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The Thief at the End of the World : Rubber, Power, and the Seeds of Empire

The Thief at the End of the World : Rubber, Power, and the Seeds of Empire Paperback - 2009

by Joe Jackson

  • Used
  • very good
  • Paperback

The amazing tale of one of history's most daring acts ofbiopiracy-and how it changed history

In this thrilling real-life account of bravery,greed, obsession, and ultimate betrayal, award-winning writer JoeJackson brings to life the story of fortune hunter Henry Wickhamand his collaboration with the empire that fueled, then abandonedhim. In 1876, Wickham smuggled 70,000 rubber tree seeds outof the rainforests of Brazil and delivered them to VictorianEngland's most prestigious scientists at Kew Gardens. The storyof how Wickham got his hands on those seeds-and the history-makingconsequences-is the stuff of legend. The Thief at the End ofthe World is an exciting true story of reckless courage and ambitionthat perfectly captures the essential nature of Great Britain's colonialadventure in South America.

Description

Penguin Publishing Group, 2009. Paperback. Very Good. Disclaimer:A copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. Pages are intact and are not marred by notes or highlighting, but may contain a neat previous owner name. The spine remains undamaged. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Used - Very Good
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Details

  • Title The Thief at the End of the World : Rubber, Power, and the Seeds of Empire
  • Author Joe Jackson
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition Reprint
  • Condition Used - Very Good
  • Pages 432
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Penguin Publishing Group, E Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.A.
  • Date 2009
  • Features Bibliography, Glossary, Index, Price on Product - Canadian, Table of Contents
  • Bookseller's Inventory # G0143114611I4N00
  • ISBN 9780143114611 / 0143114611
  • Weight 0.78 lbs (0.35 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.38 x 5.48 x 0.97 in (21.29 x 13.92 x 2.46 cm)
  • Ages 18 to UP years
  • Grade levels 13 - UP
  • Themes
    • Chronological Period: 19th Century
    • Chronological Period: 1851-1899
    • Cultural Region: British
    • Cultural Region: Latin America
  • Dewey Decimal Code 338.476

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Summary

The amazing tale of one of history's most daring acts of biopiracy-and how it changed history

In this thrilling real-life account of bravery, greed, obsession, and ultimate betrayal, award- winning writer Joe Jackson brings to life the story of fortune hunter Henry Wickham and his collaboration with the empire that fueled, then abandoned him. In 1876, Wickham smuggled 70,000 rubber tree seeds out of the rainforests of Brazil and delivered them to Victorian England's most prestigious scientists at Kew Gardens. The story of how Wickham got his hands on those seeds-and the history-making consequences-is the stuff of legend. The Thief at the End of the World is an exciting true story of reckless courage and ambition that perfectly captures the essential nature of Great Britain's colonial adventure in South America.

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Media reviews

"Joe Jackson has written a compelling story of science and politics."
-The Dallas Morning News

"An exhilarating narrative, sweeping us through great discoveries and international rivalries."
-Jenny Uglow, author of The Lunar Men

About the author

Joe Jackson is the author of four works of nonfiction and a novel. He was an investigative reporter for the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot for 12 years, covering criminal justice and the state's death row. He lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He can be reached through his website, joejacksonbooks.com.