Sheltered Life [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Paul Chambers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 5, 2004

For millennia these mighty beasts lived in isolation on remote oceanic islands such as the Galapagos, Seychelles and Mauritius. From the sixteenth century, the discovery that tortoises were good to eat and their strategic location led to a wholesale plunder of their population by ships making long voyages. Later, Victorian scientists became fascinated by these creatures, and from wondering why it was that such large animals were always to be found on remote islands came the first understanding of ecology and biogeography. It was the giant tortoise that directly inspired Darwin to create his theory of natural selection. Could a tortoise which Darwin took from the Galapagos in 1835 still be alive today in an Australian zoo? Indeed many people have become fascinated with these gentle giants. We learn why the French were surrendered the island of Mauritius but baulked at handing over their mascot tortoise and why the discovery of some dodo bones inspired Victorian scientists to launch a 'save the tortoise campaign'. The twentieth century saw the establishment of wildlife reserves in the Galapagos and elsewhere but it was too late for many species.Paul Chambers shows how modern genetics has been able to track down members of what were once believed to be extinct populations of these magnificent creatures.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

They seem the stuff of myths or legends--giant tortoises large enough to carry a human on their backs. In 1535 the first description of an actual giant tortoise reached the king of Spain when a Spanish vessel off the coast of South America noted the presence of giant tortoises on a group of "worthless" islands. At about the same time, tortoises were found on isolated islands in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar. So began the checkered relationship between giant tortoises and humans. Chambers, a scientist with London's Natural History Museum, recounts the often-tragic story of the giant tortoises in this highly readable account. To Charles Darwin the tortoises were seminal for his theory of evolution. In modern times, the remaining tortoises are being bred in captivity. Written in a conversational style that makes the science easy to understand, and full of engaging stories, this is the single best book on the subject available. Nancy Bent
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Review

'Paul Chambers tells the wonderful ... "unexpected history" of the giant tortoise for the general reader' -- New Scientist 20040703 'A book for reptile lovers that will also interest science historians' -- Good Book Guide 20040901 'It represents a challenge to write a book about them [giant tortoises] which is pacy, light-footed, graceful and diverting. In general, Paul Chambers meets the challenge, and those interested in this armoured colossus of a reptile will be grateful to Chambers for bringing so much information about it into one accessible place.' -- Tom Fort, Sunday Telegraph 20040627 'As Paul Chambers' mix of popular science and history aims to prove, there's a lot more to their story [the tortoises'] than you'd expect ... Chambers deftly draws together anecdotes and expert knowledge ... unlike the tortoises, [this story] never plods' -- Time Out 20040825 'Chambers' book is as strange and wonderful as the tortoise itself' -- Brentwood Recorder 20040709 'Chambers's account of these lumbering megafauna is a solidly researched and lovingly told epic of extinctions, survival, exploration, science, politics, colonial rivalry and unfeasibly hefty beasts. He combines a lightness of touch with an avalanche of mesmerising facts, anecdotes and details to deliver the first genuine natural history page-turner I've picked up in ages.' -- The Australian 20040901 'Fascinating ... a brisk historical narrative' -- The Field 20050601 'Excellent in its scope and writing ... For those with a fondness for giant tortoises it is excellent news to have someone reclaiming their important role in the history of science.' -- Times Literary Supplement 20041015 'Pacy, light-footed, graceful and diverting... be grateful to Chambers for bringing so much information about it into one accessible place.' -- Tom Fort, Sunday Telegraph 20040627 'A wonderful exploration of the history of this gentle giant ... Lovingly researched and engagingly narrated' -- P D Smith, The Guardian 20040731 'Chambers' volume is entertaining, elegiac and anything but plodding. With wonderfully arcane asides ... this is a surprisingly revelatory volume' -- Scotland on Sunday 20040704 'Hugely entertaining' -- Daily Telegraph 20040828 'Quirky ... an enjoyable account of an intriguing creature' -- The Scotsman 20040807 'This book is as entrancing as the creature it describes' -- Independent 20050408 'Very readable and full of engrossing anecdotes' -- New Scientist 20050402 'An entertaining volume with a fascinating look into the giant tortoise's history and evolution.' -- Sunday Telegraph 20050327 'A delightful tribute' -- Guardian 20050409

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: John Murray (July 5, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0719565286
• ISBN-13: 978-0719565281
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,398,856 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An exciting natural history adventure book, May 5, 2006

By 

J. Cobley "museumdetective.com" (Christchurch, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Sheltered Life: The Unexpected History of the Giant Tortoise (Hardcover)

Paul Chambers writes well. He is also an exceptional researcher and storyteller. I had heard Chambers speak on one of the BBC's NakedScientists podcasts and not only enjoyed his profound knowledge but also his sense of restrained drama.

Yet I picked up this book twice before making the purchase. How could a feminist and museologist find something of interested in a natural history history of the giant tortoise. Something told me to take the plunge and make the purchase. Within the first page I was captivated, Chambers draws us into the scenario of the young Mr Darwin arriving at the Galapagos and being asked by his host, "you will, of course, stay for lunch? [...] I can offer you goat, pig or tortoise?"

As a reader I enjoyed the way Chambers organised each of the chapters, balancing out the stories of the Indian Ocean and Galapagos tortoises, elaborating in careful detail the story of Charles Darwin, Albert Gunter one of the earliest ecology environmentalists, a taste of Victorian collectomania as demonstrated by the fervour of Walter Rothschild and the period of the great scientific expeditions (aka raiding parties) by leading universities of the time.

Interspersed throughout the chapters was a story of the early whalers, trade routes, colonisation, territorial protection and later, DNA modelling.

In essence, this book was a riveting read with a well hammered environmental message. And with numerous mentions of the word 'museum' I now wonder how I could have hesitated to read this book in the first place.

I'm off to read Chambers first book now, Bones of Contention.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise, comprehensive, yet thorough history of the worlds giant tortoises, February 9, 2006

By 

Debby Ng (Singapore) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sheltered Life (Hardcover)

I am ashamed. I knew little about giant tortoises except that Darwin had one named Harriet and that there are some that live in the hills of the Galapagos that go into warm volcanic soil to lay their eggs. Had I chanced upon this book before my visit to the Mascarene Islands, I would've given these ancient, magnificent, and awe-inspiring reptiles their deserved attention when I met them.

Paul Chambers has done a remarkable job in recognising the characters of his audience as he has delivered a wonderfully entertaining recount of the discovery, torment, exhaltation, recognition, then conservation of the giant tortoises of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Be convinced that Chambers' knack at story-telling, served by intricate and exhaustive research processes, is that which has made this book a success. No doubt, the history of the giant tortoises is itself a truly fascinating topic, however, it is a long history and Chambers knits it tightly into just over 300-pages.

Complimented with thought-provoking illustrations and guiding maps, Chambers also supplements readers with archived photographs where available and enchanting excerpts from the journals of renowned naturalists including Darwin and Wallace (whom, when you read this book, aren't as significan't characters to the story as you think!).

Chambers has inspired curiosity and instilled amazement in this group of animals that has come so close to being decemated by development. A well-paced read, that is acutely balanced and finely structured, be prepared to journey back into the ages of the sea-faring colonists, and discover as they did, the unique giant tortoises that have for millenia, led a sheltered life.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nifty Journey with Very Large Turtles!!!, January 26, 2006

By 

S. Henkels (Devon, Pa United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sheltered Life (Hardcover)

This is a flawless study of how huge tortoises were at first discovered, then eaten, then sold for their oil and shells, bred, and analyzed by a lot of top zoologists, including Darwin himself! Also, a nice look at the human and biological history of the Galopagos Islands, where the author claims that tortoises and their evolution were as important to Darwin's ideas as the more famous finches. One tortoise still living has been said to be a survivor of Darwin's menagerie, and the author studies the geneological background of this large,elderly lady! He is very skeptical that the animal has lived to be over 170, since the 1830's, but gives a strong case of birth in the 1870's, still very elderly in her 130's!! With some nice drawings , and general large turtle history in islands in the Indian ocean ,this book is a fairly easy, and very interesting page turner, especially for so heavy and old a subject!