Literature and Science in the Nineteenth Century: An Anthology

Although we are used to thinking of science and the humanities as separate disciplines, in the nineteenth century this division was not recognized. As the scientist John Tyndall pointed out, not only were science and literature both striving to better man's estate, they shared a common language and cultural heritage. The quest for origins, the nature of the relationship between society and the individual, and what it meant to be human were subjects that occupied both the writing of scientists and novelists.

This anthology brings together a generous selection of scientific and literary material to explore the exchanges and interactions between them. Fed by a common imagination, scientists and creative writers alike used stories, imagery, style, and structure to convey their meaning, and to produce works of enduring power. It includes writing by Charles Babbage, Charles Darwin, Sir Humphry Davy, Charles Dickens, George Eliot, Michael Faraday, Thomas Malthus, Louis Pasteur, Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley, Mark Twain and many others. Also included are introductions and notes to guide the reader.

About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.


Author: Laura Otis
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 08/03/2009
Pages: 624
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 7.70h x 5.00w x 1.50d
ISBN13: 9780199554652
ISBN10: 019955465X
BISAC Categories:
- Literary Collections | Letters
- Science | History
- Literary Criticism | English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh