The Malay Archipelago - Softcover

Wallace, Alfred Russel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 9358019387 ISBN 13: 9789358019384

Publisher: Double 9 Books LLP, 2023

Synopsis

"The Malay Archipelago" is a two-volume book written by British naturalist and explorer Alfred Russel Wallace. The second volume of the book recounts Wallace's travels through the Malay Archipelago (present-day Indonesia, Malaysia, and surrounding areas) between 1854 and 1862. In Volume 2, Wallace continues his exploration of the region, documenting his experiences in New Guinea, the Moluccas, and the Philippines. He describes the diverse flora and fauna he encountered, including rare and exotic species such as the bird-of-paradise and the giant Rafflesia flower. One of the key themes of the book is Wallace's observations on the biogeography of the region, which he saw as a laboratory for the study of evolution. Throughout the book, Wallace also reflects on the impact of colonialism and the exploitation of natural resources in the region and offers insights into the social and cultural practices of the indigenous peoples he encountered.

About this title

About the Author

Alfred Russel Wallace was an English naturalist, explorer, geographer, anthropologist, biologist, and illustrator who lived from 8 January 1823 to 7 November 1913. His own development of the theory of evolution through natural selection is what made him most famous. Charles Darwin's earlier papers on the subject were also excerpted in his 1858 paper, which was published in the same year. In response, Darwin rapidly wrote an abstract of the "great species book" he was composing, which he then published in 1859 as "On the Origin of Species. Beginning in the Amazon River basin, Wallace conducted considerable fieldwork. The Wallace Line, which divides the Indonesian archipelago into two distinct parts and is now known as the Wallace Line, was discovered by him while conducting fieldwork in the Malay Archipelago. In the western portion, where the animals are large and of Asian origin, and in the eastern portion, where the fauna reflects Australasia. He is frequently referred to as the "father of biogeography," or more specifically, of zoogeography, and was thought to be the foremost authority on the geographic distribution of animal species in the 19th century.

Edition details

• Publisher: Double 9 Books LLP
• Publication date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9358019387
• ISBN 13: 9789358019384
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 231