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Goldfish
Series: Animal
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Format: Paperback / softback
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See moreIn this illuminating homage to the goldfish, Anna Marie Roos challenges the cultural preconceptions of a creature often thought to be common and disposable, as she blends art and science to trace the surprising and intriguing history of this much-loved animal.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
Living work of art, consumer commodity, scientific hero, and environmental menace: the humble goldfish is the ultimate human cultural artefact. A creature of supposedly little memory and short lifespan, it has universal appeal.
In ancient China, goldfish were saved from predators in acts of religious reverence and selectively bred for their glittering grace. In the East, they became the subject of exquisite art, regarded as living flowers that moved, while in the West, they became ubiquitous residents of the Victorian parlour.
Cheap and eminently available, today they are bred by the millions for the growing domestic pet market, while also proving to be important to laboratory studies of perception, vision, and intelligence.
In this illuminating homage to the goldfish, Anna Marie Roos challenges the cultural preconceptions of a creature often thought to be common and disposable, as she blends art and science to trace the surprising and intriguing history of this much-loved animal.
Goldfish by Anna-Marie Roos is a fascinating exploration of the unexpected significance and allure of this iconic species.
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Goldfish by Anna-Marie Roos has been praised for successfully fulfilling the mission of Reaktion's 'Animal' series by examining the animal's role in history through artistic and literary lenses. With vivid language, illustrations, and scholarly insights, the book captures the reader's attention while exploring the complex cultural history of the goldfish. It is portrayed as both common and exotic, highlighting its significance as a scientific research subject, environmental issue, and biogeographic success story.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781789141351
Publisher: Reaktion Books
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 16 September 2019
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Reaktion Books
Illustration: 100 illustrations, 80 in colour
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 135.0mm
Height: 190.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 208
About the Author
Anna Marie Roos is Professor of the History of Science and Medicine at the University of Lincoln. Her previous books include Martin Lister and his Remarkable Daughters: The Art of Science in the Seventeenth Century (2018) and The Salt of the Earth: Natural Philosophy, Medicine, and Chymistry in England, 1650-1750 (2007).
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