The Man Who Organized Nature : The Life of Linnaeus / Gunnar Broberg and Anna Paterson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Broberg, Gunnar, 1942-2022, author.

Paterson, Anna (Anna Tora), 1942- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Naturalists--Sweden--Biography.

Naturalists.

Linné, Carl von, 1707-1778.

Linné, Carl von.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (513 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Princeton, New Jersey : Princeton University Press, [2023]

Summary:

"The Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) is the known as the father of modern biological taxonomy. One of the greatest scientists in history, he formalized and popularized the system of binomial nomenclature and classified thousands of species of plants and animals. In his field, he is so well known that he is often referred to simply as "L." In this comprehensive biography, Linnaeus scholar Gunnar Broberg, draws on a wide range of new research to paint a vivid and intimate portrait of the man. Delving deep into Linnaeus's correspondence and other contemporary sources, Broberg introduces reader's to Linnaeus's family and takes them along on his famous expedition to Lapland. He also investigates the scientist's private thoughts on subjects such as evolution and religion, which often yielded eccentric results. Despite, or perhaps because, of his great achievement, Linnaeus could be moody and egotistical, and this nuanced biography does not shy away from presenting both his scientific achievements and human failings"-- Provided by publisher.

"A new biography of Carl Linnaeus, offering a vivid portrait of Linnaeus's life and workCarl Linnaeus (1707-1778), known as the father of modern biological taxonomy, formalized and popularized the system of binomial nomenclature used to classify plants and animals. Linnaeus himself classified thousands of species; the simple and immediately recognizable abbreviation "L" is used to mark classifications originally made by Linnaeus. This biography, by the leading authority on Linnaeus, offers a vivid portrait of Linnaeus's life and work. Drawing on a wide range of previously unpublished sources-including diaries and personal correspondence-as well as new research, it presents revealing and original accounts of his family life, the political context in which he pursued his work, and his eccentric views on sexuality.The Man Who Organized Nature describes Linnaeus's childhood in a landscape of striking natural beauty and how this influenced his later work. Linnaeus's Lutheran pastor father, knowledgeable about plants and an enthusiastic gardener, helped foster an early interest in botany. The book examines the political connections that helped Linnaeus secure patronage for his work, and untangles his ideas about sexuality. These were not, as often assumed, an attempt to naturalize gender categories but more likely reflected the laissez-faire attitudes of the era. Linnaeus, like many other brilliant scientists, could be moody and egotistical; the book describes his human failings as well as his medical and scientific achievements. Written in an engaging and accessible style, The Man Who Organized Nature-one of the only biographies of Linnaeus to appear in English-provides new and fascinating insights into the life of one of history's most consequential and enigmatic scientists"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Cover

Contents

Preface

Who Was He?

Part I. A Great Man Can Come from a Small House, 1707-1741

1. The Guardian Tree

2. Studies in Växjö and Lund

3. The Academy in Uppsala

4. In a Mythical Landscape: Lapland

5. Diaeta Naturalis

6. In the Mountains and under the Ground: County Dalarna

7. In the Land of Tulips

8. Nature's Order 1

9. A Stockholm Interlude

Part II. At The Height of the Ages of Man, 1741-1758

10. Uppsala and Enlightenment

11. Three Programmatic Speeches

12. Provincial Travels on Behalf of Parliament

13. A Language in Which Everything Matters

Color Plates

14. Flora et Fauna Svecica

15. Family Life 1: Scenes from a Marriage

16. In the Garden, at Herbations, among the Collections

17. Ex Cathedra

18. What Is More Precious than Life, More Pleasing than Health?

19. Academic Amusements

20. Appetite for Work, Weariness, Communication

21. When Linnaeus Wrote, Salvius Printed, and Tessin Bought the Books

22. Linnaeus, "the Sexualist"

23. Curiosity-Driven Research

24. Nature and Culture

25. Entrepreneur and Economist

26. To Describe the World

27. Nature's Order 2

28. Homo sapiens

Part III. The Old Linnaeus, 1758-1778

29. Honors

30. Among Students and among Senior Academics

31. Family Life 2: Hammarby

32. Friends and Enemies

33. Problems

34. A New Synthesis?

35. A Philosopher of Science or a Scientist?

36. The Back of God and God's Footsteps

37. Nemesis Divina

38. Solomon on Growing Old

Epilogue I. Family Life 3: Mother and Child

Epilogue II. Linneanism

Abbreviations

Notes

Sources and Literature

Index.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-691-24819-2

OCLC:

1376193233