JUNGLE PEACE

After WWI, William Beebe headed for islands and other remote areas, such as St. Thomas and British Guiana, to study nature. From the start, narrator Andre Stojko captures the hints of stress that the war veteran must have felt, along with his sense of wonder at the sights and experiences he encountered. The account is effectively punctuated with music and sound effects. Beebe's descriptions of the movements of leafcutter and army ants are fascinating, even more so as read by Stojko. However, Beebe's attitudes--condescension toward natives, including mimicking of their speech patterns and instances of objectionable language--will mar the experience for most listeners. In spite of these, Beebe's insights may be worthwhile for serious students of natural history. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2013]