My Life
A Record of Events and Opinions

This autobiography of eminent Victorian scientist, explorer and social activist Alfred Russel Wallace (1823–1913) was published in 1905.

Alfred Russel Wallace (Author)

9781108029599, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 16 June 2011

504 pages, 21 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2.9 cm, 0.64 kg

Alfred Russel Wallace (1823–1913) was a British naturalist, explorer, geographer and biologist, best remembered as the co-discoverer, with Darwin, of natural selection. His extensive fieldwork and advocacy of the theory of evolution led to him being considered one of the nineteenth century's foremost biologists. He was later moved by a variety of personal experiences to examine the concept of spirituality, but his exploration into the potential for compatibility between spiritualism and natural selection alienated him from the scientific community. He was also a social activist, highly critical of unjust social and economic systems in nineteenth-century Britain, and one of the first prominent scientists to express concern over the environmental impact of human activity. This autobiography was first published in 1905. Volume 2 deals with his many eminent acquaintances, including Darwin and Huxley, his lecture tour in America, and his involvement with spiritualism and with social activism.

25. My friends and acquaintances – Darwin
26. My friends and acquaintances – Spencer, Huxley, Mivart, etc.
27. My friends and acquaintances – Sir James Brooke, Professor Rolleston, Mr. Aug. Mongredien, Sir Richard Owen, Dr. Richard Spruce
28. My friends and acquaintances – Dr. Purland, Mr. Samuel Butler, Professor Haughton
29. Sketch of my life and work, 1871-1886
30. An American lecture tour – Boston to Washington
31. Lecturing tour in America – Washington to San Francisco
32. Lecturing tour in America – California to Quebec
33. Literary work, etc., 1887-1905
34. Land nationalization to socialism, and the friends they brought me
35. Mesmerism to Spiritualism – correspondence with scientific and literary men
36. Two biological inquirers: an episode in the history of Spiritualism
37. Spiritualistic experiences in England and America
38. The anti-vaccination crusade
39. A chapter on money matters – earnings and losses – speculations and law-suits
40. My character – new ideas – predictions fulfilled
Addendum
Index.

Subject Areas: History of science [PDX]