In 1776, at the age of fifteen, François Huber learns he is going blind. As the darkness descends, however, his scientific curiosity develops, and he becomes obsessed with an extraordinary scientific inquiry—into the violent and sexually competitive world of the bee. He teaches his young manservant to observe in his place, and together they document their astonishing findings with extraordinary persistence and insight. Set against the scientific discoveries and libertarian ideals of the Enlightenment, as well as the dramatic and bloody events of the late 18th century, it is a story of human limitations, trust, and revelation.