The Mapmaker's Wife

A True Tale of Love, Murder, and Survival in the Amazon

By: Robert Whitaker

Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin

In the early years of the 18th century, a band of French scientists set off on a daring, decade-long expedition to South America in a race to measure the precise shape of the earth. Like Lewis and Clark's exploration of the American West, their incredible mission revealed the mysteries of a little-known continent to a world hungry for discovery. Scaling 16,000-foot mountains in the Peruvian Andes, and braving jaguars, pumas, insects, and vampire bats in the jungle, the scientists barely completed their mission. One was murdered, another perished from fever, and a third - Jean Godin - nearly died of heartbreak. At the expedition's end, Jean and his Peruvian wife, Isabel Grameson, became stranded at opposite ends of the Amazon, victims of a tangled web of international politics. Isabel's solo journey to reunite with Jean after their calamitous 20-year separation was so dramatic that it left all of 18th-century Europe spellbound. Her survival - unprecedented in the annals of Amazon exploration - was a testament to human endurance, female resourcefulness, and the power of devotion.

Drawing on the original writings of the French mapmakers, as well as his own experience retracing Isabel's journey, acclaimed writer Robert Whitaker weaves a riveting tale rich in adventure, intrigue, and scientific achievement.

©2004 Robert Whitaker (P)2019 Tantor

Quite a bit of back story, but interesting

I enjoyed learning about how the French mathematicians where figuring out the shape of the earth. It was interesting to heat about Peru and the people there. But most impressive is the Map Makers Wife. She reminds me of Readers Digests "Drama in Teal Life".

Alright

The book was pretty good. The story is interesting, but quite frankly there wasn't a lot of information for the author to work with. He made the most of it. The narrator was mediocre. It kept me interested, but isn't a page turner.

The French in Amazonia 1765

The tenacity & heroism of Isabel Godin was extraordinary . That one could survive which all around perished

Fascinating!

I learned so much from the world that this book opened up to me. I realized how ignorant I was about the European and Colonial world's, about scientific discoveries during this time period, and of cultural aspects of humanity that we seem to repeat , over and over - beneficial and detrimental. I hurried back to listen some more and am sorry that it is now over. VERY glad to have heard it.

Fantastic writing poorly performed

A truly fascinating story full of history, adventure, and science written with a fast-pace and engaging narrative. Narrator is incredibly halting- pass on this audio book and stick with the text!