Andrea Wulf Boeken

BIOGRAPHY: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & MEDICINE. Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) is the great lost scientist: more things are named after him than anyone else. There are towns, rivers, mountain ranges, the ocean current that runs along the South American coast, there's a penguin, a giant squid - even the Mare Humboldtianum on the moon. His colourful adventures read like something out of a Boy's Own story: Humboldt explored deep into the rainforest, climbed the world's highest volcanoes and inspired princes and presidents, scientists and poets alike. Napoleon was jealous of him; Simon Bolivar's revolution was fuelled by his ideas; Darwin set sail on the Beagle because of Humboldt; and Jules Verne's Captain Nemo owned all his many books. He simply was, as one contemporary put it, 'the greatest man since the Deluge'.

Before Longitude no one remembered John Harrison. The Invention of Nature does the same for Alexander von Humboldt

Focusing on the influential figures in botany, this book explores how certain individuals established Britain as a pivotal center for botanical study and exploration. It delves into their discoveries, contributions, and the impact of their work on the understanding of plants and nature. Through engaging narratives, the author highlights the interplay between science and adventure in the world of botany, revealing how these men shaped the future of the field.

This absorbing and delightful book about 18th-century botanists stands out among histories of plant hunting ... Works superbly Jenny Uglow Sunday Telegraph

A groundbreaking look at the Founding Fathers and their obsession with gardening, agriculture, and botany by the author of Magnificent Rebels and New York Times bestseller The Invention of Nature. • “Illuminating and engrossing.” —The New York Times Book Review For the Founding Fathers, gardening, agriculture, and botany were elemental passions: a conjoined interest as deeply ingrained in their characters as the battle for liberty and a belief in the greatness of their new nation. Founding Gardeners is an exploration of that obsession, telling the story of the revolutionary generation from the unique perspective of their lives as gardeners, plant hobbyists, and farmers. Acclaimed historian Andrea Wulf describes how George Washington wrote letters to his estate manager even as British warships gathered off Staten Island; how a tour of English gardens renewed Thomas Jefferson’s and John Adams’s faith in their fledgling nation; and why James Madison is the forgotten father of environmentalism. Through these and other stories, Wulf reveals a fresh, nuanced portrait of the men who created our nation.

From the Costa Prize-winning author of The Invention of Nature, Magnificent Rebels is a riveting, eye-opening biography of the first Romantics: a revolutionary group of friends based in the small German town of Jena whose modern ideas transformed society and the way we lead our lives today

"A follow-up to the award-winning Andrea Wulf's critically acclaimed history of British gardening, The Founding Gardeners is the story of how George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and James Madison's passion for nature, plants, agriculture and gardens shaped the birth of America"--OCLC

Exploring the lives of the founding fathers, this book offers a unique perspective by focusing on their roles as gardeners, plantsmen, and farmers. It delves into how their agricultural practices and relationships with nature influenced their thoughts and actions, providing an intimate glimpse into their personal lives and the historical context of their time. The narrative highlights the significance of gardening in shaping their identities and philosophies.

On two days in 1761 and 1769 hundreds of astronomers pointed their telescopes towards the skies to observe a rare astronomical event: the transit of Venus across the face of the sun. United by this momentous occasion, scientists from around the globe came together to answer the essential question: how can the universe be measured? In Chasing Venus Andrea Wulf paints a vivid portrait of the rivalries, triumphs and misfortunes that befell these men, along with their passion and determination to succeed. This extraordinary book tells their story and how one single event prompted the first international scientific collaboration.

A stunning historical narrative that reveals 300 years of English culture and society through an exploration of seven great gardens, from Tradescant's designs for Hatfield House to Hampton Court, Chatsworth and Jekyll's famous garden at Hestercombe.