Meanwhile, on the Other Side of the Country . . .

Yesterday, several hundred people gathered in the auditorium at Hudson High School to hear Andrea Wulf talk about Alexander von Humboldt, the subject of her most recent book, The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World. Humboldt's work had been a particular influence on Frederic Church, and Wulf spent the hours preceding the lecture at Olana, the home of the artist whom the New York Times in 1859 had called "the artistic Humboldt of the New World."

In introducing Wulf, Sean Sawyer, president of The Olana Partnership, mentioned that The Invention of Nature was a contender for a Los Angeles Times Book Prize; the winners would be announced that day. Wulf was skipping the book award ceremony in Los Angeles to visit Olana and lecture in Hudson. Last night, the winners were announced. The Invention of Nature won the award in the category of Science and Technology.
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