ebooks Flower Hunters by John Gribbin; Mary Gribbin in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. greatBy C. M. StahlSince the 1935 publication of Paul de Kruif’s Microbe Hunter’s writers have been borrowing his style. de Kruif must roll in his grave imagining that he created a style of writing that appears to be deathless. It is a biographically driven history of science spanning a length of time to show how technology and cumulative scientific literature became available to researchers; expanding scientific knowledge.John Gribbin is a science historian whose books have been reviewed on this web site many times. He always acknowledges his wife but this time she is the lead author. It had a new twist both on the style and subject matter. John’s books tend toward physics but this one botany. The de Kruif style was to select eleven main characters (and countless minor players in the history of floral collecting. This allowed them to track history of botany from the late 17th century to the early 20th . With the exception of Linneaus; all to the characters were from the British Isles.Gardens became the rage in England in the early 18th century. They were status symbols for everyone. The wealthy created botanical monuments to themselves; the poor had small plots or even a pot to show off their gardening prowess. This spurred the flower and tree industry and created the flower hunters.The book begins with John Ray who has permanent place in history and includes Carl Linnaeus; Joseph Banks; and Joseph Hooks who likewise have hundreds of years of press. They are all noble and have advanced botany significantly but their stories are often told. The Gribbin’s provide new information about them in the book but it is some of the other players that were more interesting to those of who are not flower scholars.Like early ornithology; the history of botany is filled with people with medical degrees. The yen for botanical searches was greater than the prestige and money that came with the medical profession. The hunters were naturalists and did field research across the entire world. They served the collectors well; often at the peril of their own health. Some died young and others were able to retire to relative luxury.They were scientists; intent on understanding details of their findings. They sought to systematize plants and to determine health value. They discovered palliatives; dyes and ornaments. As technology surged during this period so did the botanical field. When glass prices dropped significantly Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward devised the Wardian case which was a bottle that improved the ability to transfer specimens in all weather conditions and for long periods of time. Months on a ship traveling around the world to the British destination ruined many specimens prior to the 1850s.Marianne North was the only woman who was honored with a chapter though other women were mentioned in the book. She began her botanical career after the age of 40 and traveled to many different countries painting depictions of many flowers. There were images of hers shown in the two sections of plates included in the book. The 19th century portraitist Julia Margaret Cameron photographed her and that is also in the plates.The prose was always lively. The plates were beautiful. The history was as sublime as it was informative. Readers of the Gribbin’s expect no less and were not let down in Flower Hunters.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Very well presented; very well researched; and an enjoyable read.By Michael PapayMary and John Gribbin have given us a gift in their researching and writing this book.Of the three "plant hunting" books I have read; this is unquestionably the best and most interesting.Modern botany wants us to begin where Linnaeus wanted us to begin; with him; but Mary and John Gribbin take us back to the truth; to the inimitable John Ray. From there the Gribbins portray the fascinating lives of plant explorers and the importance of their contributions to horticulture; medicine; and agriculture. It is not a textbook; but a well told story woven together from the chapters of many lives and countless adventures.I found myself halfway through the book before I felt I'd even begun.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Fascinating!By quilt history nutThe history of the plant hunters is well laid out in this book. I especially liked the discussion at the end of each chapter of what plants an individual plant hunter contributed to our modern gardens.