Voyages of Discovery: A visual celebration of ten of the greatest natural history expeditions

Description

Voyages of Discovery is a mesmerising visual record of ten of the world's most significant natural history expeditions. Superb artworks and photographs spanning three centuries document advances and watersheds in the field of natural science. The stories behind these images - of explorers, naturalists, artists and photographers - entwine into a fascinating study of human achievement and natural wonder. Among the many stories of adventure and great scientific endeavour are: Sir Hans Sloane's journey to Jamaica in 1687; James Cook's perilous Pacific crossings; and Darwin's historic voyage aboard HMS Beagle. Hand-picked from the vast Library of the Natural History Museum, London, the illustrations and artworks contained here form a rare collection, most of which have been presented for the first time in this stunning book.

Tony Rice received a PhD in Marine Biology from the University of Liverpool. He worked as curator of crustacea at the Natural History Museum, London, then spent 26 years leading the deep-sea benthic biology team at the Natural Environment Research Council's Institute of Oceanographic Sciences. He now concentrates on writing books and acting as a marine environmental consultant.

'It's difficult to resist attacking this book with a pair of scissors. Not because it's bad - far from it - but because so many of the illustrations whisper 'Cut me out and stick me on the wall over the mantelpiece.'' Royal Geographical Society 'Nature lovers should enjoy Voyages of Discovery with hundreds of naturalist drawings.' USA Today