Overview

From the mid-eighteenth century to the early twentieth, a colorful band of amateur naturalists explored the most perilous corners of the planet to discover new life-forms. Amid globe-spanning tales of adventure, Richard Conniff recounts a dramatic historical shift, as humans finally discovered the pantheon of life on Earth-and our place within it.

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9780393341324

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Reviews

A marvelous tribute to the age of wonder.--Bernd Heinrich, author of The Nesting Season

...marvellous book... Manjit Kumar, Financial Times ...a refreshingly original book... V.S. Ramachandran, Big Reads 2010, New Scientist ...deftly written... will delight and inform... The Guardian An enduring story bursting at the seams with intriguing, fantastical and disturbing anecdotes. New Scientist The Species Seekers still brilliantly evokes that just-before-Darwin era... BBC Focus A brilliant history of amateur naturalists' invaluable work. BBC Wildlife ...highlights how new discoveries generate... breakthroughs. Nature Seldom have so many of their [freelance collectors] travails been recounted in one volume, much less with such narrative skill, poignancy and good humour. TLS Richard Conniff provides a thoroughly entertaining series of adventure stories... Richard Fortey, TLS Books of the Year 2011 Overall the book is an engrossing and intriguing read that's sure to pique the interest of many a budding naturalist or historian in equal measure. Real Travel ...fascinating book... Wanderlust A meticulously researched and witty tale of the history of natural history... Grrl Scientist ...excellent narrative...This thoroughly enjoyable book should be a classic for anyone interested in the history of natural history. School Science Review

Author Information

Richard Coniff, a Guggenheim Fellow and winner of the National Magazine Award, writes for Smithsonian and National Geographic and is a frequent commentator on NPR's All Things Considered and a guest columnist for the New York Times. His books include The Natural History of the Rich, Swimming with Piranhas at Feeding Time, and The Species Seekers. He lives in Old Lyme, Connecticut.

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