Reviews for Exploration of the Valley of the Amazon, 1851-1852

The average rating for Exploration of the Valley of the Amazon, 1851-1852 based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2016-03-30 00:00:00 Les Gelber Ignore the blurb, which is essentially an ad for editor Kinder's own book about a famous shipwreck. This isn't a popular history but in fact an edited republication of naval officer Herndon's widely-read contemporary account of his travels in the 1850s. Herndon is happily naval-officering along on en route to the Sandwich Islands when he unexpectedly receives new orders, telling him to leave his ship at the next port (Valparaiso) and go explore the Amazon river. The government desires to be put in possession of certain information relating to the valley of the river Amazon, in which term is included the entire basin... and its tributaries. This desire extends not only to the present condition of that valley, with regard to the navigability of its streams; to the the number and condition, both industrial and social, of its inhabitants, their trade and products; its climate, soil, and productions, but also to its capacities for cultivation, and to the character and extent of its undeveloped commercial resources. ...The route by which you may reach the Amazon river is left to your discretion. So off he goes! In addition to the comprehensive economic and navigational information he was sent to obtain (which Kinder edits out almost entirely!) Herndon also recorded his observations on local cultures, imperialist practices, social injustices, personalities of people he interacted with, poetry he liked, illness, personal musings and homesickness. I really do wonder what the naval authorities who gave him the assignment thought when they read it.

Review # 2 was written on 2018-10-02 00:00:00 Suzanne Simcox Early exploration was controlled by politics, much like today!