Natural Magic

This unusual and highly original book weaves together the lives of Charles Darwin and Emily Dickinson within a commonality of approach to the natural world at a time when it was still possible though difficult to interweave poetry and science. The author reminds us that Darwin characterised himself as a naturalist or natural philosopher rather than a scientist, a term invented in 1833 by William Whewell to advocate for the professionalisation of science (Darwin and Dickinson were both financially independent). An important overall theme is the gradual disenchantment associated with a purely mechanistic view, and a corresponding need to recover a sense of enchantment in our time. They had been ‘born into world where science, religion, and magic intertwined with poetry, theology, and philosophy.’ (p. 45) Alexander von Humboldt was a great exemplar of the universal natural philosopher, as was Goethe, but specialisation and the narrowing of method has made this broad vision far harder to achieve. The narrative is vivid and hugely well-informed, enabling readers to enter into those times with their remarkable pioneering characters. The author encourages us to use their voices to recover a sense of ecological meaning and natural magic, rekindling our sense of kinship and interconnection.