These essays are beautiful, Cody. I’m intrigued by your distinction between the art of natural history and the contemporary biological sciences. Are there naturalists whose writings particularly uphold the kind of artistry you value?
Thanks Zach! It's a tough question, I think the majority of modern writers on natural history fall into the 'biology' trap, though EO Wilson was a beautiful writer when he was alive. Richard Fortey, a paleontologist, wrote a few really excellently written books in the 90s. The most poetic writer in biology recently I think was William D Hamilton who died in the 1990s, but his collected writings are really worth reading for the literary value. He's the only one in recent times who could write a scientific paper that read like a poem. David Attenborough's early nature documentaries also have a poetic quality enhanced by eerie music.
Historically, Alfred Wallace was a brilliant writer; I strongly recommend "The Malay Archipelago", his travelogue from 19th century Indonesia.
Otherwise, I find many papers in entomology, botany etc from the pre WWII period are well written and have a certain literary beauty which was completely lost in the professionalism that dominated the sciences starting from the 50's onward.
Thank you, Cody! I'll have to look into those naturalists. Also, I think you've explained why my favorite reference for birds is an ornithologist named William Dawson, who wrote several beautifully written and observed books between 1900 and 1925.
yes! That was a great era for natural history writing... I just looked up the William Dawson books; those are exactly the kind of writing I was thinking of.
These essays are beautiful, Cody. I’m intrigued by your distinction between the art of natural history and the contemporary biological sciences. Are there naturalists whose writings particularly uphold the kind of artistry you value?
Thanks Zach! It's a tough question, I think the majority of modern writers on natural history fall into the 'biology' trap, though EO Wilson was a beautiful writer when he was alive. Richard Fortey, a paleontologist, wrote a few really excellently written books in the 90s. The most poetic writer in biology recently I think was William D Hamilton who died in the 1990s, but his collected writings are really worth reading for the literary value. He's the only one in recent times who could write a scientific paper that read like a poem. David Attenborough's early nature documentaries also have a poetic quality enhanced by eerie music.
Historically, Alfred Wallace was a brilliant writer; I strongly recommend "The Malay Archipelago", his travelogue from 19th century Indonesia.
Otherwise, I find many papers in entomology, botany etc from the pre WWII period are well written and have a certain literary beauty which was completely lost in the professionalism that dominated the sciences starting from the 50's onward.
that's my 2 cents anyway!
Thank you, Cody! I'll have to look into those naturalists. Also, I think you've explained why my favorite reference for birds is an ornithologist named William Dawson, who wrote several beautifully written and observed books between 1900 and 1925.
yes! That was a great era for natural history writing... I just looked up the William Dawson books; those are exactly the kind of writing I was thinking of.