This is one of the finest books that I have ever had the great pleasure to read and enjoy. It is the story of Alexander von Humbolt (1769-1859)who was a famous scientist and one of the greatest men in history. One of the last truly universal men, Humbolt was personally acquainted with Goethe, Jefferson, Napolean, Josephine, Cuvier, Laplace, Frederick the Great, Pitt, Schiller, Bismark, Simon Bolivar, and so many others. But his personal acquaintenances are only part of the story. This was a fascinating and unique man who lived in a richly historical time, which this book sheds much light upon.

Humbolt was born in Prussia but spent much of his adult life in his beloved Paris. He traveled through parts of South America, Mexico, North America, Europe and part of Asia, making contributions to man's knowledge of science all along the way and becoming world famous in the process. Humbolt was a man of towering intellect, strong determination to succeed, and boundless energy. He laid the foundations for such fields as modern physical geography. Several terms he coined (such as "Jurassic") are still in use today and he wrote many thousands of pages in his books, including Cosmos, a monumental effort to describe a unified vision of the universe. As scientist and explorer, Humbolt left his name on the maps of 5 continents. There is even a moon crater named after him. He held the world high-altitude climbing record for 30 years.

Humbolt was also a kind, gentle man with liberal democratic views, a fondness for the principles of the 1789 revolution, a belief in the equality of all races, and a strong distaste for slavery. As a diplomat in troubled times, he worked for the benefit of both the strong and the weak. He was a dedicated patron and supporter of struggling young scientists and helped many, such as Louis Agassiz to survive in their early years even when he himself struggled to make ends meet. Humbolt was a man far ahead of his time in many ways and was justifyably admired by thousands all over the world.

Botting's treatment of his subject is respectful, at times reverential, and always interesting. The author also explores the contributions and lives of Humbolt's companions such as Aime Bonpland, and his brother Wilhelm von Humbolt.

The book is lavishly illustrated with a vast number of both color and black and white plates. It is hard to find but well worth the effort!

A vast oceanic current is named after Humboldt, and it's not for nothing. This comprehensive multi-volume tome is thoroughly entertaining. The inquisitive insights of Humboldt are well worth contemplating.

While I read it many years ago, it's something I won't forget. The vivid anecdotes Humboldt recounts make this work a veritable page turner at times.

I have to admit that just as I was starting to savour this thin slip of a book I found that it was, indeed, mere selections. The whole narrative is actually three volumes, over four hundred pages a volume. I was left with a craven empty feeling like a fiend for his needle. Humboldt's writing presages Thoreau and through him ponders the transcendent raptures of the natural world. Reading through the visit to the Caribs reminded me of my visits to the Grenadines where their presence is still redolent in the shadows under the almond trees. I felt that I had imbibed the same air as Humboldt.

Alexander von Humboldt (of the Current fame) was a famous polymath during the age of enlightenment. Like many noblemen, he used his money and leisure time in esoteric pursuits, such as collecting flora & fauna and trying to find the deeper meaning of it all.

This particular volume has been well-translated from the original - there is none of that stilted 'I haf von the Cherman translated been' style - it reads conversationally (assisted by the editing-out of long passages where Humboldt takes one of his many diversions) yet it also gives us an idea of what the man was really like. There is an extensive set of notes at the back, not just references, but elaboration of the point, which I found very illuminating.

His travels to South America span 5 years, during which time he collects and measures EVERYTHING - for at this time in history, no-one knew what was going to be pertinent or useful to science or economy. There are some amazing descriptions where he was the first educated person to see places; the problems of travel in uncharted, trackless & mountainous country make terrific reading. We may scoff at the zeal of the man, but if Hiram Bingham hadn't done the same, we wouldn't have the fantastic ruins of Macchu Picchu to study.

We also learn of the relatively tight circle of 'scientists' at that time - almost everyone knew everyone else, either via letters, Society writings or personal contact - and they knew it all; there was as yet no division between geology, biology, zoology etc - it was just 'Natural Philosophy' and one studied the lot (of course some dedicated themselves to a favourite pursuit). What is amazing to us now is the most simple things were unknown; for example, a sailor at death's door deep in the bowels of the ship, 'miraculously' recovers when taken on deck, out of the fetid miasma of the orlop - well, who wouldn't?... There are many similar incidents.

Slightly heavy going at times, because of the writing style of the period, it is nevertheless chock full of interesting snippets and amazing discoveries, giving a great insight into the mind and motives of a typical adventurous philosopher of the time. *****