E2570 - Cannibalism, heartbreak and Madame Guillotine: George Forster's extraordinary life
Published: June 25, 2026
Duration: 43:02
He sailed to Antarctica with Captain Cook, rubbed shoulders with Benjamin Franklin and helped found a revolutionary republic. It’s little wonder, then, that Andrea Wulf describes George Forster – the 18th-century traveller, botanist and champion of human rights – as “one of the most fascinating figures you've never heard of”. In conversation with Spencer Mizen, Andrea explores a life that reads like an adventure story.
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GO BEYOND THE PODCAST
If you'd like to hear Andrea Wulf discuss the life of another German polymath, then check out our podcast interview with her about Alexander von Humbol...