Poetics of Natural History

Early American naturalists developed a poetic sensibility to capture, catalog, and commemorate America's biodiversity, including writing and art. Christoph Irmscher's book explores this sensibility, showcasing the impact of Harvard scientist-turned-explorer Louis Agassiz's racist pseudoscience. This expanded edition features a preface and art from Rosamond Purcell.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 480 pages
Publication date: 30 August 2019
Publisher: Rutgers University Press

Winner of the 2000 American Studies Network Prize and the Literature and Language Award from the Association of American Publishers, Inc., Early American naturalists assembled dazzling collections of native flora and fauna, from John Bartrams botanical garden in Philadelphia and the artful display of animals in Charles Willson Peales museum to P. T. Barnums American Museum, infamously characterized by Henry James as "halls of humbug." Yet physical collections were only one of the myriad ways that these naturalists captured, catalogued, and commemorated Americas rich biodiversity. They also turned to writing and art, from John Edward Holbrooks forays into the fascinating world of herpetology to John James Audubons masterful portraits of American birds.

In this groundbreaking, now classic book, Christoph Irmscher argues that early American natural historians developed a distinctly poetic sensibility that allowed them to imagine themselves as part of, and not apart from, their environment. He also demonstrates what happens to such inclusiveness in the hands of Harvard scientist-turned Amazonian explorer Louis Agassiz, whose racist pseudoscience appalled his student William James.

This expanded, full-color edition of The Poetics of Natural History features a preface and art from award-winning artist Rosamond Purcell and invites the reader to be fully immersed in an era when the boundaries between literature, art, and science became fluid.

Weight: 970g
Dimension: 255 x 180 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781978805866