{"product_id":"9781861895288","title":"Snail","description":"\u003cp\u003eSo attached was the author Patricia Highsmith to snails that they became her constant travelling companions. Often hidden in a large handbag, they provided her with comfort and companionship in what she perceived to be a hostile world. Theirs was perhaps an unusual relationship; for most of us the tentacled snail with his sticky trail might be a delicious treat served up in garlic butter but certainly not an affectionate pet. As well, for many a gardener, opinions on the snail and slug (which is a just a snail without a shell) have been shaped by the harm they inflict on vegetable plants and seedlings. With \u003ci\u003eSnail\u003c\/i\u003e, Peter Williams wishes to change our perspectives on this little but much-maligned creature.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBeginning with an overview of our relationship with snails, slugs, and sea snails,\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWilliams moves on to examine snail evolution; snail behavior and habitat; snails as food, medicine, and the source of useful chemicals and dyes; snail shells as collectible objects; and snails in literature, art, and popular culture. Finally, in this appreciative account of the snail, Williams offers a plea for a reconsideration of the snail as a dignified, ancient creature that deserves our respect.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eContaining beautiful illustrations and written in an approachable, informal style, \u003ci\u003eSnail \u003c\/i\u003ewill help readers get beyond the shell and slime to discover the fascinating creature inside.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Reaktion Books, Limited","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47053935837424,"sku":"9781861895288","price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781861895288_p0.jpg?v=1763601003","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781861895288","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}