The Lost Amazon /anglais

by Schultes

In 1941 Richard Evans Schultes took a term's leave of absence from Harvard University and disappeared into the north west Amazon of Colombia. Twelve years later, he returned having gone places no outsider had ever been, mapping uncharted rivers and living among two dozen Indian tribes while collecting some thirty thousand botanical specimens, including two thousand novel medicinal plants and three hundred species new to science. The greatest Amazonian botanical explorer of the twentieth century, Schultes was not only a living link to the great naturalists of the Victorian age, but the world authority on toxic, medicinal and hallucinogenic plants. The Lost Amazon is the first major publication to examine Richard Evans Schultes's work through his photographs. Over the course of two decades, he took more than ten thousand images of plants, of landscapes, and of the indigenous peoples with whom he lived. Among his collection are images of teonanacatl, the sacred hallucinogenic mushrooms knows to the Aztecs as Flesh of the Gods, and whose identification sparked the psychdelic era. There are also photographs from the heart of the rain forest, a mantle of green that once stretched across the entire continent. Most importantly, there are portraits of many people never before photographed, lovingly and respectfully captured in moments of unguarded innocence that reflect his deep relationships with the native peoples.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, History, Science, Photography, Nature, Amazon

Paperback

First published October 1, 2004

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully-illustrated book with an equally as idyllic biography on Richard Evans Schultes, an ethnobotanist who arguably had the greatest impact on his field of study in the Amazon. As I read biographies like this I fall in love with what the Amazon represents for humanity— it is a tough terrain and yet the birthplace of such a wide variety of flora and fauna, not to mention a hearth for very unique, beautiful indigenous peoples with intriguing culture and knowledge.

Aside from the constant idolizing of psychedelics by the obsessive and acolyte author Wade Davis—the only flaw of the book—I believe this story is a unique one. Schultes’s devotion to his work and love of the people he learned from is evident.

The photographs are absolutely beautiful and are a testament to the real Amazon—out of fire and tribulation comes hardened steel; out of the Amazon comes hardened but doubtlessly beautiful ecology and peoples.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh. Why did Schultes have to get stuck with Wade Davis as his biographer? The photos are beautiful. Schultes' stories always fascinating. But the use of language indicating the indigenous pertained or belonged to him, such as "a near fatal attack of malaria that forced his Indians to carry him" is shameful and nauseating to read in a book republished in 2016. Also inexcusable is Davis' continual failure to understand that no "discovery" occurs by Schultes when an indigenous shaman takes him on a hike, shows him a plant, and then tells him what its uses are.

[Brad Mundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Davis’ paean to Schulte is a wonderful read. His description of Schulte’s travels in Colombia and the Amazon basin is detailed yet entertaining. And Schulte’s beautiful photographs depict a world that has been lost.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. Not what I thought it would be about. I just grabbed it on the way out of the library. But once I got into the book, I was stunned at that with man, Richard Schultes, did and how he lived. Unarmed he went into the Amazon and found vegetation that could benefit human kind. He also was allowed to participate in rituals with psychedelic plants that only one tribe used for pleasure not just as part as a ceremony. All this he did going in without a gun and became a hero to the indigenous people. Fascinating.

[kometman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful. One River is my favorite nonfiction book, and this volume brought back vivid memories of Shultes' Amazonian adventure. Wade Davis' prose is second to none and it is present here in its full glory. The photos are incredible and it's astounding that they were taken over 70 years ago.

The book is great for those who loved One River as well as for those who didn't read it yet - who will surely want to after reading this.

[Wendelle]

About the life and photographs of ethnobotanist Richard Evans Schultes. Dr. Evan's spent years in the Amazon hunting for new medical plants and becoming acquainted with the Amazon natives, in contrast to colonialists who exploited them for labor and rubber, and flogged, set on fire, and set on fire the orifices of, Indian women they had raped.

'The best thing a caucasian man could be said to do here is that he did not kill an Indian out of boredom' - a local Catholic priest of the time.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remarkable photographic account of Richard Evans Schultes's ethnobotanical expeditions in the Amazon between 1940 and 1951. Large black and white images of enormous trees, hallucinogenic plants, rituals and water, water everywhere. The accompanying biographical essay, written by Schultes's student, Wade Davis, is also excellent.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting semi-biography of Richard Schultz’s. He spent years in the Amazon researching both anecdotally and internally plants for their medical properties . In doing so he became very respected among the peoples there.

[Bret Blosser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great photos and anecdotes from Schultes' adventurous years on the back rivers.

[Ocean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning photography! Just a beautiful book to own.

[Jan P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black and white photos taken by Ethobotanist Richard Evans Schultes during the years he explored the Amazon for rare and undiscovered plants.

[Vitalina Uribe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este libro ofrece una aproximación a la riqueza ednobotánica de la amazonía colombiana desde una doble mirada extranjera. Una muestra de cómo los locales hemos sido miopes y no hemos podido ver la enorme riqueza que poseemos.
Para románticos de la sabiduría indígena, las pinceladas sobre sus formas de vida son escasas, pero el foco en el contraste de esos dos mundos (el "occidental" y el indígena), en el serio interés de un foráneo en descubrir la otredad, son inspiradoras y contagiosas. Pocos nos acercamos con tal respeto y genuino interés a estas comunidades para aprender de ellos desde la humildad como Schultes. De la apatía temo que hoy estemos pasando al extremo opuesto de apropiación cultural.
También es una ventana para darnos cuenta de todo lo que tiene la selva y el mundo natural para ofrecernos, como dependemos de ella y la importancia de conocerla, valorarla y respetarla.
Para los apasionados viajeros, expedicionarios, aventureros y "descubridores", el personaje de Schultes resulta icónico y muy inspirador.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting story with beautiful photographs. The only issue I had with it was the language used; Schultes was called the "discoverer" of everything, even when he was clearly led to different plants by native people who had been using them for centuries. The author at one point also said "his Indians" as if Schultes had servants or owned the people he travelled with. It came off as supremacist, even though I felt as if Schultes himself wouldn't have been like that. Still loved learning this man's story.

[Andrew Mossberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wade Davis' photographic tribute to Richard Schultes and his explorations of South America and ethnobotanic discoveries. A great collection of photos many of which have only been published in this book.

[Aubrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging read, taps into the history of the rubber trade and beautiful stories of indigenous plant knowledge. Well worth picking up.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collected photographs of ethnobotanist Richard Evans Schultes' trips through the Amazonian rain forest. A strange but beautiful encounter.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful images; reminded me of Ansel Adams. Photographers will want this on their coffee tables.

[Brian Derbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a trip.