The career of Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802) affords an extraordinary
glimpse into the intellectual ferment of late-eighteenth- and
early-nineteenth-century Britain. As a popular poet, practicing
physician, inventor of speaking machines and mechanical birds,
essayer of natural history from geology to meteorology, and
proponent of an evolutionary theory that inspired his famous
grandson Charles, he left a lasting impression on almost every
branch of knowledge. His magnum opus, and the synthesis of his
myriad interests, is The Botanic Garden (1792) - an epic poem that
aims to "enlist the Imagination under the banner of Science." Part
I, The Economy of Vegetation, sings the praises of British industry
as a dance of supernatural creatures while part II, The Loves of
the Plants, wittily employs metaphors of human courtship to
describe the reproductive cycles of hundreds of flowers. Darwin
supplements his accomplished verses with (often much longer)
"philosophical notes" that offer his idiosyncratic perspective on
the scholarly controversies of the day. Despite a recent surge of
academic interest in Darwin, however, no authoritative critical
edition of The Botanic Garden exists, presenting a barrier to
further scholarship. This two volume set comprises a complete,
meticulously transcribed, reading text - including all the poetry,
prose apparatus, and illustrations - along with extensive
commentary that situates Darwin within contemporary debates about
the natural sciences. This set will be of interest to readers as
the definitive reference edition of The Botanic Garden and due to
its efforts to make the work more practically and intellectually
accessible to seasoned and novice readers alike. The first volume
presents a wide ranging and authoritative introduction to The
Botanic Garden, detailing the background to the work and the
various contexts in which it should be understood. These include:
aesthetic theory and practice, the science of the mind, love and
sexuality, politics, spirituality, the natural sciences, and
evolutionary theory and the two Darwins. The full text of Part I of
the The Botanic Garden, The Economy of Vegetation, then follows
accompanied by the editors' annotations, discussion of
illustrations and textual notes.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
(1)
(1)
