Deep Time: A Literary History

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, "deep time" was a metaphorical term used by philosophers, poets, and naturalists to explore the origins of life beyond the written record. It has a rich imaginative history, with Johann Reinhold Forster and Georg Forster, Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, Blake and Johann Gottfried Herder, and Darwin all contributing to its development.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 03 January 2023
Publisher: Princeton University Press

In this captivating interdisciplinary book, Noah Heringman takes us on a journey to explore the origins of the concept of "deep time." While "deep time" is commonly associated with geological epochs, Heringman argues that it emerged as a metaphorical language used by philosophers, poets, and naturalists during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. These visionary thinkers sought to delve into the origins of life beyond the confines of the written record, envisioning a "the abyss of time" that provided a framework for understanding the prehistoric era.

Heringman's examination of stories about the deep past, drawn from the works of visionary thinkers such as William Blake, Charles Darwin, Johann Reinhold Forster, Georg Forster, Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, Blake, and Johann Gottfried Herder, challenges the conventional wisdom that the idea of deep time originated solely from the modern science of geology. Instead, he reveals that deep time has a rich imaginative history, intertwined with human origins, cultural evolution, and the reciprocal effects of geological and human time.

One of the key figures in Heringman's exploration is Johann Reinhold Forster and Georg Forster, naturalists on James Cook's second voyage around the world. Inspired by their encounters with Pacific islanders, they connected the scale of geological time to human origins and cultural evolution. Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, also played a significant role in laying out the first modern geological timescale. Drawing on travel narratives, antiquarian works, and his own fieldwork, Buffon meticulously compiled a comprehensive timeline of Earth's history, including the emergence of life and the evolution of species.

Blake and Johann Gottfried Herder, on the other hand, employed the language of fossils and artifacts to promote ancient ballads and "prehistoric song." They saw the fossil record as a means of accessing the wisdom and stories of the past, connecting the dots between the geological and human realms. Darwins exploration of the reciprocal effects of geological and human time further enriched the concept of deep time. He recognized that geological processes shaped human history and vice versa, highlighting the interconnectedness of the two realms.

Heringman's book delves into the figural and imaginative dimensions of deep time, showcasing its potential to inspire and provoke thought. He encourages us to reimagine our relationship with time, recognizing its profound impact on our understanding of the world and our place within it. Through his meticulous research and thoughtful analysis, Heringman offers a fresh perspective on the origins of the concept of deep time, shedding light on its rich historical and cultural significance.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691236773