Naturalists in Paradise: Wallace, Bates and Spruce in the Amazon, by John Hemming
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Naturalists in Paradise: Wallace, Bates and Spruce in the Amazon, by John Hemming
Free Ebook Naturalists in Paradise: Wallace, Bates and Spruce in the Amazon, by John Hemming
The thrilling stories of the three pioneering English naturalists’ explorations and discoveries in the world’s richest ecosystem
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. 70 illustrations, 20 in color Naturalists in Paradise: Wallace, Bates and Spruce in the Amazon, by John Hemming- Amazon Sales Rank: #520187 in Books
- Brand: Hemming, John
- Published on: 2015-03-10
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 9.60" h x 1.70" w x 7.20" l, .0 pounds
- Binding: Hardcover
- 368 pages
Review “I can’t imagine a better biographer for these three men than John Hemming. . . . [His] most evocative accounts concern the many indigenous peoples that the three explorers met. There is a great tenderness in his descriptions, mixed with an immense respect and appreciation for their customs and traditions. . . . Naturalists in Paradise is a story of adventure and tenacious endurance, told by an author who underpins the research with his personal knowledge of the Amazon.” (The Wall Street Journal)“The author of this most intriguing ‘triography’ of Bates, Spruce and Wallace is the person best qualified to write it . . . Hemming’s crowning achievement is the full integration of the stories of Bates, Spruce and Wallace. Wallace has been the focus of numerous books, while few narratives have concentrated on the great scientific contributions by Bates or Spruce. Hemming makes a very clear and compelling case that the other two’s friendship, partnership, conversations, correspondence and research amply influenced Wallace’s thinking and his great theory.” (Washington Post)“In Naturalists in Paradise, John Hemming uses the stories of these three iconic Victorian explorers to show how the experience of being in the field is intensively individual and as idiosyncratic as the people themselves. There is no one better to explore their journeys than Hemming, who not only is a great scholar of the Amazon and its people but also has, himself, trodden in the footsteps of these men, a fact that allows him to empathize charmingly with their individual tales. Hemming portrays the personalities of each of these men brilliantly. . . . The most striking theme in Hemming’s book is the powerful description of the importance of collaboration in field work and in science in general. . . . Today’s scientists working with biodiversity and ecosystem services could take a cue from these Victorian naturalists who explored with both their eyes and minds open.” (Science)
About the Author Formerly the Director of the Royal Geographical Society in London, John Hemming has traveled in and written extensively about the Amazon region. His previous books include Tree of Rivers.
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Most helpful customer reviews
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful. River of Discovery By Joan Stewart Smith If any book is going to take you down a river of discovery, it’s "Naturalists in Paradise; Wallace, Bates and Spruce in the Amazon," by explorer John Hemming, former director of the Royal Geographical Society.When I first opened this book, I felt a little trepidation. I was intrigued by the topic of Victorian naturalists on the Amazon, but at first glance, the book seemed as dense as jungle undergrowth. But like an explorer on the Amazon, I plunged forward on this journey and ended up pleasantly surprised. I didn’t need a machete to get through it after all. Yes, an editor’s red pen should have split a few hundred paragraphs into shorter ones, but I found the writing quite good.Hemming, a world authority on the Amazon, clearly loves these three naturalists, Alfred Russel Wallace, Henry Walter Bates and Richard Spruce. As I got into the book, I began to understand each as human beings with distinct personalities, strengths and foibles.As the men explored the Amazon and some of its many tributaries, I followed them on the book’s map. The book describes their adventures and discoveries without bogging the lay reader down with scientific data. Hemming is very good at looking at the broader picture and the context of the time they lived in.If you are interested in this topic, you will finish this book with new insight. I had to come to terms with the fact that collecting and studying specimens during that time usually meant killing the creature or cutting down the magnificent tree. I think the book could have addressed this issue better for most readers who do not have the scientist’s pragmatic perspective.The only moment was when the book quoted Spruce: “It was long before I could overcome a feeling of compunction at having to destroy a magnificent tree merely for the sake of gathering its flowers.” Hemming went on to write, “He finally overcame his qualms about this vandalism by reasoning that it was in the interest of science … “To help readers understand that point, the book needed words like those of my amateur naturalist brother: “These earlier naturalists were never ever less intended than the most ecologically sensitive and life-intended naturalists of the 21st century. For all the sacrifice of these individual specimens, we now have the knowledge to fight for the survival of the thousands of yet unknown species as well as the inevitable survival of our own species.”
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. This author has a fantastic way with words By Richard Hahn This book is truly outstanding. This author has a fantastic way with words. Let me explain. I have had the good fortune to have been in this area on two different occasions----both as a tourist---about 25 and 30 years ago so as I read this book, I visualize myself as the three men in the story. The time of this book was about year 1850 and I was fascinated by the authors vivid descriptions such as tile on a houses roof as I wasn't sure if tile was even invented at that time but I guess it was. Also, the part about hiring Indians to paddle the canoes and the first thing that I thought about was our own capitalistic system in which the wealthier people today do similar things. I also noted remarks about different classes and races of people in those days as well as a good deal of intermarriage which takes place today. I have to comment on the foods that were eaten especially Brazilian nuts as I learned some time ago that Brazilian nuts are supposed to be one of the most nutricious foods that we can possibly eat today. Although I am not especially interested in insects and butterflies---this author makes this part so descriptive and interesting that it is hard to put the book down.This Author John Hemming in my opinion has an absolute winner.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Should be read by everyone interested in the Amazon, ... By Mark Plotkin Should be read by everyone interested in the Amazon, tropical travel, field biology and the theory of evolution. Check out my detailed review in the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2015/05/14/ca79319a-d49e-11e4-ab77-9646eea6a4c7_story.html
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