Review by Choice Review
Graham, a leading Mayanist and director of the Maya Corpus Project from the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University, has written a thorough and detailed biography of the British gentleman explorer, man of means, and founding father of Mesoamerican studies, Alfred Maudslay (1850-1931). Working closely with descendants of Maudslay and drawing heavily on Maudslay's writings, publications, and field notes, Graham takes us from the archaeologist's early years in the colonial office in the South Seas through the years of Mayan exploration to his later years of scholarly consolidation. Maudslay was one of the first to carefully explore Palenque, Copan, Tikal, Quirigua, and Chichen Itza, among other sites. His photographs, plaster casts, surveys, and drawings were extremely important for later Maya scholars and were equally influential in setting standards within the scholarly discipline of archaeology. There is an old-fashioned quality to this book that should appeal to readers who like straightforward biography and adventure tales. It is filled with many charming and interesting anecdotes that show both the depth of Graham's research and his interest in the subject. The biography includes 82 plates and photos, many of which are Maudslay's. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. All levels and collections. M. T. Scholz Grays Harbor College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
