Naturalists in Paradise
Wallace, Bates and Spruce in the Amazon
London : Thames & Hudson, 2015.
Format: Book
Description: 368 pages : illustrations (some color), maps ; 25 cm
One hundred and fifty years ago, the young naturalists Alfred Wallace, Henry Walter Bates, and Richard Spruce were on a journey. Their destination, Amazonia--the world's largest tropical forest with the greatest river system and richest ecosystem--was then an almost-undiscovered environment to Western explorers and scientists.
In Naturalists in Paradise, Amazon expert John Hemming weaves the riveting stories of these three men's experiences in the Amazon and assesses their valuable research that drastically changed our conception of the natural world. Each of the three naturalists is famous for a particular discovery: Wallace is credited, along with Charles Darwin, for developing the theory of evolution; Bates uncovered the phenomenon of protective mimicry among insects; and Spruce transported the quinine-bearing Cinchona tree to India, saving countless lives from malaria. Drawing on the letters and books of the three naturalists, Hemming reaches beyond the well-known narratives, offering unrivaled insight into the often lawless frontier life in South America as seen through the lives of the great pioneers of modern disciplines: anthropology, tribal linguistics, archaeology, and every branch of natural science.
In Naturalists in Paradise, Amazon expert John Hemming weaves the riveting stories of these three men's experiences in the Amazon and assesses their valuable research that drastically changed our conception of the natural world. Each of the three naturalists is famous for a particular discovery: Wallace is credited, along with Charles Darwin, for developing the theory of evolution; Bates uncovered the phenomenon of protective mimicry among insects; and Spruce transported the quinine-bearing Cinchona tree to India, saving countless lives from malaria. Drawing on the letters and books of the three naturalists, Hemming reaches beyond the well-known narratives, offering unrivaled insight into the often lawless frontier life in South America as seen through the lives of the great pioneers of modern disciplines: anthropology, tribal linguistics, archaeology, and every branch of natural science.
Contents:
A naturalist's paradise -- Antecedents -- Enterprising young men -- The mouth of the Amazon -- Into Amazonia -- Manaus -- Wallace on the Rio Negro -- Into the unknown -- Calamities -- Bates on the Amazon -- Spruce climbs to the Andes -- Later lives : the Amazonian legacy -- Timeline.
Subjects:
Wallace, Alfred Russel, 1823-1913 -- Travel -- Amazon River Region.
Bates, Henry Walter, 1825-1892 -- Travel -- Amazon River Region.
Spruce, Richard, 1817-1893 -- Travel -- Amazon River Region.
Scientific expeditions -- Amazon River Region.
Natural history -- Amazon River Region.
Naturalists -- Great Britain -- History -- 19th century.
Naturalists -- Great Britain -- Biography.
Indians of South America -- Amazon River Region.
Amazon River Region -- Discovery and exploration -- History -- 19th century.
Amazon River Region -- Description and travel.
Wallace, Alfred Russel, 1823-1913 -- Travel -- Amazon River Region.
Bates, Henry Walter, 1825-1892 -- Travel -- Amazon River Region.
Spruce, Richard, 1817-1893 -- Travel -- Amazon River Region.
Scientific expeditions -- Amazon River Region.
Natural history -- Amazon River Region.
Naturalists -- Great Britain -- History -- 19th century.
Naturalists -- Great Britain -- Biography.
Indians of South America -- Amazon River Region.
Amazon River Region -- Discovery and exploration -- History -- 19th century.
Amazon River Region -- Description and travel.
ISBN:
9780500252109
Availability | |||
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Call Number | Location | Shelf Location | Status |
HISTORY Exploration Hem | Main (Downtown) | Third Level, Nonfiction | In |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 342-362) and index.