Description
Alfred Russel Wallace, Henry Walter Bates and Richard Spruce were English naturalists who went to Amazonia 150 years ago. This book is the first to combine all three young men's experiences of the Amazon, drawing heavily on their own letters and books. All three explored an unknown river and had many thrilling adventures: violent attacks of malaria, fearful rapids, murder attempts, encounters with newly contacted indigenous peoples, shipwrecks, and many other hardships. In addition to their huge contributions to knowledge of the Amazonian environment, each is particularly famous for one discovery. Wallace is acknowledged as a co-discoverer, along with Charles Darwin, of the theory of evolution. Bates discovered protective mimicry among insects, a phenomenon named after him. Spruce transported the quinine-bearing Cinchona tree, the most important medicinal plant of the nineteenth century, to India, where it saved countless lives from malaria.
A brilliantly told account of the travels and travails of three of the 19th century's outstanding scientists
About the Author
John Hemming was Director of the Royal Geographical Society for over twenty years. He has travelled extensively in the Amazon region, where he experienced many of the same thrills and hardships as the naturalists featured in this book. He was awarded Peru's highest civil decoration, the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit.
Reviews
'Hemming's fascination [with the Amazon] shines out of every page ... a compelling story ... Hemming tells the story of this extraordinary trio without hype, wisely content to let the facts and their own reflections speak largely for themselves' - Daily Mail
'A splendid, indeed brilliant book ... the first comprehensive account of those three historic figures' - Wade Davis, winner of the 2012 Samuel Johnson Prize
'Clear and compelling ... Hemming tells a hardly believable story with great clarity and sympathy' - Financial Times
'Hemming turns the technical nightmare of combined biographies into a seamless daydream ... his book is itself a little piece of intellectual paradise' - The Oldie
'This beautifully crafted book is not only a pleasure to handle but also a valuable reference work as it is complemented by a substantial bibliography and detailed cross-references' - Archives of Natural History
Book Information
ISBN 9780500252109
Author John Hemming
Format Hardback
Page Count 368
Imprint Thames & Hudson Ltd
Publisher Thames & Hudson Ltd
Weight(grams) 1000g
A brilliantly told account of the travels and travails of three of the 19th century's outstanding scientists
About the Author
John Hemming was Director of the Royal Geographical Society for over twenty years. He has travelled extensively in the Amazon region, where he experienced many of the same thrills and hardships as the naturalists featured in this book. He was awarded Peru's highest civil decoration, the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit.
Reviews
'Hemming's fascination [with the Amazon] shines out of every page ... a compelling story ... Hemming tells the story of this extraordinary trio without hype, wisely content to let the facts and their own reflections speak largely for themselves' - Daily Mail
'A splendid, indeed brilliant book ... the first comprehensive account of those three historic figures' - Wade Davis, winner of the 2012 Samuel Johnson Prize
'Clear and compelling ... Hemming tells a hardly believable story with great clarity and sympathy' - Financial Times
'Hemming turns the technical nightmare of combined biographies into a seamless daydream ... his book is itself a little piece of intellectual paradise' - The Oldie
'This beautifully crafted book is not only a pleasure to handle but also a valuable reference work as it is complemented by a substantial bibliography and detailed cross-references' - Archives of Natural History
Book Information
ISBN 9780500252109
Author John Hemming
Format Hardback
Page Count 368
Imprint Thames & Hudson Ltd
Publisher Thames & Hudson Ltd
Weight(grams) 1000g
