University Libraries Faculty & Staff Book Gallery
Natural Selection and Beyond: The Intellectual Legacy of Alfred Russel Wallace
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Description
Alfred Russel Wallace (1823 - 1913) was one of the late nineteenth century's most potent intellectual forces. His link to Darwin as co-discoverer of the principle of natural selection alone would have secured him a place in history, but he went on to complete work entitling him to recognition as the 'father' of modern biogeographical studies, as a pioneer in the field of astrobiology, and as an important contributor to subjects as far-ranging as glaciology, land reform, anthropology and ethnography, and epidemiology. Beyond this, many are coming to regard Wallace as the pre-eminent field biologist, collector, and naturalist of tropical regions. Add to that the fact that he was a vocal supporter of spiritualism, socialism, and the rights of the ordinary person, and it quickly becomes apparent that Wallace was a man of extraordinary breadth of attention. Yet his work in many of these areas is still not well known, and still less recognized is his relevance to current day research almost 100 years after his death. This rich collection of writings by more than twenty historians and scientists reviews and reflects on the work that made Wallace a famous man in his own time, and a figure of extraordinary influence and continuing interest today.
ISBN
9780199239177
Publication Date
1-1-2008
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Keywords
Alfred Russel Wallace, essays
Disciplines
Arts and Humanities | Geography | History | Life Sciences | Religion | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Smith, Charles H. and Beccaloni, George, "Natural Selection and Beyond: The Intellectual Legacy of Alfred Russel Wallace" (2008). University Libraries Faculty & Staff Book Gallery. 7.
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlps_book/7
Comments
Charles H. Smith is Professor of Library Public Information Services at Western Kentucky University. His research interests include biogeography and evolutionary theory, systems theory, bibliography, and Alfred Russel Wallace. He has published four books, nearly a hundred journal articles and reviews, and currently maintains the website The Alfred Russel Wallace Page at http://www.wku.edu/~smithch/index1.htm