The Women Who Popularized Geology in the 19th Century [Hardcover]

The female authors highlighted in this monograph represent a special breed of science writer, women who not only synthesized the science of their day (often drawing upon their own direct experience in the laboratory, field, classroom, and/or public lecture hall), but used their works to simultaneously educate, entertain, and, in many cases, evangelize. Women played a central role in the popularization of science in the 19th century, as penning such works (written for an audience of other women and children) was considered proper women's work. Many of these writers excelled in a particular literary technique known as the familiar format, in which science is described in the form of a conversation between characters, especially women and children. However, the biological sciences were considered more feminine than the natural sciences (such as astronomy and physics), hence the number of geological conversations was limited. This, in turn, makes the few that were completed all the more crucial to analyze.Preface. - Chapter 1: The Bedrock: Setting the Stage.- 1.1: The status of geological knowledge in the early 19th century.- 1.2: The role of religion in European geology.- 1.3 The role of religion in American geology.- 1.4 The (limited) role of women in early 19th century geology.- Chapter 2: The Avalanche Begins: Popularizing Geology.- 2.1 The popularization of geology.- 2.2 The birth of the familiar format.- 2.3 A space for women.- Chapter 3: Jane Haldimand Marcet (1769  1858).- 3.1 Biographical sketch.- 3.2 Main work to be analyzed: Conversations for Children: On Land and Water(1838).- 3.3 Commercial and Critical reception.- Chapter 4: Delvalle Lowry (1800-1860).- 4.1 Biographical sketch.- 4.2 Main work to be analyzed: Conversations on Mineralogy(1822).- 4.3 Commercial and Critical reception.- Chapter 5: Maria Hack (1777  1844).- 5.1 Biographical sketch.- 5.2 Main work to be analyzed: Geological Sketches and Glimpses of the Ancient Earth (1832).- 5ló¦