Goodreads Rating: 4 stars

Any book that discusses New World exploration, natural history, and art all in one just makes me geek completely out. Living vicariously through this is just the greatest thing ever, and I was very happy NetGalley gave me the opportunity to read this. I will have to see if the library ends up getting a copy of this, so I can request it and hold in its fully glossy-page glory and admire all the artwork again.

This is an essay-based book, so if you're looking for a book that's more picture-laden, then I would look elsewhere (although that isn't to say that the artwork included in here isn't worth a look). Each of the four chapters covers a different time period, from Columbus's arrival to Darwin's exploration of the Americas (mainly South America, but Central America and some Caribbean islands are also in the scope), and they show the gradual evolving of viewpoints of the New World. From seeing the lands as mythical allegories from the Bible, to exploiting the resources, to seeing the land as simply a beautiful thing in itself, it was fascinating to see how viewpoints of the landscape gradually changed over the centuries.

The early centuries of the exploration, when illustrations were typically made by people who had never travelled to the New World, the lands were depicted as curious, frightening, and legendary, and were useful for attracting people to the resources, but not much else. But in later centuries, when illustrations started becoming essential scientific works that were made by scientists or artists who actually travelled through the New World, the lands started being recognized for the beauty, as well as for their useful resources. These later artists helped to grow the Linnaean system of classification of plants through their tireless attention to details in their gorgeous color plates. Without the thousands of plates these artists made, focusing specifically on the parts of plants, it would have taken a very, very long time for the Linnaean system to become a comprehensive one, if ever.

The essays did focus a lot on simply describing many of the artworks that were included in the book, and it did seem a bit redundant--I can see the painting right here on the next page, I don't need you to describe it so I can imagine it! However by including these point by point descriptions of many of the larger works, it lent itself to a more critical analysis of the artwork from an art history standpoint as well. Many of the works could be seen as examples of the common art styles and cultural ideas of the time, and by pointing out why something was (or wasn't) included, helps the reader to understand not just the natural history view, but the art styles of the time, and by extension, many cultural and societal norms of the time.

It always amazes me how art and art history can be applied to almost every discipline, from the most serious analytical sciences, to the most typical liberal arts, and this book is no different. These aren't just pretty pictures, these works can tell a complete narrative of the New World.

A gorgeous collection of images of South America over the centuries - highly recommend to anyone with an interest in South American History.

This is a beautifully illustrated book. The illustrations and maps are a trip back through time as the European World discovers Latin America for the first time. Explorers bring back descriptions of the exotic plants and animals and the artist try and bring them to life for those in Europe. I really enjoyed reading about these early explorations. Enjoy this armchair journey.

I have to admit that I was expecting more pictures in this book. Instead, I found myself reading essays about how different explorers interpreted Latin American flora and fauna via artwork. The book also mentions the economic opportunities found in crops such as tobacco, cacao, and even those insects that produce red dye. For me, the most fascinating part was seeing how different animals and fruits evolved from barely identifiable in the earlier depictions to easily identifiable, slightly scientific illustrations.

An extraordinary intellectual journey into the representations of Latin America in over 150 maps, landscape and still life paintings and illustrated manuscripts. Noteworthy is that the depictions are also connected visually and through the written background material to the European heritage which shaped the original perception and interpretation of this part of the world.

I was expecting a different type of book then what I got. The book is more or less marketed as a book of photos depicting Latin America. There are quite a few pictures don't get me wrong, but the pictures themselves do not really tell the story as with most photography books.

The book is interesting don't get me wrong. It is like a book of essays on the birth and life of Latin America Flora and Fauna. There are 4 chapters in this book. Each chapter covers a different time period ranging over 400 years.

The book may not of been what I was expecting but it is a good book just the same, once you change your mindset.

I think I expected something different -- a focus more on illustrations of the 'visual voyages', however this book seemed more of a history textbook. It contains a lot more information (text) rather than the images I expected. Still an informative resource, yet it seems to be for very specific readers than just a 'coffee table book'.

A collection of images showing how the area now known as Latin America was depicted and understood abroad. It is also clear how much the region impacted European culture (various fruits, chocolate, and tobacco are a few examples). Note: although the blurb appears to situate the book in a solely European framework ("Columbus to... Darwin"), indigenous people are acknowledged and discussed in the earlier chapters.