Bringing Geography to Book: Ellen Semple and the Reception of Geographical Knowledge (Tauris Historical Geography Series)

Ellen Semple’s Influences of Geographic Environment (1911) -- a treatise on what would later be called environmental determinism -- coincided with the emergence of geography as an independent academic discipline in North America and Britain. Highly controversial and written by one of America’s first female professional geographers, it was considered by some a monument to Semple’s scholarship and erudition, while for others it was conceptually flawed. And yet its influence on the development and direction of the new discipline of geography was profound. Innes Keighren explains why Influences... was encountered differently by different people, at different times and in different places, and reveals why the book aroused the passions it did. The result is a pioneering work that provides a wholesale re-visioning of the way in which geographical knowledge is disseminated. "Ellen Semple's 'Influences of Geographic Environment' (1911) - a treatise on what would later be called environmental determinism - coincided with the emergence of geography as an independent academic discipline in North America and Britain. Highly controversial and written by one of America's first female professional geographers, it was considered by some a monument to Semple's scholarship and erudition, whilst for others it was conceptually flawed. And yet its influence on the development and direction of the new discipline of geography was profound. Innes Keighren explains why 'Influences' was encountered differently by different people, at different times and in different places, and reveals why the book aroused the passions it did. The result is a pioneering work that provides a wholesale re-visioning of the way in which geographical knowledge is disseminated."--Bloomsbury publishing. The reception of Ellen Semple's (1863-1932) work, especially the book "Influences of Geographic Environment" (1911) is examined, based on archival materials and published reviews. Semple's importance as one of the first female professional geographers in the United States is highlighted. Her thought, often described as environmental determinism, and the controversial reactions to it are discussed in the context of the history of geography as an academic field and of the traditions of human geography. Biographical information is included Highly controversial and written by one of America's first female professional geographers, 'Influences of Geographic Environment' was considered by some a monument to Semple's scholarship and erudition, whilst for others it was conceptually flawed. Innes Keighren explains why the book was encountered differently and aroused the passions it did. Innes M. Keighren. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.