Incidents of Travel in Yucatan

Rating:
Summary: Stephens, "et al..." a disappointment
Review: (Is there a way to give it no stars?)

A great disappointment to fans of Stephens and Catherwood. If you're looking for the real thing - this isn't it.

More properly titled:

"Karl Akerman's Unfortunate Abridgment of Stephens' and Catherwood's Incidents of Travel in Yucatan," this 286 page compilation is abridged, elided, and largely meaningless for anyone wishing to get the look and feel of the 600 pages of the two original volumes brilliantly written and illustrated by John Lloyd Stephens And Frederick Catherwood.

This book barely resembles the two original books, as it's missing a tremendous amount of historically styled and interesting text - and around 100 of Catherwood's exquisite drawings.

Go hunt down the Dover two volume edition - gladly pay the price - and settle in for a stunning read that hasn't been repurposed as an overview for the modern casual traveler to the Yucatan.

Rating:
Summary: Stephens, "et al..." a disappointment
Review: (Is there a way to give it no stars?)

A great disappointment to fans of Stephens and Catherwood. If you're looking for the real thing - this isn't it.

More properly titled:

"Karl Akerman's Unfortunate Abridgment of Stephens' and Catherwood's Incidents of Travel in Yucatan," this 286 page compilation is abridged, elided, and largely meaningless for anyone wishing to get the look and feel of the 600 pages of the two original volumes brilliantly written and illustrated by John Lloyd Stephens And Frederick Catherwood.

This book barely resembles the two original books, as it's missing a tremendous amount of historically styled and interesting text - and around 100 of Catherwood's exquisite drawings.

Go hunt down the Dover two volume edition - gladly pay the price - and settle in for a stunning read that hasn't been repurposed as an overview for the modern casual traveler to the Yucatan.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing journey
Review: I cannot believe that I read this book. I started because of a long trip and there was nothing else handy. Take my word for it, as travel memoirs go this one is among the best; Lewis and Clark included. I was quite ingrossed with the whole story.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing journey
Review: If you have ever been or are planning a trip to the ruin sites of the Yucatan this is a must read book! written over 150 years ago it still holds up today. It is a fascinating look at the early exploration of the Ancient Mayan cities lost to the jungle. Reading this book will make your trip much more enjoyable and educational. On a lighter note, I also recommend the thriller "A Tourist in the Yucatan" set in the modern day yucatan--nothing to heavy, but a good beach read.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent and amazing
Review: If you have ever been or are planning a trip to the ruin sites of the Yucatan this is a must read book! written over 150 years ago it still holds up today. It is a fascinating look at the early exploration of the Ancient Mayan cities lost to the jungle. Reading this book will make your trip much more enjoyable and educational. On a lighter note, I also recommend the thriller "A Tourist in the Yucatan" set in the modern day yucatan--nothing to heavy, but a good beach read.

Rating:
Summary: Adventure Travel at its Zenith
Review: The original book is great reading for the style with which Stephens writes, for the view of the life at those times in Mexico, for the view of the life of the Indians, and for the sheer adventure of moving through the jungle, fighting malaria, to track down ancient ruins in the 1800s at a time when what is now the "Mayan Riviera" was only myth and rumor. The drawings by Catherwood are fascinating, and the whole adventure is more amazing for being a true story.
This edition has been significantly edited by Ackerman, I think lessening the power of the original, which at the moment is not sold by Amazon, but this edition combines the two books into one. 5 stars for the Stephens/Catherwood book, 3 for this version of it.