Spanning almost a century of global upheaval and riveting human drama, this magnificent book follows the careers of Maynard Owen Williams, Volkmar Wentzel, Luis Marden, and Tom Abercrombiea stellar quartet of National Geographic photographers who used their cameras to record a truly remarkable era. While the lensmen were all supported and nurtured both technically and creatively by the Geographic, each had his own interests and his own distinctive styleand each made his own unique contribution to world culture, science, and history. Following a thoughtful introduction that sets the scene, the book is divided into four parts, each devoted to one man’s life and work. Chapters open with an essay and then display up to 50 pages of breathtaking historic images, many of which lay hidden in National Geographic archives for decades. Close associates and loved ones authored each photographer’s intimate story, calling on journals, anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes correspondence to portray the real person behind the lens. Our four subjects, taken together, represent the entire and quite glamorous progression of National Geographic photographya chronicle that will be eagerly embraced by all who love world history, biography, and great pictures.

Odysseys and Photographs: Four National Geographic Field Men

Arts & Photography

Bendavid-Val, Leah

Jenkins, Mark Collins

Grosvenor, Gilbert M.

Wentzel, Viola Kiesinger

Photography & Video

Focal Point

In centuries past, undertaking a journey meant a voyage into the unknown, traveling for months or years into unexplored areas on the map where cartographers could only speculate "There be dragons." And those fortunate adventurers who made it home again always had fantastical tales to tell—even if sometimes they stretched the truth up to and beyond the breaking point. This eclectic history of exploration sweeps from antiquity to the 1800s, encompassing ages when new marvels might be waiting over the next hill or a new world just over the horizon. Among others, we meet Marco Polo, the 13th-century Venetian whose extravagant accounts of distant Cathay were mainly true; Sir John Mandeville, less intrepid explorer than shameless exaggerator; and John Wesley Powell, braving Colorado River rapids on the first trip through the Grand Canyon. We visit dozens of places around the globe captured in the words, images, and maps of their discoverers. Each page unfolds its wonders in gorgeous profusion that delights the eye and dazzles the imagination. The perfect gift for Dads and Grads looking for the next great adventure.

The Book of Marvels: An Explorer's Miscellany

History

Americas

National Geographic

Mark Jenkins’s engrossing history draws on the latest science, anthropological and archaeological research to explore the origins of vampire stories, providing gripping historic and folkloric context for the concept of immortal beings who defy death by feeding on the lifeblood of others. From the earliest whispers of eternal evil in ancient Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome, vampire tales flourished through the centuries and around the globe, fueled by superstition, sexual mystery, fear of disease and death, and the nagging anxiety that demons lurk everywhere. In Vampire Forensics, Mark Jenkins probes vampire legend to tease out the historical truths enshrined in the tales of terror: sherds of Persian pottery depicting blood-sucking demons; the amazing recent discovery by National Geographic archaeologist Matteo Borrini of a 16th-century Venetian grave of a plague victim and suspected vampire; and the Transylvanian castle of "Vlad the Impaler," whose bloodthirsty cruelty remains unsurpassed. Jenkins navigates centuries of lore and legend, adding new chapters to the chronicle and weaving an irresistibly seductive blend of superstition, psychology, and science sure to engross everyone from Anne Rice’s countless readers to serious students of archaeology and mythology.

Vampire Forensics: Uncovering the Origins of an Enduring Legend

Europe

A round-the-world investigation of the vampire myth, including a recently discovered "vampire skeleton," brings historic and scientific context to our enduring interest in vampires. Legend and lore are examined through the lens of history, archaeology, anthropology, and forensic science in this delightfully written book by Mark Jenkins, now in paperback. It's a great addition to the pop culture conversation, adding both humor and depth to the vampire craze.

Literature & Fiction

Short Stories & Anthologies

Discover the epic naval story of the war that threatened to undo our nation in 1812. Riveting firsthand accounts enliven this official sea-level view of the conflict that proved American naval prowess a force to be reckoned with. Explore historic documents, letters, ephemera, and artifacts, including fascinating finds from the Navy's most recent underwater excavation of the war's lost ships. Featuring a colorful, diverse cast of characters--from sailors, spies, and ship's surgeons to commodores, Navy wives, and privateersmen--and incorporating hundreds of photographs, period illustrations, and contemporary and original maps, The War of 1812 and the Rise of the U.S. Navy is a sweeping panorama of a defining moment in U.S. history and a must-read for maritime aficionados and general history buffs alike.

The War of 1812 and the Rise of the U.S. Navy

Taylor, David

Featuring show-stopping imagery and thrilling behind-the-scenes tales, National Geographic 125 Years captures the heart of National Geographic's fascinating history, from its earliest days as a scientific club to its growth into one of the world's largest geographic organizations. The book reveals how much we've come to know about our fascinating world through the pages and unforgettable imagery of National Geographic, and taps key voices from the forefront of ocean and space exploration, climate science, archaeology, mountaineering, and many other disciplines to peer with us over the horizon and see where we are heading in the future.

National Geographic 125 Years: Legendary Photographs, Adventures, and Discoveries That Changed the World

Join National Geographic archaeologists and adventurers, explorers and scientists on this thrilling jaunt through more than 125 years of research, discovery, and unforgettable photojournalism. Featuring behind-the-scenes tales and show-stopping imagery, this book captures the heart of the Society's fascinating history, from its earliest days as a scientific club to its growth into one of the world's largest geographic organizations. It's all here, from Jacques Cousteau's pioneering underwater explorations to James Cameron's recent record-breaking descent to the floor of the Mariana Trench, the oceans' deepest point. Countless other explorers and their astounding achievements through the years are documented, including Louis Leakey, Jane Goodall, Spencer Wells, and Sylvia Earle. More than 200 photos, sidebars, and fun facts accompany these amazing stories, pulling you from one adventure to the next. It's well known that National Geographic has been to the top of Mount Everest and reached the depths of the Mariana Trench, but did you know that: A 1957 National Geographic article inspired the creator of the pink plastic lawn flamingo? A National Geographic writer on assignment found the source of the Amazon River? The world-famous photo of our green-eyed Afghan girl almost never happened?

On Assignment With National Geographic: The Inside Story of Legendary Explorers, Photographers, and Adventurers

Biographies & Memoirs

Arts & Literature

Featuring show-stopping imagery and thrilling behind-the-scenes tales, National Geographic 125 Years captures the heart of National Geographic's fascinating history, from its earliest days as a scientific club to its growth into one of the world's largest geographic organizations. The book reveals how much we've come to know about our fascinating world...

Travel

National Geographic The Covers is the definitive cover collection from the world's most beloved magazine. The magazine with the famous yellow border has been in publication for more than 125 years, and its vast array of cover stories have opened our eyes to a richly diverse world and taken us to places we only dream of visiting: deep within the rain forest, miles below the surface of the ocean, and into the farthest reaches of the universe. Captured by some of history's most gifted and innovative photographers, these covers tell a fascinating story of the last 125 years, one in which air power has advanced from the Wright Brothers to the Space Age; undersea exploration has evolved from awkward submersibles to sleek subs that can penetrate the ocean's deepest trench, and the natural world has transformed from a vast territory of exploitable resources into one in need of our protection. The Covers also reveals the captivating stories behind unforgettable images; from the piercing green eyes of the Afghan girl to the haunted, hunted gorillas of the Congo's Virunga Crater. Decade by decade, the covers chart our evolving understanding of global culture and the unfolding of international political events as they record groundbreaking discoveries and the enduring beauty of our natural world.

National Geographic The Covers: Iconic Photographs, Unforgettable Stories

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Jenkins, Mark Collins. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Jenkins, Mark Collins

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Jenkins, Mark Collins. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Odysseys and Photographs: Four National Geographic Field Men

The Book of Marvels: An Explorer's Miscellany

Vampire Forensics: Uncovering the Origins of an Enduring Legend

Vampire Forensics: Uncovering the Origins of an Enduring Legend

The War of 1812 and the Rise of the U.S. Navy

National Geographic 125 Years: Legendary Photographs, Adventures, and Discoveries That Changed the World

On Assignment With National Geographic: The Inside Story of Legendary Explorers, Photographers, and Adventurers

National Geographic 125 Years: Legendary Photographs, Adventures, and Discoveries That Changed the World

National Geographic The Covers: Iconic Photographs, Unforgettable Stories