Abstract
WE have already referred, in connection with Hirt's Geographische Bildertafeln, to the comprehensive idea of geography entertained in Germany, and the admirable methods adapted for infusing into the teaching of the subject as much of reality as possible. For enabling the pupil to realise the features about which he reads in his text-books, we have never seen anything to equal the Charakter-Bilder which are being issued by Hölzel of Vienna, and edited by a large staff of some of the best teachers. These pictures are on a very large scale, are coloured by the oleographic process, and have all the appearance of good oil-paintings. Each picture is devoted to one subject, and measures something like 2½ feet by 2 feet. The aim is evidently to illustrate the leading features of the earth's surface, and bring before the pupil the main characteristics of the different countries. Nine of these pictures have already been published; their subjects are the Order Region, the Shoshone Canons and Waterfalls of North America, the Gulf of Pozzuoli, the Sahara Desert, the Bernese Oberland (a double picture), the Rotomahana Region of New Zealand, the Sierra Nevada, the Eastern Border of the Anahuac Plateau. Thus, it will be seen, the subjects are very varied. To each picture there is a separate explanatory text, entering with somewhat minute detail into the characteristics of the region illustrated, its topographical features, geology, biology, &c.; the text being accompanied with wood engravings still further to help in the understanding of the subject. We need scarcely point out what an important help these pictures and their text must be in the study of geography, nor how admirably calculated they are to lead children to interest themselves in the subject. To the household library they would be an important addition, and even those who have long left school might turn them over with pleasure and profit. We should like to see them brought within the reach of English schools.
Hölzel's Geographische Charakter-Bilder für Schule und Haus.
Herausgegeben unter Pädagogischer und Wissenschaftlicher Leitung, Von Dr. Josef Chavanne, K. v. Haardt, V. Prausek, Prof. V. Marilaun, Dr. Fried. Simony, Dr. Fr. Toula, Dr. K. Zehden., &c. (Vienna: Edward Hölzel, 1882.)
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
[Book Reviews]. Nature 26, 476 (1882). https://doi.org/10.1038/026476b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/026476b0