Joseph Berzelius (1779-1848), one of the world's leading scientists in the first half of the 19th century, dominated the field of chemistry, animated the cultural life of his native Sweden, and served for three decades as secretary of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Despite his immense stature, the editors believe that modern studies have tended to underestime his significance. This volume aims to remedy the scarcity of accessible, modern assessments of Berzelius by bringing to a broad audience the results of recent scholarship, and offers a fresh assessment of his originality and influence.

Jacob Berzelius (1779-1848), one of the world's leading scientists in the first half of the nineteenth century, dominated the field of chemistry, animated the cultural life of his native Sweden, and served for three decades as perpetual secretary of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Despite his immense stature, modern studies have underestimated his significance. This volume remedies the scarcity of accessible, modern assessments of Berzelius by bringing to a broad audience the results of recent scholarship, and it offers an enhanced assessment of his originality and influence.