Other chapters explore the Romantic conception of the scientist as a lone genius who has a “Eureka!” moment. These debates influenced Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein. One chapter chronicles the debates about vitalism (the belief that living creatures contain or are governed by a non-physical element). The chapters follow these people and the effect they had on the arts and public consciousness. He also supported the work of early balloonists, although I regret that my beloved Sophie Blanchard only has a brief mention. His time with the Society ties the book together, as he took a great interest in the work of other scientists in the book, which include William and Caroline Herschel (astronomers), Mungo Park (explorer), and Humphry Davy, who experimented with nitrous oxide and invented a lamp that prevented mine explosions. He became the President of the Royal Society in 1778. It’s a BBC series waiting to happen!īanks’ most important contribution to science was arguably his devotion to supporting the work of other scientists. The book provides plenty of entertaining details about his friendships and his love life. Someone alert Aidan Turner about this, please.

Happily, this book includes a lot of illustrations. In this book, Banks comes across as an incredibly engaging and occasionally baffling character. By framing the story in chapters about individual scientists, and tying their scientific efforts to the Romantic Movement in the arts, the book stays entertaining and exciting.Īge of Wonder starts with the first voyage of Joseph Banks, a naturalist who sailed to Tahiti and Australia with Captain James Cook in 1766.

It covers the Georgian Era in England and ends at the beginning of the Victorian. Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science is a nonfiction book that combines science, history, biography, and a dollop of poetry to cover an amazing era of scientific discovery and artistic innovation.

The age of wonder by richard holmes