Empire, Gender, and Bio-geography: Charlotte Wheeler-Cuffe and Colonial Burma

This book explores the relationships between empire, natural history, and gender in the production of geographical knowledge and its translation between colonial Burma and Britain. It focuses on the work of Charlotte Wheeler-Cuffe, a plant collector, botanical illustrator, and naturalist who worked in the tropics from 1897 to 1921. It highlights her production of scientific knowledge about Burma in the context of her relationship with local, indigenous actors and details her practice of fieldwork and its embodied geographies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 27 July 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the intricate connections between empire, natural history, and gender in the production and translation of geographical knowledge in colonial Burma and Britain. Focusing on the remarkable work of Charlotte Wheeler-Cuffe, a plant collector, botanical illustrator, and naturalist, the book showcases how natural history was practiced and produced by a woman working in the tropics from 1897 to 1921. Through a comprehensive analysis of the extensive and under-studied archive of private and official correspondence, diaries, sketchbooks, photographs, paintings, and plant lists of Wheeler-Cuffe, the book offers a groundbreaking perspective on the invisible historical geographies that underpin scientific knowledge production. By centering on the role of a female actor in the complex gendered setting of colonial Burma, this book reconceptualizes female agency beyond authorship and publication, emphasizing how Wheeler-Cuffe represents an instantiation of the often overlooked contribution of women to the historiography of natural history.

In this captivating exploration, the book highlights Wheeler-Cuffes remarkable production of scientific knowledge about Burma within the context of her relationship as a white Western woman with local, indigenous actors. It delves into the details of her practice of fieldwork and its embodied geographies in various parts of Burma, all while maintaining the domestic superstructure of a colonial wife. The book sheds light on the ways in which Wheeler-Cuffe navigated the complexities of colonialism and gender roles, while also contributing significantly to the field of natural history.

This book will appeal to advanced-level students and researchers in historical and cultural geography, the history of science, feminist geography, women and natural history, colonial Burma and imperialism, and botanical art and illustration. It offers a rich and nuanced understanding of the interconnections between empire, natural history, and gender, providing valuable insights into the past and the ongoing relevance of these themes in our contemporary world.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367743932