This book has the same title as that written by Edwards and Lofty and published 39 years ago but that is where the similarity ends. The 1972 book comprehensively dealt with the subject using information at hand at that time, while the present book deals in depth with some of the more interesting and topical aspects of the biology of earthworms relevant to research that is now ongoing. The fact that this book does not cover absolutely all aspects of earthworm biology is a reflection of how our knowledge has increased over the intervening years.

This book has 18 chapters written by specialists from throughout the world. There are chapters giving up-to-date information on the usual topics of earthworm reproduction, anatomy, the interaction of earthworms and agriculture and their usefulness in remediation and soil structure. However, there are also chapters on less recognized aspects of earthworm biology, e.g. antimicrobial vermipeptides, the earthworm immune system, biocontrol of soil-borne plant fungal diseases, use of earthworms as bioindicators of soil quality, and their role in organic farming systems and molecular genetics. These new aspects of earthworm biology, which have not been covered in previous text books published in the 1990s, make fascinating reading and contribute to us now having a better understanding of the role earthworms play in the soil ecosystem. This book is not for the general public but will appeal to graduates and research workers. Hopefully a paperback version will follow soon.