Synopses & Reviews
In the late 16th century, Dutch beachcomber Adriaen Coenen scanned the beaches of Holland for interesting marine material and produced several illustrated manuscripts of his findings, covering anything from the commonplace herring to the exotic moonfish. Coenen's work contains the earliest European pictures of whales, naandiuml;ve but easily identifiable, which makes it a rare visual and textual source for the natural world of his day.
The Whale Book offers a representative selection of more than 100 pages from Coenenand#8217;s manuscripts that deal mainly, though not exclusively, with whales. Coenenand#8217;s charming, lively watercolors are reproduced in color alongside translations of his texts, and both are accompanied by modern marine-biological identifications and observations that amplify and explain his work, setting it within the wider context of this period in Northern European history.
The Whale Book will appeal to all those interested in the natural world and the preservation of threatened marine wildlife, as well as those active in the fields of cultural history, art and the natural sciences. In addition, readers will gain unexpected insights into the experiences of an everyday figure caught up in the events of a turbulent period in Dutch history.
Review
"No reviewer can do justice to this eclectic collection."
Review
"This book is one of the yearand#8217;s glorious oddities. Based on the writings and watercolors of 16th-century Dutch beachcomber and autodidact Adriaen Coenen, it reproduces, with lively commentary, what are probably the worldand#8217;s oldest manuscripts on European whales and marine animals."
Review
"Offers unique insights both in to the marine life of the North Sea in the 16th century and into the myths that, in those days, still held water."
Review
"Coenen created a rare collection of early zoological observations, accompanied by a wealth of anecdotes, legends and cultural histories. . . . It gives a fascinating insight, not just into the social life of the period but its popular beliefs--from monsters to mermaids."
Review
"A captivating book."--History Today History Today
Review
"A captivating book."
Synopsis
In the late 16th century, Dutch beachcomber Adriaen Coenen produced several illustrated manuscripts of his findings, the first ever European natural history of marine animals. In The Whale Book, a selection of Coenens lively watercolors, mainly depicting whales, are reproduced in color alongside Coenen's texts, and both are accompanied by modern marine identifications and observations.
About the Author
Florike Egmond is a cultural historian specializing in 16th-century natural history. She works at the Dutch National Archive in The Hague, The Netherlands.
Peter Mason has published widely on representations of the exotic, including The Lives of Images (Reaktion Books, 2001).
Kees Lankester is an expert in marine biology, fisheries management and ocean wildlife.