Blog | Highly Recommended: Richard Holmes’ The Age of Wonder |
Just finished this fantastic study of “Romantic Science.” Coleridge, Mary Shelley, Sir Joseph Banks, the Herschels, Mungo Park, Humphrey Davey, are all presented with contexts intact. Not only is this book informative, but it’s delightfully written–a bit like eating ice cream with the eyes. I also learned something new: the great Balloon Craze of the late 18th century. I’ll definitely seek out Humphrey Davey’s literary works–primarily the poetry– and futuristic speculations.
Truly a “cabinet of wonders” of a book. Holmes has also written a two volume study of Coleridge, the first volume of which is one of the best biographies that I have ever read.
