Age Of Wonder, The: How The Romantic Generation Discovered

Description:
Shortlisted for the BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction Shortlisted for the Royal Society Prize for Science Book Richard Holmes, prize-winning biographer of Coleridge and Shelley, explores the scientific ferment that swept across Britain at the end of the 18th century in his ground-breaking new biography 'The Age of Wonder'. 'The Age of Wonder' is Richard Holmes's first major work of biography in over a decade. It has been inspired by the scientific ferment that swept through Britain at the end of the eighteenth century, 'The Age of Wonder' and which Holmes now radically redefines as 'the revolution of Romantic Science'. The book opens with Joseph Banks, botanist on Captain Cook's first Endeavour voyage, stepping onto a Tahitian beach in 1769, hoping to discover Paradise. Many other voyages of discovery swiftly follow, while Banks, now President of the Royal Society in London, becomes our narrative guide to what truly emerges as an Age of Wonder. Banks introduces us to the two scientific figures that dominate the book: astronomer William Herschel and chemist Humphry Davy. Herschel's tireless dedication to the stars, assisted (and perhaps rivalled) by his comet-finding sister Caroline, changed forever the public conception of the solar system, the Milky Way galaxy and the meaning of the universe itself. Davy first shocked the scientific community with his near-suicidal gas experiments in Bristol, then went on to save thousands of lives with his Safety Lamp and established British chemistry as the leading professional science in Europe. But at the cost, perhaps, of his own heart. Holmes proposes a radical vision of science before Darwin, exploring the earliest ideas of deep time and deep space, the creative rivalry with the French scientific establishment, and the startling impact of discovery on great writers and poets such as Mary Shelley, Coleridge, Byron and Keats. With his trademark sense of the human drama, he shows how great ideas and experiments are born out of lonely passion, how scientific discoveries (and errors) are made, how intense relationships are forged and broken by research, and how religious faith and scientific truth collide. The result is breathtaking in its originality, its story-telling energy, and not least, in its intellectual significance.

Review:
'Thrilling: a portrait of bold adventure among the stars, across the oceans, deep into matter, poetry and the human psyche.' Peter Forbes, Independent 'A glorious blend of the scientific and the literary that deserves to carry off armfuls of awards and confirms Holmes's reputation as one on the stellar biographers of the age.' Dominic Sandbrook, Daily Telegraph, Books of the Year 'No question -- the non-fiction book of the year is Richard Holmes's 'The Age of Wonder', not only beautifully written, but also kicking open a new perspective on the Romantic age.' Andrew Marr, Observer, Books of the Year 'Itself a wonder -- a masterpiece of skilful and imaginative storytelling.' Michael Holroyd, Guardian, Books of the Year 'Rich, solid and sparkling, this is a wonderful book.' Claire Tomalin, Guardian, Books of the Year 'Dazzling and approachable. It's a brilliantly written account!original in its connections and very generous in its attention.' Andrew Motion, Guardian, Books of the Year 'Witty, intellectually dazzling and wholly gripping.' Richard Mabey, Guardian, Books of the Year Stephen Howe, Independent (Book of the Year) 'Glittering.' Christian Tyler, Financial Times (Book of the Year) 'A splendid plum pudding of a book.' Nigel Hawkes , The Times (Book of the Year) 'Holmes...brings the full force of his love and understanding of the Romantic Age to the lives of three pioneering figures...writing, like the figures he describes...driven by a common ideal of intense, even reckless personal commitment to discover, and this is what makes this book so wonderful.' The Times (Book of the Year) 'Exhilarating in its ambition.' Scotsman (Book of the Year) 'A dazzling cornucopia.' Economist (Book of the Year) 'No one could be better qualified for the task!Scientists, like poets, need a sense of wonder, a sense of humility and a sense of humour. Holmes has all three in abundance.' Sunday Telegraph 'Exuberant!Holmes suffuses his book with the joy, hope and wonder of the revolutionary era. Reading it is like a holiday in a sunny landscape, full of fascinating bypaths that lead to unexpected vistas!it succeeds inspiringly.' John Carey, Sunday Times 'Heartbreaking accounts of hopes and fears, ambitions and disappointments dance along the pages!There is no dry page in this visceral, spirited and sexy account.' The Times 'Richard Holmes's stellar collective biography!gives a gripping account of the scientific research that inspired a sense of wonder in poets and experimenters alike!fascinating!this beautifully crafted book deserves all the praise it will undoubtedly attract. Well-researched and vividly written 'The Age of Wonder' will fascinate scientists and poets alike.' Literary Review 'A new model for scientific exploration and poetic expression in the Romantic period. Informative and invigorating, generous and beguiling, it is, indeed, wonderful.' Guardian 'Vividly conveys the compelling fusion of art and science in the 18th century!this is a book to linger over, to savour the tantalising details of the minor figures!'The Age of Wonder' allows readers to recapture the combined thrill of emerging scientific order and imaginative creativity.' Financial Times 'Wonderfully engaging!Holmes brilliantly illuminates the human and subjective aspects of science-making.' Scotsman 'Mesmerising!Holmes succeeds in bringing alive this period in all its complexities without ever losing the narrative pace!his writing itself proves that science and poetry can be united.' Mail on Sunday 'A seamless narrative that is laced, to good effect, with a great deal of titillating gossip. The end result is a masterpiece: informative, amusing, insightful -- and utterly compelling.' Observer 'Delicious!exuberant and thought-provoking.' New Statesman 'Fascinating in its own right; but more than that it serves as a model of how science should be taught!recovering and communicating the beauties and truths of modern science, uniting the two cultures, awaits its genius. This book provides the inspiration.' Spectator 'Compelling!a remarkable achievement. Romanticism in all of its multifaceted richness has had no guide more eloquent than Richard Holmes.' THES 'Vivid and finely constructed.' Miranda Seymour, Observer 'Magisterial!Holmes makes heavy use of personal diaries, journals, letters and notebooks!this confessional dimension!lends the book a wonderful intimacy!compelling.' Evening Standard Praise for Coleridge: Early Visions 'One of the greatest literary biographies ever written.' Daily Telegraph 'Dazzling. A biography like few I have ever read.' James Wood, Guardian Praise for Coleridge: Darker Reflections 'One of the greatest biographies of the century. Pure joy to read, it is a shimmering portrait of the mature artist veering between brilliance and despair.' Financial Times 'This -- and I can't remember ever thinking this before so strongly -- is a biography to grow old with.' Independent

Prizes:
Shortlisted for BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction 2009.
Shortlisted for Dingle Prize 2009.

Author Biography:
Richard Holmes is Professor of Biographical Studies at the University of East Anglia. His is a Fellow of the British Academy, has honorary doctorates from UEA and the Tavistock Institute, and was awarded an OBE in 1992. His first book, 'Shelley: The Pursuit', won the Somerset Maugham Prize in 1974. 'Coleridge: Early Visions' won the 1989 Whitbread Book of the Year, and 'Dr Johnson & Mr Savage' won the James Tait Black Prize. 'Coleridge: Darker Reflections' won the Duff Cooper Prize and the Heinemann Award. He has published two studies of European biography, 'Footsteps: Adventures of a Romantic Biographer' in 1985, and 'Sidetracks: Explorations of a Romantic Biographer' in 2000.