hardcover, full-color
illustrations throughout
Art / Subjects & Themes / Plants & Animals