Naturalists in Paradise - Wallace, Bates and Spruce in the Amazon

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.

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.

Product details

• Authors: John Hemming
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.03.2015
• EAN: 9780500252109
• ISBN: 978-0-500-25210-9
• No. of pages: 368
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business; Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / General, HISTORY / Americas (North, Central, South, West Indies), HISTORY / Expeditions & Discoveries, c 1800 to c 1900, 19th century, c 1800 to c 1899, Geographical discovery & exploration, 18th century, c 1700 to c 1799, Life sciences: general issues, History of the Americas, Geographical discovery and exploration, Amazon River, Amazon river and tributaries, Amazon;Travel;Evolution;Exploration;Nature;Ornithology