The Humboldt Current: Nineteenth-Century Exploration and the Roots of American Environmentalism
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.27 (534 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0143111922 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 496 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2016-08-11 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
(Aug.)Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. In this timely read, he even documents the naturalist impulse in writers such as Thoreau, Whitman and, surprisingly, Poe. From Publishers Weekly American history of the 19th century is dominated by the Civil War, the expansion to the Pacific and the push to industrialization, but it is worth recalling the prominent interest in natural history in the U.S., a movement of which the tremendously popular Prussian scientist Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859) was more or less the first practitioner. The author chooses four explorer-naturalists—J.N. . All rights reserved. Sachs cannily divides the book into the four points of the compass, addressing East (Europe's influence), South (excursions to Antarctica), West (exploring the frontier) and North (failed attempts to conquer the North Pole). This ambitious subject is admirably tackled in this complexly
A skillful blend of narrative and interpretation that also discusses Humboldt?s influence on Emerson, Whitman, Thoreau, Melville, and Poe, The Humboldt Current offers a colorful, passionate, and superbly written reinterpretation of nineteenth-century American history.. N. Reynolds, Clarence King, George Wallace, and John Muir?who embraced Humboldt?s idea of a ?chain of connection? uniting all peoples and all environments. A masterly and beautifully written account of the impact of Alexander von Humboldt on nineteenth-century American history and culture The naturalist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt (1769?1859) achieved unparalleled fame in his own time. In The Humboldt Current, Aaron Sachs traces Humboldt?s pervasive influence on American history through examining the work of four explorers?J. Today, however, he and his enormous legacy to American thought are virtually unknown
A Terrific Book After glancing at the previous review, I decided that I must weigh in on this book. I read The Humboldt Current right after it was published. I found it effective on various levels. First, it allows us to understand Humboldt and his desire for a unified view of the natural world. Second, it tak. Thomas A. Potter said Rich and informative. With the recent upsurge of interest of Alexander von Humboldt, Aaron Sachs provides an important review of the lasting influence of the man and his ecological influence. It is amazing that for years this great scientist/explorer was lost to the increasingly specialized pursuit of knowledge abou. "The spirit of Humboldt lives to this day" according to Luigi Fernandez. In an era of specialized science, when most practitioners of the field attempt to understand the mechanisms underlying natural phenomena down to the last detail, it may be difficult to have a grasp of the big picture and embrace a holistic approach to nature and the universe as Alexander von Hu