火山：大地之怒

by Maurice Krafft, 莊安祺 (Translator)

叢書系列：發現之旅 29

自古以來，人類一直想要解釋地震和火山爆發的神秘自然現象。在歷史上，各個文化最有影響力的知名學者都找出各種奇怪的理由來說明這種奧祕。紐西蘭的毛利族（Maori）認為，火山和地震之神羅奧摩柯（Ruaumoko）在母親低頭餵奶時，不小心被壓入地下，此後他就不斷咆哮，並且噴出火焰。

人們總以為，火山爆發的原因是因地球內部的火焰，但來源為何？約在兩千四百年前，希臘哲人亞里斯多德（Aristotle）認為，和緩的地震來自於地球內部的風吹出洞穴而來，而嚴重的地震則是由吹入地下洞窟的大風造成的，人們對亞里斯多德之說的信仰又延續了兩千年。

火山顫抖著，嚎叫著。火山迸裂，爆發。大地為何抽搐，人類百思不得其解。是火神伏耳甘在地下煉鐵？是神祇相鬥的結果？還是大地生氣了？火山學起步並不晚，20世紀初就已有了科學認識，但是，現代人仍無法精確預測火山爆發的時刻。請跟隨火山學家克拉夫特一同進入火山的世界，聽聽古代關係火山的浪漫傳說，瞭解歷來研究火山的重大進展。

致倫敦皇家協會主席普林格爾騎士

先生：

回國之後，對於維蘇威火山和火山周圍的古老火山物質，我仍念念不忘。我深信，若要準確描繪出一個奇妙的地方，又是向那些從來不曾身歷其竟的人描繪，光靠簡單的語言是不夠的。所以，我請來一位大不列顛的天才藝術家，法布里斯先生（Pierre Fabris），畫下我信中提到的有趣景致。這些畫的色彩逼真，生動重現了火山的外觀和內景，包括維蘇威、索爾法塔爾和那不勒斯附近的火山。另外，他也畫下了我所採得的各種火山物質標本，諸如熔岩、凝灰岩、浮石、火山岩、硫磺、氯化鈉等。先生，經您之手，請容我獻上此書給皇家協會，協會收下它是非常恰當的。

您謙卑的僕人，漢密爾頓（William Hamilton）

-作者簡介-
Maurice Krafft
生於1946年3月25日。地質學家暨火山學家。1968年，他和妻子──地球化學家卡蒂亞（Katia），建立伏爾甘火山學研究中心，專事研究火山爆發現象。25年裡，他們考察幾百座火山，觀察150餘次火山爆發的情景。寫下20多本火山專著，拍攝了五部紀錄片。同時，他們還建立世上藏書最多的火山學圖書館，收集大量有關火山的圖片。1991年6月3日，夫妻倆拍攝日本云仙岳（Unzen）爆發時，不幸罹難。

-譯者簡介-
莊安祺
台灣大學外文系畢業，美國印地安納大學英美文學碩士，現任職傳播媒體。譯作有《愛之旅》、《感官之旅》、《大地怒吼》、《AQ》、《7 種 IQ》等。

-目錄-
第一章：神話和傳說
第二章：從地下風到沸騰的黃鐵礦
第三章：水成論和火成論之爭
第四章：第一代火山學家
第五章：隆起火山口與現代火山學
見證與文獻
火山活動大事紀
圖片目錄與出處
索引

Genres: Science, Reference, Nonfiction, Nature, Geography

204 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Saz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Krafft has a truly unique ability to portray the beauty of volcanoes, which he has done through his films, and in this book, using other people's accounts of them to paint them in a very romantic way, whilst still truly capturing the danger of them.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

Not entirely what I was expecting (a more "factual" geological exploration of volcanoes), but interesting nonetheless. The history of science and myth as interlinked processes is very abundantly on display in the context of volcanoes, and the evolution of our understanding of them was very interesting. I think I wish this had more input from Kraft himself, and maybe a little bit more linking some of the (very interesting in their own right!) historical accounts of volcanoes. The latter half in particular felt a bit of a slog to get through, with one short historical account after the other, sometimes with only tenuous links.

[xuma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I had been expecting, but enjoyable once I’d accepted that! I had assumed this book would approach volcanoes from a more geological stance, but the perspective taken, is a historical one. How volcanoes were perceived/explained in the past, and the road to better understanding how they work (notably the Neptunism vs Plutonism war) and all the incorrect theories we made along the way. A great history of humankind’s research on, and bafflement with, volcanoes (+ generously filled with illustrations on every page).

[zim · Rating 4 out of 5]

the jumbled layout (variating with each new page) took a while for me to get used to and it’s honestly the largest issue i have with the book overall .
but that aside , it was not what i was expecting , it was very fascinating to read about the mythology surrounding volcanoes , as well as real accounts of eruptions in the latter part of the book.
i can really feel the passion of krafft , and i am encouraged to find out more about him . there are some really simple yet beautiful sentences in the book that have stuck with me , it was a very enjoyable read .

[Alfie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just excellent! My little niche interest (the Kraffts) comes to volcanic fruition. The illustrations (borrowed) here are particularly enchanting.

Some bits of clunky (translational) writing, but otherwise informative, daunting, spellbinding, spooky.

Great material for storytelling…

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad I dontlive near a volcano though they are cool