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Summary
Summary
A new biography of Carl Linnaeus, offering a vivid portrait of Linnaeus's life and work
Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), known as the father of modern biological taxonomy, formalized and popularized the system of binomial nomenclature used to classify plants and animals. Linnaeus himself classified thousands of species; the simple and immediately recognizable abbreviation "L" is used to mark classifications originally made by Linnaeus. This biography, by the leading authority on Linnaeus, offers a vivid portrait of Linnaeus's life and work. Drawing on a wide range of previously unpublished sources--including diaries and personal correspondence--as well as new research, it presents revealing and original accounts of his family life, the political context in which he pursued his work, and his eccentric views on sexuality.
The Man Who Organized Nature describes Linnaeus's childhood in a landscape of striking natural beauty and how this influenced his later work. Linnaeus's Lutheran pastor father, knowledgeable about plants and an enthusiastic gardener, helped foster an early interest in botany. The book examines the political connections that helped Linnaeus secure patronage for his work, and untangles his ideas about sexuality. These were not, as often assumed, an attempt to naturalize gender categories but more likely reflected the laissez-faire attitudes of the era. Linnaeus, like many other brilliant scientists, could be moody and egotistical; the book describes his human failings as well as his medical and scientific achievements. Written in an engaging and accessible style, The Man Who Organized Nature --one of the only biographies of Linnaeus to appear in English--provides new and fascinating insights into the life of one of history's most consequential and enigmatic scientists.
Reviews (2)
Publisher's Weekly Review
This mostly rewarding biography by Broberg (The History of the Night), who was a professor emeritus of history at Lund University, Sweden, before his death in 2022, chronicles the life of Carl Linnaeus (1707--1778), the Swedish scientist who developed the modern taxonomic system for classifying animals and plants. Linnaeus took an interest in nature from a young age and learned to identify the plants that grew around his childhood home. He studied botany at Uppsala University and soon after graduating revolutionized the natural sciences by advocating for the classification of each plant and animal by two Latin names (the first their genus, the second their species), as well as making the radical argument that humans should be included in the animal kingdom. Broberg illuminates the factors behind the actual work of science by delving into Linnaeus's efforts to find patrons for his work, and the author's diligent research, which draws on previously unpublished diaries and correspondence, brings the esteemed naturalist to life. However, the consideration of Linnaeus's contributions to race science (his most famous work, Systema Naturae, designated four human "varieties" and placed them in a hierarchy) is glaringly brief. Though this skimps on the unsavory parts of Linnaeus's legacy, it will otherwise satisfy history of science scholars. Illus. (June)
Choice Review
Before Carl von Linné, the ennobled Carl Linnaeus of binomial nomenclature, Systema Naturae, and Species Plantarum fame, there was a workaholic, obsessive, dedicated Swedish doctor, natural historian, and academic. Drawing on the writings of Linnaeus himself and the secondary literature, Broberg (1942--2022) offers a readable account of Linnaeus's life, nicely translated by Anna Paterson. Broberg organizes the life into Linnaeus's early, middle, and late years, describing the scientist's work, teaching, obsession with categorizing species, and understanding of nature as testament to the glory of God. Broberg even touches on the personal life of his subject. With 24 pages of notes and 22 pages of "Sources and Literature"--including a "Quick and Hence Unfair Overview" of ten other Linnaean biographies--readers will learn about the taxonomist's voluminous other works--e.g., on medicine, "dietetics," or healthy living--and works of his students. This biography helps readers understand that there was much more to the man than his intensive work on species identification and the exploitation of Sweden's natural resources. Those looking for insight into Linnaeus's two foundational nomenclature volumes will not find it here, but they will find a fairly comprehensive survey of his travels and myriad life works. This book is for professionals and very interested nonprofessionals. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students, faculty, and professionals. General readers. --Susan T Meiers, emerita, Western Illinois University
Table of Contents
| Preface | ix |
| Who Was He? | i |
| Part I A Great Man Can Come from a Small House, 1707-1741 | 13 |
| 1 The Guardian Tree | 17 |
| 2 Studies in Växjö and Lund | 30 |
| 3 The Academy in Uppsala | 45 |
| 4 In a Mythical Landscape: Lapland | 61 |
| 5 Diaeta Naturalis | 82 |
| 6 In the Mountains and under the Ground: County Dalarna | 91 |
| 7 In the Land of Tulips | 103 |
| 8 Nature's Order 1 | 119 |
| 9 A Stockholm Interlude | 130 |
| Part II At the Height of the Ages of Man, 1741-1758 | 143 |
| 10 Uppsala and Enlightenment | 147 |
| 11 Three Programmatic Speeches | 153 |
| 12 Provincial Travels on Behalf of Parliament | 158 |
| 13 A Language in Which Everything Matters | 176 |
| 14 Flora et Fauna Svecica | 181 |
| 15 Family Life 1: Scenes from a Marriage | 186 |
| 16 In the Garden, at Herbations, among the Collections | 194 |
| 17 Ex Cathedra | 207 |
| 18 What Is More Precious than Life, More Pleasing than Health? | 211 |
| 19 Academic Amusements | 223 |
| 20 Appetite for Work, Weariness, Communication | 228 |
| 21 When Linnaeus Wrote, Salvius Printed, and Tessin Bought the Books | 238 |
| 22 Linnaeus, "the Sexualist" | 247 |
| 23 Curiosity-Driven Research | 253 |
| 24 Nature and Culture | 257 |
| 25 Entrepreneur and Economist | 264 |
| 26 To Describe the World | 271 |
| 27 Nature's Order 2 | 279 |
| 28 Homo sapiens | 294 |
| Part III The Old Linnaeus, 1758-1778 | 301 |
| 29 Honors | 305 |
| 30 Among Students and among Senior Academics | 309 |
| 31 Family Life 2: Hammarby | 317 |
| 32 Friends and Enemies | 327 |
| 33 Problems | 337 |
| 34 A New Synthesis? | 346 |
| 35 A Philosopher of Science or a Scientist? | 359 |
| 36 The Back of God and God's Footsteps | 365 |
| 37 Nemesis Divina | 373 |
| 38 Solomon on Growing Old | 380 |
| Epilogue I Family Life 3: Mother and Child | 394 |
| Epilogue II Linneanism | 402 |
| Abbreviations | 411 |
| Notes | 413 |
| Sources and Literature | 437 |
| Index | 459 |