University of Chicago Press Victorian Science in Context

Victorians were fascinated by the strange new worlds which science was revealing to them. Exotic plants and animals poured into London from all corners of the Empire, while revolutionary theories such as the radical idea that humans might be descended from apes drew forth heated debates. The aristocracy and the middle class avidly collected scientific specimens for display in their homes, and devoured literature about science and its practitioners. This study sets out to capture the essence of this fascination with science, charting the many ways in which science influenced and was influenced by the larger Victorian culture. The contributors show how practical concerns interacted with contextual issues to mould Victorian science - which in turn shaped much of the relationship between modern science and culture. From the Back Cover Victorians were fascinated by the flood of strange new worlds that science was opening to them. Exotic plants and animals poured into London from all corners of the empire, while revolutionary theories such as the idea that humans might be descended from apes drew crowds to heated debates. Victorian Science in Context captures the essence of this fascination, charting the many ways in which science influenced and was influenced by the larger Victorian culture. Leading scholars in history, literature, and the history of science explore questions such as, What did science mean to the Victorians? For whom was Victorian science written? What ideological messages did it convey? The contributors show how the practical side of science, such as the choice of particular instruments an the manner of measurement, indeed the entire laboratory setup, interacted with the social and cultural context to mold Victorian science. About the Author Bernard Lightman is distinguished research professor in the Humanities Department at York University and president of the History of Science Society.