Victorians were fascinated by the flood of strange new worlds that science was opening to
them. Exotic plants and animals poured into London from all corners of the Empire, while
revolutionary theories such as the radical idea that humans might be descended from apes
drew crowds to heated debates. Men and women of all social classes avidly collected
scientific specimens for display in their homes and devoured literature about science and its
practitioners.
Victorian Science in Context captures the essence of this fascination, charting the many
ways in which science influenced and was influenced by the larger Victorian culture.
Contributions from leading scholars in history, literature, and the history of science explore
questions such as: What did science mean to the Victorians? For whom was Victorian science
written? What ideological messages did it convey? The contributors show how practical
concerns interacted with contextual issues to mold Victorian science--which in turn shaped
much of the relationship between modern science and culture.
