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Voyage of the Beagle: Darwin's Extraordinary Adventure Aboard Fitzroy's Famous Survey Ship
The bicentennial of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of his ground-breaking publication On the Origin of Species will be celebrated throughout the world in 2009 with major exhibitions and a major motion picture about his life. Author James Taylor commemorates the anniversaries with a book that takes the title of one of Darwin's great works to present an updated and comprehensively illustrated version of the travels of the Beagle. He includes a full history of the storied vessel and the complete plans and designs of the ship, along with biographies of Darwin and Capt. Robert Fitzroy, paintings, portraits, caricatures, photographs, artifacts, and journal extracts. In compiling this extraordinary wealth of materials, Taylor has woven together all strands of the Beagle story to produce a thoroughly engaging and highly informative book that will appeal to everyone, from scientists to art lovers and students of history.
- GenresNonfiction
192 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 30, 2019
interesting book on the voyage of the HMS beagle with paintings and its in quite some detail
November 16, 2019
rating: 3.5
best suited for readers who already know something about the Beagle and Darwin
Of course, Darwin is mentioned frequently, but the focus is on the ship, the British navy, FitzRoy and the crew, and the voyage itself. In other words, it provides the context for a better understanding of Darwin's adventure.
The illustrations are the strength of the book. The text provides relevant details, but sometimes there are too many names and details about survey ships. (My interest is life aboard the ship, not the ship itself.) On pages 132 and 133 are two paintings by Augustus Earle, the first artist employed by FitzRoy. Earle captures snippets of life between decks, which I haven't seen elsewhere. Included in the pictures are a woman (!) and a primate of some kind. The men are idle and entertaining themselves. Very informal, lots of activity.
Chapter 2, about FitzRoy, includes several pages about the Feugians. On page 49 we're told that...
FitzRoy conveyed the body of a dead Fuegian shot by the crew of the Beagle at March Harbour, ... parts of two others, and 'the prepared skin of the head' of another.
Were these 'specimens' treated like the other non-human species they collected? I'd like to read the original manuscript of the autopsy report.
The specimens were described by John Wilson, the Beagle's surgeon in his autopsy report ... the more expansive and revealing original manuscript (18 pages) is now part of the library collections of the Royal College of Surgeons.
I probably won't read this again, but I will use it for reference.
best suited for readers who already know something about the Beagle and Darwin
Of course, Darwin is mentioned frequently, but the focus is on the ship, the British navy, FitzRoy and the crew, and the voyage itself. In other words, it provides the context for a better understanding of Darwin's adventure.
The illustrations are the strength of the book. The text provides relevant details, but sometimes there are too many names and details about survey ships. (My interest is life aboard the ship, not the ship itself.) On pages 132 and 133 are two paintings by Augustus Earle, the first artist employed by FitzRoy. Earle captures snippets of life between decks, which I haven't seen elsewhere. Included in the pictures are a woman (!) and a primate of some kind. The men are idle and entertaining themselves. Very informal, lots of activity.
Chapter 2, about FitzRoy, includes several pages about the Feugians. On page 49 we're told that...
FitzRoy conveyed the body of a dead Fuegian shot by the crew of the Beagle at March Harbour, ... parts of two others, and 'the prepared skin of the head' of another.
Were these 'specimens' treated like the other non-human species they collected? I'd like to read the original manuscript of the autopsy report.
The specimens were described by John Wilson, the Beagle's surgeon in his autopsy report ... the more expansive and revealing original manuscript (18 pages) is now part of the library collections of the Royal College of Surgeons.
I probably won't read this again, but I will use it for reference.
November 18, 2022
En realidad el libro se titula Darwin: el viaje del Beagle. En sus diversos capítulos se contemplan los orígenes y diseño del barco, la segunda expedición de reconocimiento del Beagle, con el protagonismo de Darwin, pero también incluye información de anteriores viajes de descubrimiento, las vidas y logros su capitán Fitz Roy y de los distintos participantes de la tripulación.
El libro incluye a menudo referencias, citas y relatos de fuentes de primera mano, como diarios personales, cuadernos de bitácora, cartas y manuscritos de Darwin, Fitz Roy, sus oficiales y otros miembros de la tripulación. También cuenta con numerosas ilustraciones, con grabados y pinturas de los paisajes, y reproducciones de cartas marinas, epístolas, etc., así como notas de Darwin acerca de sus descubrimientos. Realmente, ésta es una edición de calidad y cuidada, que combina perfectamente la lectura con lo visual. Muy recomendable para aquellos que gusten de los libros de viajes y la historia natural.
Finalmente, no puedo dejar de apuntar que una de las principales fuentes del libro es la obra que se publicó con el largo y farragoso título de “Relato de los viajes de reconocimiento de las naves de Su Majestad Adventure y Beagle en los años 1826 y 1836, que describe su estudio de las orillas meridionales de Sudamérica y la circunnavegación del globo del Beagle” y que se publicó en Londres en cuatro tomos en 1939. Fitz Roy compiló y editó el primero y escribió el segundo de los volúmenes principales (el cuarto era un largo apéndice). Darwin se encargó del tercero, que llevaba el título de Diario y observaciones, y que posteriormente se publicaría de forma independiente, y, además, después sería revisado y cambiaría su título al que conocemos hoy como El viaje del Beagle.
El libro incluye a menudo referencias, citas y relatos de fuentes de primera mano, como diarios personales, cuadernos de bitácora, cartas y manuscritos de Darwin, Fitz Roy, sus oficiales y otros miembros de la tripulación. También cuenta con numerosas ilustraciones, con grabados y pinturas de los paisajes, y reproducciones de cartas marinas, epístolas, etc., así como notas de Darwin acerca de sus descubrimientos. Realmente, ésta es una edición de calidad y cuidada, que combina perfectamente la lectura con lo visual. Muy recomendable para aquellos que gusten de los libros de viajes y la historia natural.
Finalmente, no puedo dejar de apuntar que una de las principales fuentes del libro es la obra que se publicó con el largo y farragoso título de “Relato de los viajes de reconocimiento de las naves de Su Majestad Adventure y Beagle en los años 1826 y 1836, que describe su estudio de las orillas meridionales de Sudamérica y la circunnavegación del globo del Beagle” y que se publicó en Londres en cuatro tomos en 1939. Fitz Roy compiló y editó el primero y escribió el segundo de los volúmenes principales (el cuarto era un largo apéndice). Darwin se encargó del tercero, que llevaba el título de Diario y observaciones, y que posteriormente se publicaría de forma independiente, y, además, después sería revisado y cambiaría su título al que conocemos hoy como El viaje del Beagle.
February 4, 2018
I picked up this book as a gift to my dad because he likes historical narratives of great maritime expeditions, so this book's beautiful cover and illustrations stood out the moment I saw it.
Many years later, visiting my parents, I again lock in my eyes into this book on a shelf and decided to read it. I was expecting to learn more about Darwin and the theory of evolution and eventually a few curiosities about how a major expedition was handled in the 19th century. However, the narrative does not focus on Darwin and his work, but rather on the preparation and command of the ship. Captain Fitzroy is clearly the protagonist here. It is interesting to realise that it was almost by chance that Darwin made it into this trip in the first place. And the fact that he made it back alive and with enough material and inspiration to develop his theory is much to the credit of the captain obsession for preparation and sacrifice of the crew. Today we know that the evolution theory was being developed simultaneously and independently by other researchers, so it would have surfaced anyway. But the fact that it has Darwin's name on it can be credited as much as to his talent and dedication as to pure luck.
On the bad side, the author's glorification of the captain and British naval history in general is a bit annoying. His long descriptions of family genealogy, titles and societies are tedious and made me realise how closed-minded that group of people was. The evil facts of colonialism, such as the kidnaping of four native Patagonian individuals, are told as an act of benevolence by captain Fitzroy.
Final judgment, not a memorable book but a decent read if you are bored at your parent's place and have nothing better on hand. The illustrations of Brazilian coast areas and old towns of Salvador and Rio de Janeiro alone were worth my time.
Many years later, visiting my parents, I again lock in my eyes into this book on a shelf and decided to read it. I was expecting to learn more about Darwin and the theory of evolution and eventually a few curiosities about how a major expedition was handled in the 19th century. However, the narrative does not focus on Darwin and his work, but rather on the preparation and command of the ship. Captain Fitzroy is clearly the protagonist here. It is interesting to realise that it was almost by chance that Darwin made it into this trip in the first place. And the fact that he made it back alive and with enough material and inspiration to develop his theory is much to the credit of the captain obsession for preparation and sacrifice of the crew. Today we know that the evolution theory was being developed simultaneously and independently by other researchers, so it would have surfaced anyway. But the fact that it has Darwin's name on it can be credited as much as to his talent and dedication as to pure luck.
On the bad side, the author's glorification of the captain and British naval history in general is a bit annoying. His long descriptions of family genealogy, titles and societies are tedious and made me realise how closed-minded that group of people was. The evil facts of colonialism, such as the kidnaping of four native Patagonian individuals, are told as an act of benevolence by captain Fitzroy.
Final judgment, not a memorable book but a decent read if you are bored at your parent's place and have nothing better on hand. The illustrations of Brazilian coast areas and old towns of Salvador and Rio de Janeiro alone were worth my time.
August 24, 2009
Not to be confused with Darwins "Voyage" text, Taylor offers a fine illustrated book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews