On 27 August 1883, the island of Krakatau was destroyed in one of the most violent volcanic events ever recorded. This caused the 'year without a summer', thousands of deaths (mainly from tsunamis), fabulous sunsets and a measurable cooling of the oceans over nearly a century. Krakatau also provided evolutionary biologists with a unique opportunity to investigate the mechanisms of plant dispersal. This had been the subject of laborious research for Charles Darwin, who had speculated upon and, it seems, accurately postulated how an 'unstocked island' might be recolonised. In this 1908 volume, Alfred Ernst analysed the effects of wind, birds and sea currents in the transport not only of seeds but also of trees, branches and even of substantial animals. Krakatau's ecosystem, at a more primitive stage than that Darwin had seen on the Galapagos Islands, demonstrated how simple but continuous natural forces might re-establish a complex ecology.
Christian Friedrich Baron Stockmar (1787–1863) was physician and advisor to Prince Leopold, son-in-law of George IV and later King of the Belgians. He was influential in promoting the marriage of Leopold's nephew Prince Albert to Queen Victoria, and became a trusted advisor to them both. His involvement in English politics was often seen as German interference in English matters, while in Germany he was regarded as an English spy. These two volumes of his papers, selected by his son Ernst, were published in both German and English in 1872, and displeased Queen Victoria by its revelations about clashes between Lord Palmerston and the Prince Consort. Volume 1 covers the period 1814–1838, including significant events in European politics such as treaties, dynastic marriages, the accession of Leopold to the Belgian throne, the preparations for Victoria's accession to the throne and the plans for her marriage to Prince Albert.
Christian Friedrich Baron Stockmar (1787–1863) was physician and advisor to Prince Leopold, son-in-law of George IV and later King of the Belgians. He was influential in promoting the marriage of Leopold's nephew Prince Albert to Queen Victoria, and became a trusted advisor to them both. His involvement in English politics was often seen as German interference in English matters, while in Germany he was regarded as a spy. These two volumes of his papers, selected by his son Ernst, were published in both German and English in 1872, and displeased Queen Victoria by its revelations about clashes between Lord Palmerston and the Prince Consort. Volume 2 focuses on the period 1838–1863, beginning with the Queen's engagement and marriage to Prince Albert, and describing the difficulties of the Prince Consort's role. It also covers English politics and foreign affairs, including the European revolutions of 1848 and the Crimean War.
The 1930s in Germany and Austria were marked by economic crisis, political disintegration, and social chaos. This beautifully illustrated catalog surveys the development of the arts in these two count
