Description

This two-volume natural history of volcanoes and volcanic phenomena was first published in Germany in 1855 by the chemist and mineralogist Georg Landgrebe (1802-1872), and was intended for scientifically literate enthusiasts rather than for specialists. The book begins with a review of contemporary work on volcanoes, explaining the theories of Leopold von Buch and the lively international debates they had generated among scholars including Charles Lyell, George Poulett Scrope and Charles Daubeny (also reissued in this series). Volume 1 lists the world's volcanoes by region, giving details of their altitude, mineralogy, and recent eruptions (including Etna in 1832 and Mount St Helens in September 1842). Volume 2 discusses earthquakes, hot springs and mud volcanoes and focuses in detail on the rocks and minerals found in volcanic regions.