The Rev. J. G. Wood
His Life and Work
Cambridge Library Collection - Zoology Series

An Oxford-educated clergyman and prolific writer on natural history topics ranging from seashore wildlife to microscopy, John George Wood (1827?89) wrote and lectured for a receptive Victorian audience. His books were not rigorously scientific, but they made their subjects accessible to laypeople and were said to have inspired many future naturalists in their youth. His Nature's Teachings (1877) has also been reissued in this series. Theodore Wood (1862?1923) published this biography of his father in 1890. The account covers Wood's childhood and education, his clerical work and his desire to share his enthusiasm for the natural world with the public. His lecturing engagements, including a tour of America, and his home life are also discussed. An affectionate portrait of a significant figure in the history of popular science, this work sheds light on the intellectual interests of its subject and his readership.

Preface; 1. Birth and early life; 2. Clerical life and work; 3. The Canterbury festivals; 4. Literary work; 5. Literary work (cont.); 6. Literary work (cont.); 7. Literary work (cont.); 8. Literary work (concluded); 9. The sketch-lectures; 10. The sketch-lectures (cont.); 11. The sketch-lectures (cont.); 12. The first American tour; 13. The first American tour (cont.); 14. The first American tour (cont.); 15. The second American tour; 16. The sketch-lectures (concluded); 17. Home life; 18. Pets; 19. Recreations; Index.