Science and Literature Reading Group: Easter Term 2010

This term we will focus on the fairy-tales of science, reading a selection of nineteenth-century works that combined new discoveries with the myths and legends of old. We meet on Mondays from 7.30-9pm in the Skillicorn Room at Homerton College: please note our new venue, and the rather irregular scheduling due to the May bank holidays. Readings will be made available in photocopied packs in the Whipple Library and Homerton library from the beginning of term, and many of the selections we have chosen are also online (links below). Organised by Daniel Friesner (Science Museum) and Melanie Keene (Homerton College). See our blog for news and updates; email Melanie to join our dedicated mailing list. All welcome!

General Introductory Reading

Arabella Buckley, The Fairyland of Science (1879), lecture 1.

10^th May – Stars

‘A Flight Through Space’, John Cargill Brough, The Fairy-Tales of Science (1859).

‘Training the Pole-Star’, and ‘The Tail of a Comet’, Elizabeth W. Champney, In the Sky-Garden (1877).

‘Sunbeams and the work they do’, Arabella Buckley, The Fairyland of Science (1879), lecture 2.

‘The Magician’s Chamber by Moonlight’, Arabella Buckley, Through Magic Glasses (1890).

17^th May – Insects

‘The Fresh-Water Siren’, ‘Acheta Domestica’ [L. M. Budgen], Episodes of Insect Life (1849), vol. I, chapter 9.

‘A Lesson of Faith’ and ‘Knowledge not the Limit of Belief’, Margaret Gatty, Parables From Nature (1855-)

‘Metamorphoses’, John Cargill Brough, The Fairy-Tales of Science (1859)

‘A.L.O.E.’ [C. M. Tucker], Fairy Frisket; or, Peeps at Insect Life (1874), chapters 10-11.