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Marvels and misconceptions in the early childhood of modern science

Review: “The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science.” By Richard Holmes


Dr Steven Micklethwaite

Have you ever wondered why we have concepts such as the solitary scientific genius, the 'Eureka moment', or the great public scientific lecture? Or why the myth that science is an objective enterprise, somehow independent of ideology and society, is so hard to shake? Richard Holmes opens his book with the claim that such concepts were cemented in our collective consciousness because of the remarkable impact of British science on society, during the upheavals of the Romantic period (roughly between 1768 and 1861). He goes on to weave together a colourful collection of biographies of people who shaped the early childhood of science with their discoveries and their personalities. Some of these are household names (the naturalist Joseph Banks and chemist Humphrey Davy), whereas others really ought to be (the incredible astronomers William and Catherine Herschel).

I warmed to this book from the opening paragraph, where Holmes describes his own wonder at a childhood chemistry experiment. And I continued to delight in the book’s enthusiasm and beautifully rounded descriptions of the characters he focuses on. This is no dry tome of sterile scientific discovery, nor is it really just a history of science.  Here we have people vibrantly brought to life; their discoveries yes, but also their childhoods, relationships, personalities, beliefs, dreams and ambitions. As such, the book is able to touch on a broad expanse of themes like the early role of women in science, the ethical implications of scientific practice and discovery, the promotion by the state of scientific endeavours for political ends, or the interaction between science and faith (although in this area Holmes is less convincing).
     
 












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