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Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas & Yucatan
An instant best-seller when first published in 1841, Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan by John Lloyd Stephens, with illustrations by Frederick Catherwood, continues to draw readers who want to see the ruins of Copan, Quirigua, Palenque, and Uxmal as this American lawyer and British artist first saw them on muleback more than 150 years ago. Although Stephens and Catherwood traveled without maps into the wilds of a region gripped by civil war, their detailed descriptions and drawings of the great "lost" civilization gave birth to Maya archaeology and led many others to follow in their footsteps.
This new edition brings the best of both Stephens's narrative and Catherwood's drawings into a single volume with an added selection of photographs - many never before published - that expand a reader's view of the Maya ruins, the cities and scenes along the journey, and the native peoples whose cultures endure today. The illustrations include nineteenth-century scenes by the renowned photographer Eadweard Muybridge, portraits of Guatemalan Indians from the Smithsonian's Emilio Herbruger collection, and Osbert Salvin's early photos of Copan. More recent photographs of Guatemala by Jacques and Parney VanKirk and of the Lacandon in Mexico by Gertrude Duby Blom capture the timeless nature of the lands of the Maya that persists into the twentieth century.
Now enhanced with historical and modern photographs, this new, one-volume edition of Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan is organized for the traveler by place and omits descriptions of Stephens's voyages to and from the region and his short trips to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, as well as some long historical digressions and anecdotes. It will remain a classic of travel literature and Maya archaeology.
This new edition brings the best of both Stephens's narrative and Catherwood's drawings into a single volume with an added selection of photographs - many never before published - that expand a reader's view of the Maya ruins, the cities and scenes along the journey, and the native peoples whose cultures endure today. The illustrations include nineteenth-century scenes by the renowned photographer Eadweard Muybridge, portraits of Guatemalan Indians from the Smithsonian's Emilio Herbruger collection, and Osbert Salvin's early photos of Copan. More recent photographs of Guatemala by Jacques and Parney VanKirk and of the Lacandon in Mexico by Gertrude Duby Blom capture the timeless nature of the lands of the Maya that persists into the twentieth century.
Now enhanced with historical and modern photographs, this new, one-volume edition of Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan is organized for the traveler by place and omits descriptions of Stephens's voyages to and from the region and his short trips to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, as well as some long historical digressions and anecdotes. It will remain a classic of travel literature and Maya archaeology.
270 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1841
64 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
About the author
John Lloyd Stephens
46 books21 followersJohn Lloyd Stephens was an American explorer, writer, and diplomat. Stephens was a pivotal figure in the rediscovery of Maya civilization throughout Middle America and in the planning of the Panama railroad.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 31, 2017
Just wow. What an amazing tale, made all the more amazing because it's true.
Stephens' account of his travels with partner and illustrator Frederick Catherwood reads like an old-fashioned adventure story combined with history and the sheer thrill of discovery as Stephens and Catherwood make their way through Central America during a time of major political upheaval, battling dense jungles, rugged and often impassable terrain, illness, and even sharks while in a leaky boat to do so. I swear, there were times when I seriously wondered how they were ever going to get out alive to make it back home -- that's how tense this narrative got not just once, but several times. It is anything but dull, and is written based on Stephens' keen observational skills, accompanied by Catherwood's famous illustrations, both of which offer snapshots of the people, places and events they'd experienced while they were there. Its true importance though, as William Carlsen so aptly describes in his own book, Jungle of Stone: The True Story of Two Men, Their Extraordinary Journey, and the Discovery of the Lost Civilization of the Maya, is that these two people "altered the world's understanding of human history," and launched major scholarship and archaeological efforts in the region after the publication of this book and Stephens' Incidents of Travel in Yucatan 1-2.
Highly highly recommended for anyone at all interested in the topic, or for readers of travel accounts; it's one I will never forget.
More:
http://www.nonfictionrealstuff.com/20...
Stephens' account of his travels with partner and illustrator Frederick Catherwood reads like an old-fashioned adventure story combined with history and the sheer thrill of discovery as Stephens and Catherwood make their way through Central America during a time of major political upheaval, battling dense jungles, rugged and often impassable terrain, illness, and even sharks while in a leaky boat to do so. I swear, there were times when I seriously wondered how they were ever going to get out alive to make it back home -- that's how tense this narrative got not just once, but several times. It is anything but dull, and is written based on Stephens' keen observational skills, accompanied by Catherwood's famous illustrations, both of which offer snapshots of the people, places and events they'd experienced while they were there. Its true importance though, as William Carlsen so aptly describes in his own book, Jungle of Stone: The True Story of Two Men, Their Extraordinary Journey, and the Discovery of the Lost Civilization of the Maya, is that these two people "altered the world's understanding of human history," and launched major scholarship and archaeological efforts in the region after the publication of this book and Stephens' Incidents of Travel in Yucatan 1-2.
Highly highly recommended for anyone at all interested in the topic, or for readers of travel accounts; it's one I will never forget.
More:
http://www.nonfictionrealstuff.com/20...
September 24, 2020
I love Central American ancient civilization, especially the Maya, since my mother’s side of the family is from Honduras. So settling into this book, I was expecting to love the content, but have to overcome 170-year-old stilted writing, casual racism, and classism. I’m surprised and happy to say that this wasn’t the case, that the writing was very accessible, if a bit dated. Racism wasn’t a problem in the book, and the author didn’t place himself above the people he met along the way. He seems to have been a bit ahead of his time in his thinking, perhaps due to his open-mindedness and passion for exploration.
The accounts of the discovery of long-forgotten Mayan ruins was incredibly exciting. The vivid descriptions did a good job of conveying the mystery and excitement of digging stone monuments out of the overgrown jungle. Also, the artwork by the author’s traveling companion adds a lot to the experience.
The only thing that makes the book distasteful is the author’s occasional admiration for young women. These descriptions are never vulgar or explicit, and are always very brief, but even the tame admiration for young beauty leaves a blemish on an otherwise fun adventure/travel account.
The accounts of the discovery of long-forgotten Mayan ruins was incredibly exciting. The vivid descriptions did a good job of conveying the mystery and excitement of digging stone monuments out of the overgrown jungle. Also, the artwork by the author’s traveling companion adds a lot to the experience.
The only thing that makes the book distasteful is the author’s occasional admiration for young women. These descriptions are never vulgar or explicit, and are always very brief, but even the tame admiration for young beauty leaves a blemish on an otherwise fun adventure/travel account.
December 7, 2019
Very interesting - my favorite part was about Copan.
July 8, 2018
John L. Stephens and Frederick Catherwood traveled to Mexico and Central America in 1839...Stephens wrote the text of his travels and Catherwood sketched what they saw. An incredible, minutely detailed report of everything and everyone they encountered followed. Remind yourself that this guidebook was written almost 180 years ago when a former slave is referred to as "Darkey" and that almost every village and hut was described as "miserable"....and forgive these indiscretions. Too many details and encounters to describe here, this book must be read to be appreciated. Thank you, Professor Heather Chiero, Augusta University, for assigning this book in our Latin American History course. If you are a student of history, or enjoy learning of other cultures, read this book.
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December 2, 2023This would probably have been an excellent travelogue, had it not been for the LYING and CHEATING of the Smithsonian which is responsible for this edition. It says on the cover "New Edition", and the added pictures are good, but you have to dig in to the book to find out that it is actually an abridgement! BOYCOTT books published by the Smithsonian!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews