Early modern Europe was avid for information about the rest of the world. The Age of Exploration and colonization had made interest in other cultures more that mere curiosity. New trade routes
were opening and the New World was becoming a place of emigration from the Old. The De Bry family of the Netherlands filled this need through a multi-volume guide the lands and inhabitants of
America, Africa and the Orient. Van Groesen (American and early modern history, University of Amsterdam) has written a monumental analysis of the contents of these volumes and how they helped
shape European views of the rest of the world. He begins with the history of the family company and their search for material. Following chapters discuss the representations of plants and
animals in the various regions and then the human inhabitants. The reinforcement of non-Christians as barbarians and savages is demonstrated by van Groesen through the text and the
often-reproduced engraved plates. The study concludes with the ways in which the De Brys dealt with censorship, especially by the Catholic Index and the impact of the works both at the time of
publication and today. An appendix gives a list of all editions published by the De Vrys, the travel accounts they used and the engravings made. Annotation 穢2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
(booknews.com)
