Patagonia

A Cultural History

Chris Moss

Landscapes of the Imagination

From the empty plans to the crashing seas, from the giant dinosaur fossils to the massive glacial sculptures, Chris Moss introduces readers to Patagonia's dramatic landscape--a land that, like Siberia and the Sahara, has become a metaphor for nothingness and extremity. A vivid and accessible introduction to Patagonia's history and culture, this book follows a colorful cast of characters--from Magellan and Darwin to mad kings, gauchos, and Nazi fugitives--as it evokes Patagonia's grip on the imagination.

Patagonia

A Cultural History

Chris Moss

Landscapes of the Imagination

Description

Forming a vast triangle at the southern tip of South America, Patagonia is a landscape of barren steppes, soaring peaks, and fierce wind, inspiring generations of travelers and artists. From the empty plans to the crashing seas, from the giant dinosaur fossils to the massive glacial sculptures, Chris Moss introduces readers to Patagonia's dramatic landscape--a land that, like Siberia and the Sahara, has become a metaphor for nothingness and extremity. A vivid and accessible introduction to Patagonia's history and culture, this book follows a colorful cast of characters--from Magellan and Darwin to mad kings, gauchos, and Nazi fugitives--as it evokes Patagonia's grip on the imagination.

Patagonia

A Cultural History

Chris Moss

Landscapes of the Imagination

Preface
Introduction
1. The Last Days of Shorr: Patagonia's Indigenous Myths
2. The Invention of Patagonia: Magellan and Drake
3. Port Famine: Sarmiento de Gamboa
4. The English Mariners: Cavendish, Davis, Byron
5. Unreal Cities: Founding Fathers and Fantasists
6. Sounding the Soul: FitzRoy, Darwin and Jemmy Button
7. Y Wladfa: The Welsh in Patagonia
8. King of Patagonia: Orllie Antoine and the Araucanos
9. Mystical Twitcher: W. H. Hudson
10. Patagonia Conquered, 1870-1922
11. Taming the Wind: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
12. Reclaiming Territory: Latin American Narratives
13. Minimal Stories: Film and Music in Patagonia
14. Chatwin, Theroux and the Travel Writers
Postscript: Deconstructing Patagonia: The Brand, the Brochures and Juan Baudrillard
Further Reading
Index