This is a spectacular edition of the well-known description of Cuba by the enlightened sage, Alexander von Humboldt, produced on the bicentennial of the German’s meeting with Charles IV at Aranjuez, where he secured the authorization to undertake his voyage to America. One of the outstanding scientists of the eighteenth century and a model of the universal man that graced the era, Humboldt left behind a poignant account of life in Spain’s dynamic island colony. Attracting widespread interest over the years, the ensayo político has undergone several editions but none more elaborate than this effort.
Humboldt’s travels spanned five years and included two visits to Cuba, the first for three months bridging 1800 – 1, the second for one and one half months during his return to Europe in 1804. Humboldt’s perceptive description of Cuba’s geography, its dynamic economy, and its repressive society has stood the test of time. His...
