Alfred Russel Wallace
Patrick ArmstrongA new, concise, critical biography of a towering but sometimes neglected figure of British science.
Sometimes referred to as the ‘Father of Biogeography’, Alfred Russel Wallace is known as the co-founder of the theory of evolution, and was well-versed in zoology, botany, anthropology, politics, astronomy and psychology. Although notorious for his unpopular and eccentric beliefs, he is still recognized as one of the leading figures in nineteenth-century British science.
Patrick Armstrong describes Wallace’s long life, from 1823 to the eve of World War I, and shows him to be, in many ways, a more interesting character than his fellow scientist Charles Darwin. This compact yet comprehensive biography takes a psychological approach to give insight into a man who was plagued with misfortune: legal issues, obtaining full-time employment, and relationship troubles all vexed him. The book unlocks the life of a restless traveller who, although he grew up with an ‘ordinary’ education, became one of the most influential scientists of his time.
A new, concise, critical biography of a towering but sometimes neglected figure of British science.
Sometimes referred to as the ‘Father of Biogeography’, Alfred Russel Wallace is known as the co-founder of the theory of evolution, and was well-versed in zoology, botany, anthropology, politics, astronomy and psychology. Although notorious for his unpopular and eccentric beliefs, he is still recognized as one of the leading figures in nineteenth-century British science.
Patrick Armstrong describes Wallace’s long life, from 1823 to the eve of World War I, and shows him to be, in many ways, a more interesting character than his fellow scientist Charles Darwin. This compact yet comprehensive biography takes a psychological approach to give insight into a man who was plagued with misfortune: legal issues, obtaining full-time employment, and relationship troubles all vexed him. The book unlocks the life of a restless traveller who, although he grew up with an ‘ordinary’ education, became one of the most influential scientists of his time.
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A slickly written, reasonably comprehensive, and well-balanced account of Wallace’s life, no small achievement for such a complex subject. With the aid of a large number of judiciously chose illustrations and quotations, Armstrong presents a story that the average layperson or undergraduate student can easily appreciate.
'Metascience
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The book is well illustrated, comprehensive and is presented in a direct and readable manner, displaying clearly the many sides of Wallace’s scientific career. The author gives us an enjoyably fascinating journey through Wallace’s life story, noting that “Wallace[’s] attributes were supreme courage and persistence, almost to the point of foolishness.” Perhaps, reading here of the massive contribution Wallace made to scientific knowledge, we might conclude that we all need to display a little foolishness from time to time!
'Magonia Review of Books
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Patrick Armstrong is well placed to explain the importance of Wallace’s contribution to the development of biogeography . . . He is a passionate advocate for Wallace and his contribution to science
'Isis Journal
Abbreviations
Preface
1 Early Life
2 South American Journey
3 Eight Years in Southeast Asia
4 The Natural Selection Insight and Its Aftermath
5 The Maturing Scientist
6 The Radical and the Heretic
7 To the End of the Universe
8 ‘A Contented Man’
9 Some Thoughts on Wallace’s Mind and Character
Chronology
References
Select Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Patrick Armstrong taught geography and ecology at the University of Western Australia for 28 years. He has written widely on the life and work of Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace, and is the author of Alfred Russel Wallace (Reaktion, 2019).
