The Lives of Celebrated Travellers, Vol. 2 (of 3)

"The Lives of Celebrated Travellers, Vol. 2 (of 3)" by James Augustus St. John is an old book that tells the stories of famous explorers, especially botanists, and how they changed science and knowledge through their adventures. The book shares exciting life stories and the hard work these people did traveling to different places and meeting new cultures as they explored the world. For instance, it begins with Joseph Pitton de Tournefort, a botanist who loved studying plants and traveled all over Europe and Asia. The book talks about his life from when he was young, how he got into plants instead of religion, and how he fearlessly gathered plant samples, even when others thought he was a thief or when he faced dangers in faraway lands, all in the name of science. The book lets you get to know Tournefort and what challenges he overcame in his journeys.