Robin Hanburytenison

Wilful destruction of a world wonder

Robin Hanbury-Tenison reviews John Hemming's account of the Amazon

issue 26 April 2008

This is the ‘Compleat History of the Amazon’: everything you ever wanted to know about the biggest and most important environment left on earth, and it’s a rattling good yarn at the same time. The spread of subjects and themes is as wide and diverse as the geographical area itself. It ranges from ethical issues — man’s inhumanity to man and the gratuitous destruction of priceless species and ecosystems — to the riveting history of those who discovered, exploited, plundered, studied, fell in love with and then, through insatiable greed, brought to its knees the richest culmination of all that nature could achieve.

John Hemming has the rare gift of interpreting wide and complex subjects for the lay reader. His writing is always elegant and interesting, every page full of fascinating information.

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