THE ENTOMOLOGIST Evelyn Cheesman

Over the course of her 87 years of life, self-taught British entomologist Evelyn Cheesman went on eight solo insect-collecting expeditions across the South Pacific, collected almost 100,000 specimens, identified dozens (possibly hundreds!) of previously unknown species, and used her specialized knowledge of Oceania to save countless lives during WWII.

Meet the indomitable genius who persevered against unimaginable odds to build herself the life she wanted – no matter what stood in her way.

Our guest is Sarah Lonsdale, author of the book Wildly Different.

Evelyn Cheesman, 1924
photo in the public domain

Evelyn Cheesman
photo in the public domain

The Insect House at the London Zoo as Evelyn Cheesman would have known it
photo in the public domain

Newspaper clipping about one of Evelyn Cheesman’s expeditions
courtesy of Sarah Lonsdale

Evelyn Cheesman’s map of the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) showing the location of “Cheesman’s Line”
Royal Geographical Society

“Centipede with Gecko which dropped into My Soup” by Evelyn Cheesman
Royal Geographical Society

Red Crest, Edith’s last house on Vanuatu – her sketch and a photograph
Royal Geographical Society

Natural History Museum’s cataloging memo on King Ringapat’s spear
Natural History Museum, London

King Ringapat’s Spear
Natural History Museum, London

Harts tongue ferns covering the riverbank near Evelyn’s childhood home
photo by Sarah Londsale

Court Lodge, Westwell, Evelyn Cheesman’s childhood home
photo by Sarah Lonsdale

Sarah Lonsdale was a journalist for 20 years before studying for a PhD. She is the author of three books, Wildly Different is her latest. She teaches history and journalism at City St George’s, University of London. She lives in Kent, UK, near to Evelyn’s childhood home.

Music featured in this episode was provided by:

Emily Sprague, Jesse Gallagher, The Tides, Quincas Moreira, Kevin MacLeod, Brian Bolger, Asher Fulero, Myuu, Aaron Kenny, Geographer, and Nexus.

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Evelyn Cheesman custom cross-stitch pattern

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