Spice Islands Voyage: In Search of Wallace
Publisher,Monsoon Books
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Format, Paperback
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Shelf: GENERAL BOOKS / ASIAN STUDIES / ASIAN HISTORY / POLITICS
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In this remarkable blend of travelogue and historical investigation, Tim Severin sails a traditional Indonesian prahu to follow in the wake of Alfred Russel Wallace, the naturalist who co-developed the theory of evolution with Darwin.
Drawing on Wallace’s The Malay Archipelago as his guide, Severin journeys from the Aru Islands in eastern Indonesia, close to western Papua and northern Australia, to Sulawesi, visiting the Banda and Kei Islands in Indonesia’s Moluccas or Spice Islands and other remote shores still home to rare birds of paradise and bird-winged butterflies. Along the way, he documents rainforest destruction, thriving traditional communities, and hopeful conservation efforts.
Rich in adventure and insight, Spice Islands Voyage celebrates scientific curiosity, cultural encounters, and the fragile beauty of Indonesia’s biodiversity.
About the Author
Tim Severin (1940–2020) was an award-winning explorer, author, and filmmaker. Renowned for retracing legendary journeys, he recreated voyages such as those of Saint Brendan, Sindbad the Sailor, and Jason and the Argonauts. Severin’s books are classics of travel literature, winning the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award, the Book of the Sea Award, and more. His expeditions also inspired acclaimed documentaries screened worldwide.
