Prof. David Pegler's concise, well-illustrated and informative guide is a timely antidote to the mythology surrounding the much misunderstood - and often maligned - wild mushroom. The book begins with an introduction to fungi and mushroom biology, a mushroom calendar and a crash course in hunting for edible mushrooms, together with useful tables containing information on classifying and identifying edible fungi. Twenty different varieties are then explored in depth - from the edible to the poisonous (and even the hallucinogenic!). Extensive photographs and colour illustrations will aid the amateur mushroom gatherer in the tricky (and potentially dangerous) task of identification. Finally, this fascinating book offers recipes and food preparation tips. Pegler's considerable expertise and clear delivery make the Easy Edible Mushroom Guide an absolute must-have for anyone new to the world of mushroom hunting.

Professor David Pegler was Head of Mycology at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, after almost forty years of continuous study of the world's mushrooms. He has written a number of popular books on fungi, including The Easy Edible Mushroom Guide, The Mitchell Beazley Pocket Guide to Mushrooms and the Larousse Fieldguide to Mushrooms. He is now retired.