| Return to the Irrawaddy Reprint Edition Contributor(s): Kingdon-Ward, Frank (Author) |
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ISBN: 9745240869 ISBN-13: 9789745240865 Publisher: Orchid Press OUR PRICE: $23.40 Product Type: Paperback Published: January 2019 Annotation: Legendary botanist and explorer, Frank Kingdon-Ward records the details of his last expedition, including a fascinating account of the flora, fauna and human cultures one of the most remote corners of Asia. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Biography & Autobiography | Adventurers & Explorers |
| Dewey: B |
| Series: Bibliotheca Asiatica |
| Physical Information: 0.7" H x 5.9" W x 8.4" (0.85 lbs) 280 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: The legendary botanist and explorer records the details of his last expedition, in 1953, to his beloved northern Burma, prior to his death five years later. Frank Kingdon-Ward combined an insatiable taste for adventure, and the persistence to overcome any danger in his path--not to mention recalcitrant officials who attempted to block it--with the raconteur's gift to recount his adventures in a vivid and often thrilling manner. Rich in description of the unique flora, fauna and tribal customs of this still little-known region, Kingdon-Ward's account covers not only the magnificent rhododendrons and other tropical floral rarities that were the object of his travels, but also the customs of the various tribal groups encountered, the use of plants in local medical practice, the natural occurrence of tea varieties in the region and much more. A last look at a spectacular, then unspoiled, corner of Burma which since has been inaccessible and largely devastated by protracted civil war. |
Contributor Bio(s): Kingdon-Ward, Frank: - Frank Kingdon Ward (1885-1958), OBE, the son of a leading British research botanist and professor, graduated with honours from Cambridge in Natural Sciences. In 1911, he was engaged by a British horticultural firm to collect specimens in Yunnan, an assignment which began for Ward a lifelong career as a professional explorer and plant collector. In all Ward made a total of twenty two expeditions, spanning a period of some forty five years, in western China, northern Burma, Assam and south-eastern Tibet; much of this travel involved extreme hardship, and was undertaken at great risk to his health and personal safety. |