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gentlemanjeff's review
4.0
"The Posthumous Revenge of a Forgotten Explorer" is the name of just one of the many essays and writings vindicating the work of Paul du Chaillu, whose impact on naturalism and science has been severely underappreciated. Monte Reel renders historical events in vivid, impactful prose describing connections with and influences on luminaries including Humboldt, Audubon, Darwin, PT Barnum, Charles Dickens, JM Barrie, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Arthur Conan Doyle and Abraham Lincoln. The author describes the explorer's ill-fated journeys with an immediacy and personal investment that makes the underlying adventure thrilling, in addition to the fascinating historical context he provides. His respect and appreciation for indigenous culture, history, environment and wildlife are apparent throughout. If you're looking for an author who can illuminate a historical account, look no further. Pull on your wellies and join Paul du Chaillu Between Man and Beast. If you enjoy this book, Reel's study of tribal life in the Amazon, The Last of the Tribe is essential reading.
marct22's review
5.0
This is really a biography of the now unknown explorer Paul Du Chaillu as he gets caught up in the great evolution debate. It is a real page turner, a quick yet enjoyable read! He was of French descent, spent much time as a child in Africa, and as a young man, undertook an amazing journey into the unknown (at least from a European/American perspective), interacting with various African tribes, encountering exotic insects, plants, and animals, including the gorilla, of which the only evidence known to western scientists was bones. Then the fun begins. I won't add any spoilers! Highly recommended as a quick, entertaining, and providing insight into the scientific and cultural environment of his time.
shawntowner's review
3.0
The parts of the book that deal with adventurer in equatorial Africa and hunting gorilla are wonderful. Reel's mixture of narrative storytelling and information gleaned from primary documents make for a riveting history. The middle part of the book, where explorer/"discoverer" of the gorilla Paul Du Chaillu goes from darling to pariah amongst the London intellectual social set, is less engaging. There are some interesting facts about the reception of Darwinism and London's first lending library and its influence on the Victorian publishing industry, but there are so many people involved, only a few who are described in any real detail, that it takes away from excitement of the 'jungle' sections. Still a good read though, and a testament to the interrelation of knowledge and storytelling.
sheahbartlett's review
3.0
This book started off rather intriguing, but grew boring in the middle. At times, it felt like the narrative dragged. However, I did enjoy the overall writing style. I never knew the discovery of the gorilla was so interesting and dramatic!
rainys's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book that takes on the little known story of Paul Du Chaillu who is attributed for the popularity of “The Great White Hunter” and gorilla characters in the late 1800’s. I have studied biology and have read many mainstream primatology books. I will be adding this one to my collection. Many of the major characters described by Monte Reel (like Darwin, Huxley and Owen) are all men that are famously referenced in history and biology texts but I had never recalled mentions of Paul Du Chaillu. I am glad that I was introduced to this influential, colorful and unfamiliar man.
Du Chaillu is an interesting character who balanced himself between a variety of cultures in Africa, America and Europe. Monet Reel makes Du Chaillu’s story alive with some dramatic descriptions of events (drama that Paul himself would enjoy reading) that draws in the reader. But the content is often word for word from primary sources of newspapers, private letters and known historical events bringing validity and historical accuracy to the book. I enjoyed how Reel paced the story of Du Chaillu’s life by dividing the book up into individual stories and subjects that add up to the greater picture. I also appreciated how the historical setting was highlighted as so the reader can understand exactly what had drove people to act the way they did.
I have recently read The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle and had attributed Du Chaillu’s adventures in Africa as an inspiration for Doyle’s novel early on in Reel’s book. Major themes that permeate The Lost World are influenced by the political state of London’s natural and exploration clubs, as well as popular attitudes of the great white hunter in the jungle. Reel mentioned this connection in the epilogue and it was fun to see that I recognized the connection.
Du Chaillu is an interesting character who balanced himself between a variety of cultures in Africa, America and Europe. Monet Reel makes Du Chaillu’s story alive with some dramatic descriptions of events (drama that Paul himself would enjoy reading) that draws in the reader. But the content is often word for word from primary sources of newspapers, private letters and known historical events bringing validity and historical accuracy to the book. I enjoyed how Reel paced the story of Du Chaillu’s life by dividing the book up into individual stories and subjects that add up to the greater picture. I also appreciated how the historical setting was highlighted as so the reader can understand exactly what had drove people to act the way they did.
I have recently read The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle and had attributed Du Chaillu’s adventures in Africa as an inspiration for Doyle’s novel early on in Reel’s book. Major themes that permeate The Lost World are influenced by the political state of London’s natural and exploration clubs, as well as popular attitudes of the great white hunter in the jungle. Reel mentioned this connection in the epilogue and it was fun to see that I recognized the connection.
daviddiamond's review
3.0
How appropriate I finished this book on Darwin Day! I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the book and its depiction of 19th century equatorial Africa. Equally interesting was 19th century NYC and London. The hunt for the "mysterious" gorilla (at this point in history, no white man had ever seen) was thrilling, although the depiction of shooting and capturing gorillas was a bit hard to stomach. The bickering and backstabbing amongst the leading scientists of the day became a bit tedious and seemed to go on forever. Paul du Chaillu, the central figure of the story, is an interesting individual who spent much of his life defending his work while at the same time keeping his own origins a mystery.
lizabethstucker's review
4.0
One of the biggest surprises upon joining GoodReads was the possibility of winning a chance to read a book before it is released to the public. I scrolled through a selection of books that, while probably decent enough reads, didn't catch my attention until I saw this one. It is about the search for the gorilla, a creature of myth and legend, and the man who found it, Paul Du Chaillu. It is also about the rivalries, jealousy and general nastiness of accredited scientists and naturalists toward a man who was essentially an amateur. A familiar story, but this one occurred in 1856.
This is essentially a who's who of scientists, including Charles Darwin among so many others. Du Chaillu's success in bringing a dead gorilla back from Gabon came just as Darwin's theories of evolution began to gain attention. The similarities between that animal and humans started a firestorm among scientists, both religious and non-religious.
I felt so much pity for Du Chaillu, a young man who just wanted to reinvent himself, preferably as an American. His true parentage, class, and background all were fodder for the yellow journalists of the time, aided and abetted by the men who he most wanted to be respected by. Sadly he is largely unknown today, so it is wonderful that Reel brings his story to the f
forefront of scientific history again. A man of his time and upbringing, Du Chaillu was remarkable in that he began to question much of the practices and beliefs of the time, including slavery and the natives he met and worked with during his travels.
I would seriously recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in any of the men behind some of the most important, even controversial, discoveries.
This is essentially a who's who of scientists, including Charles Darwin among so many others. Du Chaillu's success in bringing a dead gorilla back from Gabon came just as Darwin's theories of evolution began to gain attention. The similarities between that animal and humans started a firestorm among scientists, both religious and non-religious.
I felt so much pity for Du Chaillu, a young man who just wanted to reinvent himself, preferably as an American. His true parentage, class, and background all were fodder for the yellow journalists of the time, aided and abetted by the men who he most wanted to be respected by. Sadly he is largely unknown today, so it is wonderful that Reel brings his story to the f
forefront of scientific history again. A man of his time and upbringing, Du Chaillu was remarkable in that he began to question much of the practices and beliefs of the time, including slavery and the natives he met and worked with during his travels.
I would seriously recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in any of the men behind some of the most important, even controversial, discoveries.
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
Whether it's true or not, I loved Paul Du Chaillu's narrative-I'd never heard of him before and now want to read his books- and the cast of Victorian characters Mr. Reel introduced me to in telling this story.