The Giant Squid in Transatlantic Culture: The Monsterization of Molluscs

This book challenges the conventional understanding of the human relationship with the giant squid and reveals its historical inaccuracies, arguing that animals like cephalopods have a more complex and fascinating past intertwined with human history. It is a historical inquiry into transatlantic culture from the late eighteenth century to the turn of the twentieth century, providing new knowledge about mollusc studies, seafaring culture, and the relationship between humans and animals.

Format: Hardback
Length: 254 pages
Publication date: 07 July 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the profound and intricate historical relationship between sea animals and humans in transatlantic culture during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It challenges the prevailing notion that the human interaction with the giant squid is merely a simplistic and historically inaccurate understanding. By exploring the origins of mythical sea monsters like the Kraken, the book sheds light on the previously held belief that humans and seafarers have regarded giant squids as terrifying and repulsive creatures since the dawn of time. Moreover, it goes beyond a mere critical response to previous works by unveiling the fascinating and multifaceted past of animals like cephalopods, which have often been defined solely in biological contexts. This book serves as a historical exploration of the transatlantic culture, spanning from the late eighteenth century to the turn of the twentieth century. It offers valuable insights into the history of mollusc studies, seafaring culture, and the intricate relationship between humans and animals during this period. Through its comprehensive analysis, the book provides readers with a deeper appreciation of the complexities and nuances of the human-animal bond in the past.

Weight: 660g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032318639