Humboldt and Jefferson

Sandra Rebok is a postdoctoral research scholar at the Spanish National Research Council in Madrid and a Marie Curie Fellow at the Huntington Library.

The issue of American/European intellectual exchange in the Age of Enlightenment and beyond is wonderfully exemplified in the intertwining of the lives of Jefferson and Humboldt. The timing of the meeting and correspondence of these two men is in such an important era for political and scientific thought that this book will be valuable to readers with a breadth of interests." - Hank Shugart, University of Virginia, author of How the Earthquake Bird Got Its Name and Other Tales of an Unbalanced Nature "In this vibrantly original work, Sandra Rebok explores the personal, scientific, and political exchanges of two of the titans of the Atlantic world in the late Enlightenment era. Drawing upon vast research across several fields of literature, she traces their shared passion for the exploration of the American continent, their thoughts on revolution and social change, and their mutual faith in the progress of science. While Jefferson and Humboldt's approaches to these questions occasionally diverged, their friendship remained secure, and Rebok brilliantly examines this complex relationship in the context of an Atlantic world struggling to reach consensus on the scientific and political implications of "Enlightenment" in a critical period of history." - James R. Sofka, author of Metternich, Jefferson, and the Enlightenment: Statecraft and Political Theory in the Early Nineteenth Century "Based upon years of original research in Europe and the United States, this book is the only sustained study of the relationship of two of the great figures of the Enlightenment. It is illuminating particularly of the neglected scientific interests of Thomas Jefferson. It is important for our broader understanding of the Enlightenment by illustrating in depth the correspondence and exchanges of two leading thinkers across the Atlantic." - Dr. Andrew Jackson O'Shaughnessy, Director of ICJS, Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, author of The Men Who Lost America: British Leadership, the American Revolution and the Fate of the Empire "The book covers his travels and scientific accomplishments, such as his measurement of ocean currents (now known as the Humboldt Current). This work will appeal to historians of science and American historians. An appendix includes correspondence between Humboldt and Jefferson. Useful footnotes and a good bibliography." - J. S. Schwartz ? Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries