阐释自然:19世纪英国动物学知识与图书的发展探析

Illustrating Nature: Development of British Zoological Knowledge and Books in the 19th Century

时至19世纪,博物学的发展态势颇为良好。其中,人们对动物的关注不断深入,积累了可观的动物知识;而随着伦敦动物学会的成立,专业的动物园、博物馆也日益成为动物学知识生产和传播的中心。在当时学者们的书写成果通过各种方式发表或出版,被加工成插图精美的博物学著作,呈现在大众的视野中。动物学知识的积累与扩散,既体现了英国传统文化基底的部分特质,也促使19世纪的英国人更多地思考人与动物、人与自然的关系等问题。

In the 19th century,Britain witnessed the spread of zoological knowledge and books,which was a curious cultural phenomenon.People gained a deeper understanding of animals,especially after the foundation of the Zoology Society.Zoological gardens and museums played important roles in the prevailing of knowledge of animals.Also,scholars wrote natural history books on animals,which had magnificent illustrations or plates,attracting the public attention.The accumulation and spread of zoological knowledge and books in the 19th century showed some British cultural traits and promoted ecological and environmental thinking in Britain.