Andrea Wulf's Blog, page 30
February 5, 2016
Geographical: Alexander von Humboldt and 'infographics'
Here is an article I wrote for the Geographical, the journal of the Royal Geographical Society - about Humboldt as populariser of 'infographics'.
click here for article
February 4, 2016
Spectator: The Invention of Nature
So, here is the nice bit of the review:
���Andrea Wulf has brilliantly resurrected the gifted naturalist and geographer who was once (bar Napoleon) the most famous man in Europe���This magnificent biography has it all ��� this is an exceptional biography of an extraordinary man. Wulf deserves our congratulations���
This is the not so nice bit ��� which is also wrong: ���Andrea Wulf has a firm grasp of the history of science, but not of natural history: there are no apes in South America; anacondas, not boa-constrictors swim past the canoe, and tapirs are not pig-sized.���
The reviewer seems to be criticizing the greatest scientist of his age when he says that anacondas would be swimming next to Humboldt���s canoe. Yes, anacondas swim these rivers but what was I supposed to do, if Humboldt himself described boa constrictors swimming next to him (and as far as I know boas are capable swimmers)? I do like to rely on my primary sources.
There are no apes in South America, agreed, but Humboldt got this wrong (well, his English translator did) when he wrote in Views of Nature of the ���melancholy howling of the small apes��� ��� I should have corrected that in this instance ��� but specifically I only mention howler and titi monkeys. And when it comes to tapirs being pig���sized I'd say it depends upon the pig ��� but of course tapirs are far more beautiful (but that���s my very subjective own opinion).
It���s a fabulous review but since Mr Humboldt was a stickler for details ...
click here for full review
January 30, 2016
Suddeutsche Zeitung: Visionary Sciences
Here is a long article in the Suddeutsche Zeitung (in German) about visionary scientists and endeavours ��� and of course Humboldt plays a big role in it. Lovely to see that the German newspapers have noticed The Invention of Nature.
click here for full article (Humboldt bit starts at the end of page 2)
January 27, 2016
Costa Book Awards 2015
Category winners last night at the Costa Book Awards ceremony.
click here for BBC News report of the ceremony
January 25, 2016
January 20, 2016
Washington Post: Environmental gardening and Humboldt
Adrian Higgins (gardening columnist at the Washington Post) has written a piece about environmental gardening and the roots of ecological thought - with a great big chunk of the article dedicated to Humboldt and The Invention of Nature.
January 19, 2016
The Atlantic Monthly Column: Maria Sibylla Merian
My second column on the history of science for The Atlantic Monthly 'The Woman Who Made Science Beautiful"
New York Times: Bestseller List
Lovely to see The Invention of Nature back on the New York Times Bestseller List this week.
Number 19, hardcover, non-fiction
January 15, 2016
Financial Times: The Invention of Nature
���In one of 2015���s best-selling biographies the author Andrea Wulf has traced the idea in the life of the 18th-century German aristocrat Alexander von Humboldt ��� a fulsome tour of Humboldt and those he influenced ��� She has travelled in Humboldt���s footsteps and made good use of original German evidence. I have much enjoyed my eco-tour through the plant world in her company ��� Wulf does fine justice to his astonishing energy and wonderfully restless mind��� ��� Robin Lane���Fox, Financial Times
click here for review
Christian Science Monitor: The Invention of Nature
���With a rare ability to distill complicated ideas into graceful, pithy prose and a knack for timing: the genesis of our view of the planet has never been so relevant��� ��� Christian Science Monitor
click here for review
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