Penny Van Oosterzee

Without too much thinking about it, I had assumed that this was an adaptation of Alfred Wallace's writings about the biological dividing line between Asia and the Australian plate. However, I was wrong. It is a completely new work by Penny van Oosterzee which, of course, draws heavily on Wallace's own work. It has inspired me to read one of the books that I have by Wallace ...which remains unread on my shelves (somewhere). Just have to find it...then find the time to read.
Penny has done a good job with this book. She integrates the main findings: the abrupt change in mammal species between Bali and Lombok, changes in bird species and freshwater fish, the geological history of the various plates and the deep water dividing the various plates. One thing that I found rather interesting was that what is now West Burma (Myanmar) was once part of the Australian Plate ...up to about 200 m years ago. I wonder whether there are any traces in the vegetation or fossil record of similarities. I was also fascinated by the fact that Wallace spent so long on the tiny Island of Ternate ....which was such an important spice source (cloves) at the time. I wonder what it's like now? Just Googled it. Some mention of old Portuguese forts and lovely scenery...but no mention of Wallace and the part Ternate played in one of the greatest ideas of the century. In the process, Penny gives us a fairly sympathetic picture of Wallace. Hard working; driven by curiosity, living in extraordinarily primitive surroundings yet apparently putting up with it all with his characteristic sense of humour. He doesn't seem to be at all put out by having his "great idea"; First ....The Sarawak Law...."that every species has come into existence coincident both in time and space with a pre-existing closely allied species".....and then in 1858 his paper "On the tendency of varieties to depart Indefinitely from the original type"...which outlined the manner of the origin of species by natural selection....shared with Charles Darwin. The author describes him as "chuffed because he had been welcomed into the select fraternity of naturalists whose interests took them beyond the mere description of series."
Penny includes a rather sad epilogue where she visits Ambon...where Wallace had described the clarity of the water and the beautiful coral and fishes....now she only saw through the cloudy water a rubbish tip of lifeless coral...the rest had been dredged and used as fill. I enjoyed the book...especially the descriptions of Mt Kinabalu which I have climbed myself and Wallace's experiences climbing similar mountains in Java. I'm left with a profound admiration for Wallace; for his energy, his drive, his inventiveness and his sense of adventure. Thanks Penny.… (mere)

The title of this book lures you in, but soon you're reading about the unearthing of Peking Man. Since this was, at the time, the most famous discovery of hominid fossils ever, the details become quite absorbing for the reader.

Ancient Chinese apothecaries believed that the teeth of dragons could be used as medicine for epilepsy and madness. They could also calm the soul. Thus, the book starts with a decent historical perspective and then moves into the Boxer Rebellion, which in turn introduces us to the archaeologists who made the famous fossil discovery.

This really is an enthralling read. It's also a nice book, with good typeset and perfect for holding with one hand while balancing the other on commuter train grips.

"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time"

Book Season = Summer (makes you want to sign up for an expedition dig)… (mere)