He lives with his wife in yazoo city, mississippi, and san miguel allende, mexico. Though the multivolume book published in english as cosmos is known today if it is known at all as a popular science book about stars, thats a little like saying darwins origin of species is a book about breeding pigeons. Although not one of the titled gentry, he was a major in the prussian army, who had served with the duke of. With cosmos, the book that crowned his career, humboldt offered to the world his vision of humans and nature as integrated halves of a single whole. Humboldts cosmos tells the story of this extraordinary man who was equal parts einstein and livingstone, and of the adventure that defined his life. Personal narrative of travels to the equinoctial regions of the new continent, during the years 17991804, by a. Gerard helferich, a former editor and publisher, is the author of humboldts cosmos. Humboldts kosmos did important cultural work for america. His lengthy latin american journey from 1799 to 1804 was celebrated as the second scientific discovery of south america.
On the diversity of human language construction and its influence on the mental development of the human species. Science, astronomy, history, physical geography, cosmography, cosmology, geology. A scetci of a physical description of the universe. We thank all contributors and participants for their papers and comments, as well as for. A sketch of the physical description of the universe, vol. Personal narrative of travels to the equinoctial regions of america, during the year 17991804. Cosmos began as a lecture series delivered by humboldt at the university of berlin, and was published in five volumes between 1845 and 1862 the fifth was. Published 1847 condition poor copy in the original stiffcard wrappers. His research was published in a large series of volumes over 21 years. Humboldts lyrical style of writing influenced the subsequent genre of nature writing as well as many of the towering figures of the romantic movement. Twice a year, the editorial team reports on humboldtians and their exciting research as well as on crosscutting topics from the scientific, diplomatic and international arenas.
Some 2,300 collaborative research partnerships between international and german researchers each year. The not present volume v contains apart from an index of over pages, corrections and addenda, edited from the authors papers by buschmann. Gerard helferich vividly recounts humboldts expedition through the amazon and over the andes, highlighting his paradigmchanging discoveries along the way. We thank all contributors and participants for their papers and comments, as. From the americas to the cosmos find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. In it, humboldt espoused the idea that, while the universe. Text remains in fine condition and without blemish. He was raised by his mother after the age of nine his father, a prussian military officer, died in 1779. A sketch of a physical description of the universe is an influential treatise on science and nature written by the german scientist and explorer. Cosmos began as a lecture series delivered by humboldt at the university of berlin, and was published in five volumes between. The word cosmos humboldt resurrected from greek, where it means beauty and order. Publication date 18751876 topics astronomy, physical geography, science publisher. Such a view miscalculates the broad impact humboldt had on american literature and art.
From the americas to the cosmos, held at the graduate center of the city university of new york on oct. Humboldts wanderlust led him across europe and to south america, mexico, the u. A sketch of the physical description of the universe vols. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. His descriptive and critical analysis of the island paints the picture of a tropical paradise with a complex social. Humboldt kosmos magazine of the humboldt foundation. I can not more appropriately introduce the cosmos than by presenting a brief sketch of the life of its illustrious author. This librivox recording is of the introduction to cosmos. He was a friend and collaborator of goethe and his associates in the german romantic literary and scientific movement, and trained with abraham gottlob werner, europes leading practitioner of mineralogy and geognosy.
Humboldt s wanderlust led him across europe and to south america, mexico, the u. Over 240 employees network with over 29,000 humboldtians in more than 140 countries worldwide, including 55 nobel prize winners. The exact date is not known, but the conversation took place in one of several meetings with the president during humboldts visit to washington, d. During his early years, alexander was tutored at home together with his brother wilhelm. The introduction gives a good measure of breadth of humboldts mind and is a pleasure to read or hear because of its literary felicity.
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