Die Abenteuer des Alexander von Humboldt
Graphic Novel by Andrea Wulf / illustrated by Lillian Melcher
A while ago, my sister lent me her copy of Andrea Wulf's biography of Alexander von Humboldt. Clicking here will take you to my review of that great book.
Recently, she found out that there is a graphic novel about Humboldt's adventures, written by the same author and illustrated by Lillian Melcher.
She ordered it and lent me the book when I was housebound last week because of a cold. Her clever reasoning was that, if I had something to really capture my attention, I would take more time off work and get more rest, which in turn would help me getting well soon.
Of course she was right (mothers and big sisters often are), and I thoroughly enjoyed the book, not only because I'd read the biography relatively recently.
As a kid, I loved comics. Well, I loved ALL books, really, and still do. I simply loved reading, and comics were for reading AND looking at pictures. Graphic novels are like that, too, although I understand they intend to be a bit more than a comic.
In this case, just holding the book in your hands will appeal to the true bibliophile - it is big and relatively heavy, beautifully made with cover shimmering with brass and copper, and a dark green ribbon serving as a book sign. Most pages look like collages, and the author explains that they used facsimiles of Humboldt's diaries and letters as well as photos of the plants and other things he and his companions collected during their expeditions.
Here is an example of a double page:
The book focuses on Humboldt's South American adventures, touching his visit to the (very young) United States of America only briefly, and mentioning his other travels and work more or less to add context to what is described in more detail.
It is a book I can recommend to anyone, no matter whether they are interested in Natural Science or not. It makes great reading but is not too "heavy".
Once again, a big Thank You to my sister for lending me her copy (and therefore contributing to my health)!
I treasure the moment I realised I could read, which I remember clearly. We had learnt at school, of course, but I picked up one of my uncle's comics at my grandma's (he was 11 years older than me), and read it all through. Which comic? I'm not sure: Radio Fun, The Dandy, I think The Eagle would have been too old for me. He had a lot because Grandma sold them in her shop.
ReplyDeleteI can not remember the exact moment when I could read, but rather think it was a gradual (although not lengthy) process. My sister is a year older than me, and when she started school, I was envious of her. Our Dad had installed a large blackboard in our downstairs playroom, and we had coloured chalk for it. In the afternoons, I pestered my sister to play school with me, and she basically repeated with me what she had learned at school in the morning. That’s how I learned, a year before I started school, and I am forever grateful to my sister.
DeleteIt helped that our parents had been reading to us regularly.
Nice memories.
DeleteI remembered the comic I was reading at the time was Knockout. In my head I've been at my grandma's all night reading comics!
Nice memories, too!
DeleteWe were limited to Dennis the Menace comics...good times.
DeleteMelania Trump's new book is available and now on the bestseller list. More than likely she and President Trump will be back in the White House soon, this is destined to become a collector item given his likely comeback.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely not a book I‘ll put on my wish list for Christmas.
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