Burchell's African Odyssey: Retracing the Return Journey 1812-1815

English botanist William Burchell arrived in Cape Town in 1811 to explore the flora and fauna of the southern African interior. This book traces his return journey to Cape Town, from 1812–1815, through the arid northern Cape, the Great Karoo, the war-ravaged eastern Cape, and along the Eden-like southern Cape coast. It sheds new light on Burchell's character and discoveries and contains information, illustrations, and watercolors not published before.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 22 December 2022
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa

The English botanist William Burchell embarked on a remarkable journey to explore the flora and fauna of the vast southern African interior in June 1811. Over a span of four years, and with the aid of a custom-built ox wagon, he amassed an astonishing collection of 63,000 specimens of plants, bulbs, insects, reptiles, and mammals. These specimens included numerous previously undocumented species for science. In addition to his vast collection of biological specimens, Burchell also brought back over 500 paintings and illustrations, documenting his observations and experiences. While his outbound trek is well documented in his famous book "Travels in the Interior of Southern Africa," there has been limited information published about his return journey to Cape Town. This pioneering book delves into the homeward leg of Burchell's epic odyssey, traversing through the arid northern Cape, the Great Karoo, the war-ravaged eastern Cape, and along the picturesque southern Cape coast. Drawing on primary and secondary sources, including Burchell's letters and the detailed map he created to record his trek, the authors have crafted a thought-provoking and beautifully illustrated account that encompasses both the brilliance of the man and the rich natural history of the region that captivated his imagination.

Sales points:

Fills a significant gap in our knowledge of Burchell's travels in southern Africa.

Sheds new light on Burchell's character and his discoveries.

Contains information, illustrations, and watercolors that have not been published before.

Coincides with the bicentenary of the publication of Vol. 1 of "Travels in the Interior of Southern Africa."

Dimension: 227 x 170 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781775848158