Author Description

In 1847 Joseph Dalton Hooker (1817-1911) embarked on an expedition to Sikkim in the eastern Hmalaya, where he would discover a huge number of botanical treasures previously unknown in the West. A scientist of breathtaking abiity, Hooker became one of the greatest botanists and explorers of the 19th century, and perhaps the most eminent of the Directors of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. In this fascinating travelogue, author Seamus O'Brien retraces Hooker's footsteps in Sikkim, bringing alive the adventure, dangers and discoveries that he and his companions experienced in the mid-19th century. Seamus tells how Hooker's drive to embark upon this expedition came from a yearning to observe plants in their natural habitats. He described the region as 'a perfect microcosm of the Himalaya.' Following Hooker's trail, the author describes how these places compare to the descriptions made by Hooker 170 years previously, showing in many ways how little Sikkim has changed over the course of time. Hooker was also a highly-skilled goegrapher and cartographer; in Sikkim he created the first comprehensive map of the kingdom, highlighting mountain passes that would become strategically important in the decades that followed. Some of Hooker's maps are reproduced in the book along with his original sketches of landscapes and plants. These illustrations are supplemented throughout with stunning photographs by the author. This is a wonderful celebration of one of the most daring adventures by one of history's greatest scientists, and ideal for anyone fascinated by the flora and history of the region.