Book Talk: Alexander von Humboldt – The Whole World in 250 Essays

Free, please RSVP: Alexander von Humboldt – The Whole World in 250 Essays. Tickets, Thu, Sep 11, 2025 at 6:30 PM | Eventbrite

Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859), German naturalist, anthropologist and travel writer, is well-known for his explorations of the Americas and of Russia, for his ascension of Mount Chimborazo, and for his contributions to the understanding of man-made climate change. Though he is cited today as the “father of environmentalism,” many of his works have not been accessible since his death, especially his numerous papers, articles, and essays published in journals, newspapers, and magazines all over the world. Humboldt’s international reception was unparalleled during his time, with publications spanning across five continents in fifteen languages, and his work influenced generations of writers—from Darwin, Poe, Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman to Carpentier, Reyes, Aira, Galeano, and García Márquez. Humboldt’s corpus consists of 750 individual texts, published in 3,600 versions and translations across more than 1,200 periodicals during his lifetime, with 250 of theses texts now appearing in English with the American Philosophical Society in two volumes.

Containing groundbreaking scientific insights into tropical ecosystems, postcolonial societies, and the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples, Humboldt’s work not only inspired research within the halls of academia but also informed the discourse of thinkers, writers, and natural scientists worldwide. We will discuss Alexander von Humboldt as a researcher and writer, but also as an artist and public intellectual.

Oliver Lubrich, Professor of Comparative Literature at the University of Bern in Switzerland and editor, will guide us through the world and writings of Alexander von Humboldt.

In cooperation with the Goethe Book Club.

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