In the quiet halls of the natural history museum, there are some
creatures still alive with stories, whose personalities refuse to
be relegated to the dusty corners of an exhibit. The fame of these
beasts during their lifetimes has given them an iconic status in
death. More than just museum specimens, these animals have attained
a second life as historical and cultural records. This collection
of essays--from a broad array of contributors, including
anthropologists, curators, fine artists, geographers, historians,
and journalists--comprises short "biographies" of a number of
famous taxidermized animals. Each essay traces the life, death, and
museum "afterlife" of a specific creature, illuminating the
overlooked role of the dead beast in the modern human-animal
encounter through practices as disparate as hunting and zookeeping.
The contributors offer fresh examinations of the many levels at
which humans engage with other animals, especially those that
function as both natural and cultural phenomena, including Queen
Charlotte's pet zebra, Maharajah the elephant, and Balto the sled
dog, among others. Readers curious about the enduring fascination
with animals who have attained these strange afterlives will be
drawn to the individual narratives within each essay, while
learning more about the scientific, cultural, and museological
contexts of each subject. Ranging from autobiographical to
analytical, the contributors' varying styles make this delightful
book a true menagerie.
"Contributors" Samuel J. M. M. Alberti, Royal College of
Surgeons * Sophie Everest, University of Manchester * Kate Foster *
Michelle Henning, University of the West of England, Bristol *
Hayden Lorimer, University of Glasgow * Garry Marvin, Roehampton
University, London * Henry Nicholls * Hannah Paddon * Merle
Patchett * Christopher Plumb, University of Manchester * Rachel
Poliquin * Jeanne Robinson, Glasgow Museums * Mike Rutherford,
University of the West Indies * Richard C. Sabin, Natural History
Museum * Richard Sutcliffe, Glasgow Museums * Geoffrey N. Swinney,
University of Edinburgh
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!