Books and the Sciences in History

Description

The history of the sciences and the history of the book are complementary, and there has been much recent innovative research in the intersection of these lively fields. This accessibly-written, well-illustrated volume is the first systematic general work to do justice to the fruits of recent scholarship. The twenty specially-commissioned chapters, by an international cast of distinguished scholars, cover the period from the Carolingian renaissance of learning to the mid nineteenth-century consolidation of science. They examine all aspects of the authorship, production, distribution, and reception of manuscripts, books and journals in the various sciences. An editorial introduction surveys the many profitable interactions of the history of the sciences with the history of books. Two afterwords highlight the relevances of this wide-ranging survey to the study of the development of scientific disciplines and to the current predicaments of scientific communication in the electronic age.

'This book is a most welcome addition to the literature on books and the history of science. It contains a wealth of fascinating detail about the composition, production, and distribution of scientific books, their readership, and the complex relationships which existed between the producers and consumers of books... this collection provides an excellent introduction to the subject, firmly establishing the importance of book history for the history of science, and setting the agenda for what should be a promising period of interaction between these complementary historical endeavours.' Metascience '... a book no scholar can afford to ignore, above all thanks to its penetrating 'Introduction' and masterly 'Afterwords'. Beautifully produced, copiously illustrated, and made available from the start in paperback ... it upholds the excellent traditions established in this field by the Cambridge University Press.' BJHS '... beneficial as a source or scholars who need clear, concise introductory material for other projects connected to book publication or the sciences ... an extremely valuable and worthwhile work. This book is a must for any research library and would be extremely valuable to scholars interested in the history of printing, publishing, or science. It would also be an excellent textbook for interdisciplinary graduate courses on the nature of books and the history of science.' Envoi 'To the extent that Books and the Sciences in History shows that the history of the book has implications for the history of changes in disciplinary boundaries, it challenges the received view that the discipline of philosophy has always looked at the same kinds of problems and that the questions that perplex one generation are of interest to them all. Surely this book is a clear statement that intellectual historians of every stripe must look beyond the text to issues of context.' BJHS 'It is this reviewer's considered opinion that Books and the Sciences in History is a must for anyone contemplating doing history of science, especially that of the early modern age 1500-1800.' Centaurus '... timely ... builds on distinguished studies in book history ... a substantial, innovative and stimulating assessment ... wide ranging, challenging and always thoughtful ... Books and the Sciences in History is an authoritative, learned, and thoroughly readable analysis that surely marks a milestone in the way we approach our subject.' Medical History