Alfred Russel Wallace 
The Geographical Distribution of Animals (Vol.1&2) 
With a Study of the Relations of Living and Extinct Faunas as Elucidating the Past Changes of the Earth’s Surface

Alfred Russel Wallace’s ‘The Geographical Distribution of Animals’ is a profound exploration of the patterns and reasons behind the global distribution of animal species. Focusing on both the physical geography and biological diversity of various regions, Wallace delves into the intricate relationships between environmental factors and the evolution of different animal populations. His meticulous observations and detailed analyses provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the complex processes shaping the distribution of fauna around the world. Written in a scientific yet engaging style, this two-volume work stands as a classic in the field of biogeography, offering valuable insights into the natural world. Wallace’s pioneering research and groundbreaking theories have had a lasting impact on the study of ecology and evolution. His experiences as a naturalist and explorer in the Amazon and Malay Archipelago deeply influenced his work, leading him to develop the concept of natural selection independently of Charles Darwin. ‘The Geographical Distribution of Animals’ is a must-read for anyone interested in the fascinating interplay between geography, biology, and evolution.

About the author

Alfred Russel Wallace (1823–1913) was a British naturalist, explorer, geographer, anthropologist, and biologist whose prolific work and ideas were instrumental in the development of evolutionary theory. He is best known for independently conceiving the theory of evolution through natural selection, contemporaneously with Charles Darwin. Wallace’s deep interest in biogeography led him to empirically formulate the Wallace Line, which demarcates the faunal differences between Asia and Australia. His magnum opus, ‘The Geographical Distribution of Animals’ (Vol.1&2), published in 1876, is a monumental work that provides a comprehensive account of the global distribution of animal life based on meticulous empirical observations and geographical classifications. His analysis delineated the patterns and factors influencing the distribution of animal species and was seminal in the establishment of zoogeography as a science. In this two-volume set, Wallace thoroughly examined the physical geography of each region, linking the distribution of animals to the geological history, illustrating the concept of continental drift’s impact on species dispersal. Notably, Wallace is acknowledged for his insightful contributions to the theory of speciation and environmental influences on the survival of species. His extensive travels and observations furnished him with a vast array of specimens and an unparalleled knowledge of global biodiversity, thereby confirming his status as a foremost scientific intellect in the Victorian era.