Désiré Charnay

Born in France, Charnay (1828-1915) travelled extensively through commissions from the French government and with private patronage. He made several visits to the region between 1857 and 1886, producing in his work both a journal of his adventures and an archaeological examination of past civilizations. Beginning in Mexico, Charnay notably examines the ancient city of Tula and also the history of Yucatán, discussing aspects of Toltec and Mayan culture. He explores the ruins of Chichen Itza, Kabah and Yaxchilan (which Charnay dubbed 'Lorillard Town' after a benefactor), among many other settlements. Surveying art, pyramid architecture, ancient customs and history based on extant sources, this account was a major contribution in its field and remains of interest to scholars of Latin American archaeology.

L’explorateur-photographe qui fit connaître le monde maya raconte aux enfants les sites archéologiques, les mœurs et les plantes de la forêt tropicale. L’auteur partage sa connaissance de la jungle mexicaine et de la civilisation précolombienne en la faisant découvrir à deux ados et en rapportant leur dialogue imaginaire avec leur précepteur…