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The Keeper of the Bees
Paperback
Published October 1, 1991
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About the author
Gene Stratton-Porter
144 books683 followersShe was an American author, amateur naturalist, wildlife photographer, and one of the earliest women to form a movie studio and production company. She wrote some of the best selling novels and well-received columns in magazines of the day.
Born Geneva Grace Stratton in Wabash County, Indiana, she married Charles D. Porter in 1886, and they had one daughter, Jeannette.
She became a wildlife photographer, specializing in the birds and moths in one of the last of the vanishing wetlands of the lower Great Lakes Basin. The Limberlost and Wildflower Woods of northeastern Indiana were the laboratory and inspiration for her stories, novels, essays, photography, and movies. Although there is evidence that her first book was "Strike at Shane's", which was published anonymously, her first attributed novel, The Song of the Cardinal met with great commercial success. Her novels Freckles and A Girl of the Limberlost are set in the wooded wetlands and swamps of the disappearing central Indiana ecosystems she loved and documented. She eventually wrote over 20 books.
Born Geneva Grace Stratton in Wabash County, Indiana, she married Charles D. Porter in 1886, and they had one daughter, Jeannette.
She became a wildlife photographer, specializing in the birds and moths in one of the last of the vanishing wetlands of the lower Great Lakes Basin. The Limberlost and Wildflower Woods of northeastern Indiana were the laboratory and inspiration for her stories, novels, essays, photography, and movies. Although there is evidence that her first book was "Strike at Shane's", which was published anonymously, her first attributed novel, The Song of the Cardinal met with great commercial success. Her novels Freckles and A Girl of the Limberlost are set in the wooded wetlands and swamps of the disappearing central Indiana ecosystems she loved and documented. She eventually wrote over 20 books.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 27, 2026
I’d probably rate this somewhere between 3 and 4 stars.
This isn’t a fast-moving or flashy book — it unfolds slowly and quietly. At first I wasn’t sure how much it was going to stick with me, but by the end it meant more than I expected.
The writing is lovely, especially the parts about nature and the bees. Those sections felt peaceful and grounding. I really appreciated the themes of restoration, responsibility, and healing. There were also a few twists I genuinely didn’t see coming, which added depth to the story.
That said, it didn’t feel life-changing or transformative for me. It was more of a steady, comforting read than one that shakes you. But sometimes that’s exactly what you want — something thoughtful and gentle that leaves you feeling settled rather than stirred up.
Overall, I’m glad I read it. It’s the kind of story that grows on you slowly.
This isn’t a fast-moving or flashy book — it unfolds slowly and quietly. At first I wasn’t sure how much it was going to stick with me, but by the end it meant more than I expected.
The writing is lovely, especially the parts about nature and the bees. Those sections felt peaceful and grounding. I really appreciated the themes of restoration, responsibility, and healing. There were also a few twists I genuinely didn’t see coming, which added depth to the story.
That said, it didn’t feel life-changing or transformative for me. It was more of a steady, comforting read than one that shakes you. But sometimes that’s exactly what you want — something thoughtful and gentle that leaves you feeling settled rather than stirred up.
Overall, I’m glad I read it. It’s the kind of story that grows on you slowly.
February 23, 2024
I bought this book on audio by mistake. Best mistake ever. Such a beautiful story, language, and characters, abit of religion but not unpleasant. Loved
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews