The earth on show : fossils and the poetics of popular science, 1802-1856 PDF
Preview The earth on show : fossils and the poetics of popular science, 1802-1856
The Earth on Show The Earth on Show Fossils and the Poetics of Popular Science, 1802–1856 Ralph O’Connor The University of Chicago Press | Chicago and London ralph o’connor is lecturer in Irish-Scottish Studies in the Department of History, University of Aberdeen. He is the author of Icelandic Histories and Romances (2002) and has published articles on nineteenth-century popular science, Romantic poetry, and the mediaeval literatures of Iceland and Ireland. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 60637 The University of Chicago Press, Ltd., London © 2007 by The University of Chicago All rights reserved. Published 2007 Printed in the United States of America 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 1 2 3 4 5 ISBN-13: 978-0-226-61668-1 (cloth) ISBN-10: 0-226-61668-1 (cloth) Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data O’Connor, Ralph. The earth on show : fossils and the poetics of popular science, 1802–1856 / Ralph O’Connor p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-226-61668-1 (cloth : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-226-61668-1 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. Geology—Great Britain—History—19th century. 2. Geology—Social aspects—Great Britain—History—19th century. 3. Geology in literature. 4. Literature and science—Great Britain—History—19th century. 5. Literature and history—Great Britain. 6. Science—Philosophy—History—19th century. I. Title. QE13.G7035 2007 550.941(cid:2)09034—dc22 2007028061 (cid:2)(cid:3) The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the Ameri- can National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. For Clémence < Contents Acknowledgements ix List of Abbreviations xiii Introduction: Science as Literature 1 PART I BUILDING THE STORY 1 Enter the Mammoth 31 2 William Buckland: Antiquary and Wizard 71 3 Lizards and Literalists 117 4 Lyell Steps In 163 PART II STAGING THE SHOW 5 Marketing Geology 191 6 Polite Science and Narrative Form 217 7 Time Travel and Virtual Tourism in the Age of John Martin 263 8 Literary Monsters 325 9 Scenes and Legends from Deep Time 357 10 Hugh Miller and the Geologic Diorama 391 Epilogue: New Mythologies of the Ancient Earth 433 Appendix: Currencies, and Sizes of Books 453 Works Cited 455 Credits 491 Index 493 Plates follow page 370. Acknowledgements Since I began working on this project eight years ago, a great many people have given up their time and resources to help it on its way. Although it is customary to leave the spouse till last, I should like to begin by thanking my wife, Clémence. Despite the considerable demands of her own book projects, she read draft after draft of my work, giving it the full benefi t of her literary-critical acumen. That this book ever reached completion is due not only to her apple cakes, but above all to her matchless support, encouragement, and remarkable patience. This book is for her. Most of the research for this book was undertaken while I was a mem- ber of St John’s College, Cambridge, fi rst as a doctoral student, then as a Junior Research Fellow. It was funded initially by the Arts and Hu- manities Research Board, and then by the Master and Fellows of St John’s College. I am extremely grateful to the College for supporting me so generously, for giving me the time to pursue my research in a congenial and stimulating setting, and for contributing towards the costs of the book’s illustrations. I was subsequently appointed to a lectureship at the University of Aberdeen, where I was able to complete the book thanks partly to my employers’ policy of off ering fi rst-time lecturers a generous reduction in initial teaching workload; I am grateful to my colleagues in the Departments of History and Celtic for shouldering the shortfall. The College of Arts and Social Sciences and the School of Divinity, History and Philosophy also made substantial contributions towards the costs of illustrations. I am deeply grateful to the many friends and colleagues who have helped me to lick this book into shape. I owe particularly weighty debts
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