Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan

If you have ever traveled to the Yucatan this is a must read book. Though a century and a half old the writing holds up and easy enough to read for todays reader. Catherwoods engravings of the ruin sites are excellent, works of art in their own right. I agree with some of the other reviewers, get this uncut edition! You also might want to check out "Tourist in the Yucatan" for a modern day look at the Yucatan, its a fun thriller beach read.

And real full strength Catherwood illustrations.Unlike some of the recent re-edited editions of Stevens' and Catherwood's work, this Dover Publications edition Volume One of the two volume "Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas and Yucatan presents dense, complex, and revealing insights into a brilliant writer's impressions of travel in nascent Central American countries. Regarding his charge to enter into diplomatic relations with the governments of these countries, Stephens reports, "I was not able to find one..." In following Stephens eccentric and sometimes high-handed travels through these unsettled societies, we are by contrast in his ruminations given glimpses of the political and social climate in the United States at that time - a commercially predatory, exuberantly expansionist, segregated society. Despite the biases of his times, Stephens is always adaptable to the ways of his hosts.Although not great in number, Catherwood's illustrations of the stelae at Copan are truly great. His revealing comments on the difficulty of adapting his Western perception enough to capture the scenes even with the help of his camera lucida - tell us just how unusual the sculptural forms were.As a team - Stephen's enthusiasm and wry humor and Catherwood's sublime skill and dogged persistence - consistently produced great and discerning works of scientific and historical value.It should be illegal for anyone to edit or abridge these books.

As a resident of Mexico who enjoys my ruins and travel within Mexico, this book offers a fantastic glimpse into Mexico and the Yucatan long before it became a resort for Gringos. Not only is it well-written, but also has an excellent collection of visual drawings from a time long lost. An excellent book, and as is always with Dover, and excellent value.

A must for anyone who has already seen or is planning to visit Central America. Stephens writes with such enthusiasm on experiences so unique and groundbreaking. The text still manages to convey its original message of discovery with complete fasination, and is a timeless classic. The illustrations by Catherwood are incredible and the reader is guided through them by the Author with his initial excitement of the object's discovery.

This is one of the rare occasions when 5 stars doesn't measure up to the book being rated. I have read every volume of "Incidents..." many times (there are two volumes of this book, as well as two volumes of "Incidents of Travel in Yucatan"), and I've also given the four volumes as gifts many times. Additionally, I have traveled to most of the sites Stephens writes about, with book-in-hand, to simultaneously gaze with wonder at the magnificient sketches made over 150-yrs ago, and at the same objects sketched as they exist today. But this is not the only attraction of these volumes. Unlike most books about archeology, which are dry and overly academic, these volumes vividly recount the exciting, and often dangerous, day-to-day adventures of a couple blokes looking for ancient lost cities in a region that just happens to be smack-dab in the middle of a sanguinary 19th-century civil war. These books could be mistaken for a terrific adventure novel, were it not for the fact that every word is true. Stevens' graphic descriptions of the local characters and events is heavily laced with humor and insight. What a delight these books are. I think I'll start reading them (again!).