The Making of the Chemist: The Social History of Chemistry in Europe, 1789-1914

Description

Modern chemistry, so alarming, so necessary, so ubiquitous, became a mature science in nineteenth-century Europe. As it developed, often from a lowly position in medicine or in industry, so chemists established themselves as professional men; but differently in different countries. In 1820 chemistry was an autonomous science of great prestige but chemists had no corporate identity. It was 1840 before national chemical societies were first formed; and many countries lagged fifty years behind. Chemists are the largest of scientific groups; and in this book we observe the social history of chemistry in fifteen countries, ranging from the British Isles to Lithuania and Greece. There are regularities and similarities; and by describing how national chemical professions emerged under particular economic and social circumstances, the book contributes significantly to European history of science.

From the hardback review: '... this is much more than just a collection of national case-studies. It outlines the general trends, the main developments and the key actors in the process leading to the professional chemist, while providing a wealth of information that qualifies and diversifies the general scheme. In this respect, it is a model of collaborative publication, with genuine exchanges between the contributors and a thorough job of co-ordination by the two editors.' Bernadette Bensaude-Vincent, Nature From the hardback review: 'The stories in this book will be read with enjoyment both by scientists and by those interested in the history of European culture and society.' The Chemical Intelligencer From the hardback review: ' ... this is a book for everyone interested in the history of our subject, and highly recommended reading.' Angewandte Chemie