{"title":"John K Corner","description":"\u003cp\u003eDelve into John K. Corner's compelling narratives, where intricate plots meet relatable characters. Perfect for readers seeking thought-provoking stories with a touch of suspense and heartfelt moments. Start browsing now!\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"my-father-in-his-suitcase-book-john-k-corner-9789814189477","title":"My Father in His Suitcase","description":"John (Kay) Corner left home in 1960, aged 19. He would never see his father, E. J. H. Corner, again.  Edred John Henry  Corner  was one of the most  colourful  and  productive  biologists and mycologists  of  the  20th  century.  His  career began in 1929 as Assistant Director of the Straits Settlements Singapore Botanic Gardens, where he trained monkeys to collect specimens from the treetops of the rainforest, and published Wayside Trees of Malaya, a classic field guide interspersed with his delightful and idiosyncratic observations on  plant  life. He was key in the creation of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, a 163- hectare plot that contains more tree species than the whole of North America.  When war came, he considered it his responsibilty to safeguard the scientific and cultural collections of Singapore during the Japanese Occupation, but was branded by some as a collaborator.  Post-war, after heading the ambitious UNESCO Hylean Amazon Project, he returned to Cambridge University and was appointed Professor  of  Tropical  Botany  in  1965. There he propounded his theory that the Durian represented  an  ancestral  type  of  angiosperm tree. He  was  elected  a  Fellow of  The  Royal Society, where he promoted the conservation of tropical forests and led expeditions to the British Solomon Islands and Mount Kinabalu. For the latter, he proposed Kinabalu Park which led to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  After 46 years, John Corner faces his estranged  father  in  a  suitcase marked:  'For Kay, wherever he might be.' The letters, pictures and other memorabilia that spill out led him to search for the father he hardly knew, resulting in an engaging and frank biography of an eminent scientist who put science above all, including his family.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49740713197841,"sku":"NGR9789814189477","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50331648229649,"sku":"GOR008012764","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50925301793041,"sku":"CIN9814189472VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":53029121655057,"sku":"GOR012518055","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9814189472.jpg?v=1750839474"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/collections\/author-books-by-john-k-corner.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}