The Life of a Scotch Naturalist - Thomas Edward - Nature And Natural History

by Samuel Smiles

Originally published in 1876. An extremely comprehensive history of Thomas Edward's life and work as a naturalist. Contents Include : Early Years Schools and Schoolmasters Apprenticeship Runs Away From Home Resumes Work Settles at Banff Night Wanderers Forms a Natural History Collection Exhibits His Collection at Aberdeen Resumes His Former Life and Habits Begins To Publish His Observations Rambles Amongst Birds Literature and Correspondence By The Sea Shore Discoveries Among The Crustacea Discoveries Amongst Zoophytes, Molluscs, and Fishes Antiquities, Kitchen Middens Conclusion. Illustrated throughout. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Home Farm Books are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

448 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2005

About the author

Samuel Smiles (23 December 1812 – 16 April 1904), was a Scottish author and government reformer, who campaigned on a Chartist platform. But he concluded that more progress would come from new attitudes than from new laws. His masterpiece, Self-Help (1859), promoted thrift and claimed that poverty was caused largely by irresponsible habits, while also attacking materialism and laissez-faire government. It has been called "the bible of mid-Victorian liberalism", and it raised Smiles to celebrity status almost overnight.

Reviews

[Benjamin Deck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thomas Edward led an interesting life. Much to my dismay author Samuel Smiles precludes any mention of Darwin's publishing of, "The Origin of Species". Sure enough Smiles cuts right through 1859 and the following years without mention of Darwin or natural selection. Smiles' exclusion may come because Darwin's work wasn't well known to the public until years after its publishment. Although, I find this hypothesis difficult to comprehend due to Edwards correspondence with many academics.

Overall the book is a good account of a lesser known figure in natural history. Smiles' writing style is a bit jumpy and the chapters are loosely defined, this at times makes the book a difficult and vapid.