Science in the Nineteenth-Century Periodical
Reading the Magazine of Nature

This book identifies and analyses the presentation of science in the periodical press in Britain between 1800 and 1900.

Geoffrey Cantor (Author), Gowan Dawson (Author), Graeme Gooday (Author), Richard Noakes (Author), Sally Shuttleworth (Author), Jonathan R. Topham (Author)

9780521836371, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 9 September 2004

348 pages, 28 b/w illus. 3 tables
23.6 x 16.1 x 2.4 cm, 0.633 kg

'… the book is an invaluable work in its own right and as well as a pointer to the potential for future research. I am delighted to have it on my shelves.' Journal of the History of Science

For the Victorian reading public, periodicals played a far greater role than books in shaping their understanding of new discoveries and theories in science, technology and medicine. Such understandings were formed not merely by serious scientific articles, but also by glancing asides in political reports, fictional representations, or humorous attacks in comic magazines. Ranging across diverse forms of periodicals, from top-selling religious and juvenile magazines through to popular fiction-based periodicals, and from the campaigning 'new journalism' of the late century to the comic satire of Punch, this book explores the ways in which scientific ideas and developments were presented to a variety of Victorian audiences. In addition, it offers three case studies of the representation of particular areas of science: 'baby science', scientific biography, and electricity. This intriguing collaborative volume sheds light on issues relating to history and history of science, literature, book history, and cultural and media studies.

List of illustrations
Preface
1. Introduction Gowan Dawson, Richard Noakes and Jonathan R. Topham
Part I. Genres: 2. The Mirror of Literature, Amusement and Instruction and cheap miscellanies in early nineteenth-century Britain Jonathan R. Topham
3. The Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine and religious monthlies in early nineteenth-century Britain Jonathan R. Topham
4. Punch and comic journalism in mid-Victorian Britain Richard Noakes
5. The Cornhill Magazine and shilling monthlies in mid-Victorian Britain Gowan Dawson
6. The Boy's Own Paper and late-Victorian juvenile magazines Richard Noakes
7. The Review of Reviews and the new journalism in late-Victorian Britain Gowan Dawson
Part II. Themes: 8. Tickling babies: gender, authority and 'baby science' Sally Shuttleworth
9. Scientific biography in the periodical press Geoffrey Cantor
10. Profit and prophecy: electricity in the late-Victorian periodical Graeme Gooday
Notes
Select bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: History of science [PDX], Literary studies: c 1800 to c 1900 [DSBF]