Erasmus Darwin: A Life of Unequalled Achievement Book + PRICE WATCH * Amazon pricing is not included in price watch

Erasmus Darwin: A Life of Unequalled Achievement Book

A cheerful biography of a resolutely cheerful genius, Desmond King-Hele's Erasmus Darwin: A Life of Unequalled Achievement tells the astonishing story of the grandfather of the more famous Charles. Born in 1731, twice-married with an in- between mistress, the father of 12 children, doctor, poet, inventor and scientist, Erasmus Darwin was an extraordinary man. Known for his benevolence, good humour, terrific bedside manner, and almost uncannily accurate prognoses--for example, if Dr D. said you were going to die in two weeks, you did as you were told--he developed a theory of evolution a full 70 years before Charles turned his mind to it. A 19-line note at the end of King-Hele's book lists 86 inventions, discoveries and contributions to the history of life, the universe and everything that Erasmus made during his 71 years on this planet. These range from air travel to windmills, via geology, hereditary diseases, sewage farms and speaking machines. He also wrote bestselling poetry (The Botanic Garden, and a huge medical tome (Zoonomia) which despite seeming eccentric today, was hugely influential when published in the 1790s. Erasmus Darwin: A Life of Unequalled Achievement is gentlemanly, fun, highly readable, terrific on the scientific background to the Industrial Revolution, extremely well-indexed and guaranteed to make even the most hyperactive over-achiever feel inadequate. -- Lisa GeeRead More

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  • Amazon

    Erasmus Darwin is now recognized by many as one of the most extraordinary figures of the 18th century - a many-sided genius, almost as prolific in invention as Leonardo and whose insights are still moulding the 20th century. This volume documents his life, works and influence.

  • Blackwell

    It has been said of Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802) that no one from his day to ours has ever rivaled him in his achievements in such a wide range of fields. One of the foremost physicians of his time, Darwin also had extraordinary scientific insight...

  • 1900357089
  • 9781900357081
  • Desmond King-Hele
  • 4 May 1999
  • Giles de la Mare Publishers
  • Paperback (Book)
  • 448
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