An Infinity of Things by Frances Larson
An Infinity of Things tells the story of one of the largest private collections ever created, and the life of the man behind it. Wellcome planned a great museum filled with treasures from all corners of the globe, charting the history of human health from prehistory to the present day. The breadth of his vision was matched only by the depth of his pockets. During the opening decades of the twentieth century he acquired a collection so large that later generations of staff took to describing its contents by the ton. But Wellcome's museum was never finished, and his collection was still stored in vast warehouses when he died, unseen and incomplete. Today, after decades of work by his successors, artefacts from the collection can be seen in museums and libraries throughout the world. Demonstrating what can happen when a collector's aspirations are left unconstrained by wealth, Frances Larson explores Wellcome's life through his possessions, revealing the many tensions in his character: between his talents as a businessman and his desire for scholarly recognition; his curiosity and his perfectionism; and his philanthropic aspirations and his drive for personal glory.
A fascinating book and one for the shelves of anyone interested in science, collecting - or just a plain good readIan Simmons, Fortean Times Well-researched, readable and penetratingly honest book. Andrew Robinson, History Today Featured in 'The Sunday Times Books of the Year 2009', Frances Wilson, The Sunday Times, Featured in 'The best books of 2009' Eleanor Harris, New Scientist A curious and original work. Sunday Times Admirably balanced. The Sunday Times Rigorously researched and fluidly written. Wendy Moore, Sunday Telegraph Larson's book is a Poe-like tale of a man who literally became buried under his own unquenchable avarice. Wendy Moore, Sunday Telegraph Accurately billed not as a biography but as "the biography of a collection" the book is penetratingly honest. Andrew Robinson, New Scientist In places it reads as a gripping story of a bit of a monster. Andrew Robinson, New Scientist Absorbing. Ms. Larson's story of Wellcome's truly odd and amazing mania shows how it was rooted in his business and intellectual interests but came to control his existence. Wall Street Journal Excellent book. Richard Fortey, Literary Review The book is penetratingly honest...in places it reads as a gripping story. Andrew Robinson, New Scientist Eccentric behaviour makes for great reading and Henry Wellcome's biography will have you mesmerised. Patrick Neale, Bookseller Choice People...will be guaranteed pleasure and delight from this quirky biography. Patrick Neale, Bookseller's Choice
Larson, Frances: - Frances Larson is an honorary research fellow in anthropology at Durham University. She is the author of a biography of Henry Wellcome, An Infinity of Things (2009), published to considerable critical acclaim and subsequently shortlisted for the MJA Awards and chosen as a Sunday Times Book of the Year as well as a New Scientist Best Book of 2009. She is also the coauthor of Knowing Things (2007), a book on the history of the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford. Larson lives in Durham, England.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780199554461 |
| ISBN 10 | 0199554463 |
| Title | An Infinity of Things |
| Author | Frances Larson |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
| Year published | 2009-09-10 |
| Number of pages | 368 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |