The acclaimed Prussian naturalist Alexander von Humboldt
(1769-1859) was referred to by Charles Darwin as 'the greatest
scientific traveller who ever lived'. Several of his works were in
the library aboard the Beagle, including the multi-volume Personal
Narrative of Travels, two books on geology and Tableaux de la
nature (all reissued in the Cambridge Library Collection). Darwin's
copy of this two-volume 1811 New York edition of Humboldt's
Political Essay (originally published in French earlier that year)
is inscribed 'Buenos Ayres', suggesting he acquired it there in
1832-3, without its accompanying atlas (forthcoming). Humboldt had
spent a year in Mexico in 1803-4, and was struck by its
'civilization' as compared to regions of South America that he had
visited earlier on his expedition. Volume 1 of his account contains
a 'geographical introduction' and discussions of physical
geography, agriculture, and the ethnic diversity, distribution and
health of the population.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!