My Wish Lists Login / Join

Constantine Samuel Rafinesque

A Voice in the American Wilderness

By: Leonard Warren

Write A Review

Hardcover | 23 July 2004

At a Glance

Hardcover
272 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
23.5 x 15.88 x 1.91

Hardcover

$97.75

or 4 interest-free payments of $24.44 with

Ships in 5 to 10 business days

Constantine Samuel Rafinesque was a quintessential nineteenth-century American scientist and naturalist. Exalted by some, cursed by others, Rafinesque gave Latin names to over 6,700 plant species, was acknowledged by Darwin for his early insights into biological variation, and is frequently mentioned in the great natural history archives. Yet he has been almost forgotten in our own day. During his long career, which included some five years as an innovative professor at Transylvania University in Kentucky, Rafinesque's colorful and sometimes difficult personality led to troubles with his colleagues. In Constantine Samuel Rafinesque, the first full-length biography of this brilliant, original, and misunderstood naturalist, Leonard Warren presents a fair and surprising look at Rafinesque's life and contributions to the world of science.

Industry Reviews

"A balanced and informative biography." -- Journal of the History of Biology

"A comprehensive and readable biography of this remarkable and complex man." -- Northern Kentucky Heritage

"A well-written book about a fascinating and misunderstood naturalist.... All readers interested in the people who practice science will enjoy it. Recommended." -- Choice

"One of the most exhilarating characters in American frontier history, a legend in scientific circles rivaled only by Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyon, Davy Crockett, or Daniel Boone in others." -- Southern Seen, Clarksville (VA) News-Progress, Union City (TN) Messenger, Woodfo

"Rafinesque was plagued by the flaws of his personality, often undone by the sheer breadth and depth of his interest.... An engaging academic biography of a sad enigma." -- Lexington Herald-Leader

"The reader comes away from this work satisfied that Rafinesque at last has found the biographer he deserves.... Will interest all those curious about science in early America" -- Indiana Magazine of History

"Warren's easy style combined with Rafinesque's always entertaining, if not somewhat tragic, adventures make for a quick and informative read." -- Academia

"Well-organized and engagingly written-Warren has done impressive research into all of Rafinesque's endeavors: botany, zoology, ethnography, linguistics, geography." -- Karen Reeds, Princeton Research Forum

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $79.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.

Defective items

If there is a problem with any of the items received for your order then the Booktopia Customer Care team is ready to assist you.

For more info please visit our Help Centre.

You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Biographies & True Stories Biographies Science, Technology & Medicine Biographies Nature & The Natural World Historical, Political and Military Biographies History Regional & National History History of the Americas Science Science in General History of Science

Earliest Times to Present Day Modern History from 1700 to 1900

In the beginning	p. 6
The newcomer in botanical paradise, 1802-1805	p. 13
Sicily, 1805-1815	p. 35
American science and natural history in Rafinesque's time	p. 49
Return to America, 1815-1818	p. 56
Going West, 1818	p. 71
Kentucky, 1819-1826	p. 79
The world of finance and banking	p. 100
Travels and farewell to Lexington	p. 109
The medicine man	p. 117
History, archaeology, and linguistics	p. 127
Walam Olum	p. 148
Botany and zoology	p. 156
Last years in Philadelphia	p. 171
Last days	p. 192
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.

Constantine Samuel Rafinesque

A Voice in the American Wilderness

At a Glance

Hardcover

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

More in Nature & The Natural World

The Story of Birds

An Evolutionary History of the Dinosaurs That Live Among Us

The Book of Birds

A Field Guide to Wonder and Loss

Outdoor Kids in an Inside World

Getting Your Family Out of the House and Radically Engaged with Nature

Bob the Robin

A true story of the friendship between one man and Britain's favourite garden bird

Lunacy

Ten False Promises of the New Space Age

The Mushroomery

Grow, harvest and cook incredible mushrooms

Honeybees

The Wonders of the Hive and How to Help Them Thrive

Wonderfully Weird Creatures of the World

Canis dingo

Understanding Australia's Apex Predator

The Crystal Bible: Volume 1

Definitive Guide to Over 200 Crystals

Let's Go Stargazing

Lonely Planet Kids

The Kew Gardener's Guide to Growing Trees

The Art and Science to grow with confidence

An Immense World

How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us

299 Dogs (and a cat) - A Canine Cluster Puzzle

300-Dog-Shaped Pieces

A Life on Our Planet

My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future

Resident Dog

Incredible Homes and the Dogs That Live There

The Wind in the Willows - 90th Anniversary Gift Edition

Swainston's Fishes of Australia

The complete illustrated guide

Tina

The Dog Who Changed the World

That's Not My Dog

Usborne Touchy-Feely Baby Book

The Compact Australian Bird Guide

Knowledge Encyclopedia Human Body!

DK Knowledge Encyclopedia

Australian Magpie : 2nd Edition

Biology and Behaviour of an Unusual Songbird

The Australian Bird Guide

Revised Edition

This product is categorised by