Lillian Melcher Signing
Sunday, 4/14, 12-2pm
At the Million Year Picnic, 99 MT Auburn ST, Cambridge, MA 02138
Lillian Melcher is an illustrator living and working in Boston, MA. Her first book The Adventures of Alexander Von Humboldt, written by Andrea Wulf, is a graphic work of non-fiction exploring the early life of naturalist Alexander Von Humboldt and his contributions to environmentalism. Lillian graduated in 2016 from Parsons School of Design with a degree in illustration. She has been honored with the SCBWI Student Illustrator Scholarship for her picture book portfolio. Her website is http://www.lillianmelcher.com/
Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was an intrepid explorer and the most famous scientist of his age. His restless life was packed with adventure and discovery, but his most revolutionary idea was a radical vision of nature as a complex and interconnected global force that does not exist for the use of humankind alone. His theories and ideas were profoundly influenced by a five-year exploration of South America. Now Andrea Wulf partners with artist Lillian Melcher to bring this daring expedition to life, complete with excerpts from Humboldt’s own diaries, atlases, and publications. She gives us an intimate portrait of the man who predicted human-induced climate change, fashioned poetic narrative out of scientific observation, and influenced iconic figures such as Simón Bolívar, Thomas Jefferson, Charles Darwin, and John Muir. This gorgeous account of the expedition not only shows how Humboldt honed his groundbreaking understanding of the natural world but also illuminates the man and his passions.