About the author
John van Wyhe is a historian of science known especially for his research on Charles Darwin and the history of Victorian science, including his work directing the online resource Darwin Online. His book "Phrenology and the Origins of Victorian Scientific Naturalism," published by Routledge, reassesses phrenology's place in nineteenth-century British and American intellectual life, arguing that the movement has often been dismissed with a vague label of "naturalism of the times" rather than examined on its own terms. The book traces phrenology's influence across a range of Victorian scientific and cultural debates that have previously received little attention from historians. Van Wyhe's work generally sits within the history of science as an academic discipline, and this book is aimed at historians, students of Victorian intellectual history, and readers with a serious interest in the history of phrenology and scientific naturalism rather than at a popular audience.
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💬 What our editors say about John Van Wyhe's books
“Wyhe presents a compelling argument that phrenology was more than mere pseudoscience, serving as a crucial intellectual force in Victorian society. The text successfully illuminates how these theories influenced diverse fields…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Phrenology and the Origins of Victorian Scientific Naturalism Wyhe, John Van
“Wyhe’s text is a rigorous academic exercise that challenges conventional historical narratives with impressive depth. However, it is not suited for casual readers seeking light entertainment or simple summaries of biological…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Phrenology and the Origins of Victorian Scientific Naturalism Wyhe, John Van
