**A breathtakingly illustrated and brilliantly evocative recounting of
Alexander Von Humboldt's five-year expedition in South America--from the
author of Magnificent Rebels and New York Times bestseller *The
Invention of Nature.
Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was an intrepid explorer and the most
famous scientist of his age. His restless life was packed with adventure
and discovery, but his most revolutionary idea was a radical vision of
nature as a complex and interconnected global force that does not exist
for the use of humankind alone. His theories and ideas were profoundly
influenced by a five-year exploration of South America. Now Andrea Wulf
partners with artist Lillian Melcher to bring this daring expedition to
life, complete with excerpts from Humboldt's own diaries, atlases, and
publications. She gives us an intimate portrait of the man who predicted
human-induced climate change, fashioned poetic narrative out of
scientific observation, and influenced iconic figures such as Simón
Bolívar, Thomas Jefferson, Charles Darwin, and John Muir. This gorgeous
account of the expedition not only shows how Humboldt honed his
groundbreaking understanding of the natural world but also illuminates
the man and his passion