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The Victorian author is known for his dense novels, exploring the intricacies of a rapidly-changing society, but he was also a keen science enthusiast, as a new exhibition shows, as Felix Online reports.
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| Dickens at his desk, 1858 From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository |
When you hear of Charles Dickens, you most likely instantly think of classic works of literature, such as A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, or Great Expectations. However, seldom does one hear he was a man of science – let alone an early science communicator! Indeed, George Henry Lewes, a prominent writer, critic, and amateur physiologist of the Victorian era declared Dickens was “completely outside philosophy, science, and the higher literatures” following a look at his library. Unbeknownst to many us, however, Dickens was indeed an individual heavily influenced by science, with much of his work being inspired by a variety of scientific aspects, from the human body to the Earth itself.
Dickens’ lifetime saw a number of key scientific breakthroughs, which lay the foundations for modern science, such as the acceptance of the age of the earth, the theory of evolution, and the second law of thermodynamics. Dickens himself felt so deeply about these issues that he campaigned for various scientific theories, as well as publicly criticising other aspects of science. Unfortunately, little is spoken today about how Dickens has helped shape scientific understanding, and how he tried to solve social problems through inspiring his audience with his books. Unbeknownst to us, Charles Dickens is indeed a man of science, and should be recognised for his contributions to the modern era.
“Dickens is a man of science, and should be recognised for his contributions to the time”Last month, the Charles Dickens Museum opened a new exhibition to try and address this lack of understanding – Charles Dickens: Man of Science looks at his work to try and show he was a key science communicator of the age. Speaking to Felix, Guest Curator Dr Adelene Buckland, senior lecturer in nineteenth-century literature at King’s College London, said that they believe this was the first exhibition of its kind to focus on Dicken’s interest in science. Dr Buckland said: “Dickens was a famous writer, but his powers of observation and his connections as one of the most famous men in Britain at the time meant that he was also a leading communicator of science. He communicated science through his journals and magazines, and campaigned on it, on behalf of lots of his friends.”
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Source: FelixOnline
