Evenings At The Microscope

This is a summary of "Evenings at the Microscope" by Philip Henry Gosse. Gosse spent several years studying the biodiversity of habitats in North America and the Caribbean. His book "Naturalist's Sojourn in Jamaica" was reissued in this series. Gosse settled on the Devonshire coast and found the area rich for research. In this book, Gosse discusses the 'Divine mechanics' of animal body parts and microorganisms seen through the lens of a microscope. He leads the reader through a selection of specimens ranging from a hog's bristle to the shoe-like protist Paramecium. Gosse's writing style is enlivened with anecdotes and literary references. His book is complemented by more than 100 illustrations which showcase his draughtsmanship. While the book was published in the same year as Charles Darwin's "Origin of Species", Gosse's religious views firmly shaped his interpretation of the specimens on show.

English zoologist Philip Henry Gosse (1810-88) spent several years studying the biodiversity of habitats in North America and the Caribbean. His Naturalist's Sojourn in Jamaica (1851) is reissued in this series. When he settled on the Devonshire coast, the area proved equally rich for research. In this 1859 publication, the deeply religious Gosse considers the 'Divine mechanics' of animal body parts and microorganisms seen through the lens of a microscope. He leads the reader through a selection of specimens ranging from a hog's bristle to the shoe-like protist Paramecium. Gosse's writing style, enlivened with anecdotes and literary references, earned him considerable appreciation among Victorian audiences. His entertaining text is complemented by more than 100 illustrations which showcase his draughtsmanship. While the work shares its year of publication with Darwin's groundbreaking Origin of Species, Gosse's religious views firmly shaped his interpretation of the specimens on show.