Louis Agassiz: creator of American science

In this biography of Louis Agassiz (1807-73), Irmscher (English, Indiana Univ.) poses the question "Can we love Agassiz?" The answer seems to be a resounding no. Irmscher cites Agassiz's "shabby treatment of his first wife," "his relentless resistance to Darwinism," and "his reprehensible belief that America belonged to the whites only." The work's subtitle, Creator of American Science, is questionable because it is not clear what Agassiz's contributions to American science actually were. His reputation in Europe rested on his work on glaciers, Etudes sur les glaciers (1940). He traveled to Paris to study with Cuvier, a staunch opponent of evolution. In Paris, he met Alexander von Humboldt, whom he admired and whom Darwin also revered. Agassiz worked with both Humboldt (who strongly opposed Cuvier's rejection of evolution) and Cuvier, but embraced Cuvier's ideas. When he left for America to do fieldwork and collect fossils, he gained fame with his dynamic lectures and by founding Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology. He remained an implacable opponent of Darwin and Asa Gray, father of American botany. Darwin, in turn, viewed Agassiz's work as "impracticable rubbish." This well-written work is best suited for general readers. Summing Up: Recommended. All academic and general history of science collections. J. S. Schwartz emeritus, CUNY College of Staten Island

*Starred Review* A budding nineteenth-century zoologist, Addison Verrill worshipfully regarded his Harvard mentor, Louis Agassiz, as the great leader of the scientific world. Aware of the low opinion scientists now hold of Agassiz, many twenty-first-century readers may find Verrill's veneration for the Swiss-born naturalist inexplicable. With this compelling biography, Irmscher dispels the mystery, showing both how Agassiz established himself as America's most prominent scientist and how he subsequently fell into professional ignominy. From a brisk yet detailed narrative, we learn of the intellectual gifts Agassiz deployed in explaining Ice Age glaciers, his theory finally overcoming Darwin's doubts. We also learn of Agassiz's indefatigable field research as a biologist and of his omnivorous commitment to collecting specimens for his Cambridge museum. But we soon realize how much Agassiz actually built his reputation on his prowess as a lecture-hall thespian and illustrator. Unfortunately, the talents that buoyed his popularity did not sustain his scientific credibility when he first attacked Darwin's theory of evolution and then promulgated pseudoscientific theories of white racial superiority. Even his handling of personal relationships told against Agassiz, as his arrogant heedlessness alienated his first wife and then turned his most promising graduate student into an adversary. A masterful portrait illuminating the tangled human dynamics of science.--Christensen, Bryce Copyright 2010 Booklist

Agassiz (1807-1873), a defining force in American science in the 19th century, was a complex man, as Irmscher demonstrates in this new biography: he was a brilliant scientist who rejected evolution, a man who valued friendship but abandoned his first wife. In Irmscher's hands, Agassiz's life and passions are embedded in the major intellectual ideas of his time, not only evolution but also the fight over abolition (he was an "incorrigible racist"). But Agassiz, from his position at Harvard, helped move the scientific enterprise toward reliance upon data and empirical observation. The methods he espoused remain important today even though his theories were outdated in his own time. Irmscher, an English professor at Indiana University (Longfellow Redux), sees Agassiz's life as a cautionary tale: Agassiz lost objectivity as he permitted his own opinions to overshadow the data he loved so much. His attacks on Darwin and on racial equality often ran counter to basic scientific observations and led to his increasing marginalization later in life. The relationship between Agassiz and his second wife, Elizabeth Cabot Agassiz, the first president of Radcliffe College, is also fascinating and illuminates the strength of one woman and the expanding opportunities for women in general in American society. Illus. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Irmscher (English, Indiana Univ.; Longfellow Redux) takes on another popular 19th-century American-Swiss-born scientist Louis Agassiz. During his stay at Harvard, Agassiz dominated American natural history and founded the Museum of Comparative Zoology. However, there were tragedies along his road to success. His first wife, Cecilie, left him with their children. (She would die a few years later.) Then there were conflicts with students, such as his favorite, Henry James Clark, who attempted to move out from under Agassiz's dominance. And for public scrutiny, there were the well-documented ideological differences with Darwin over natural selection that would define Agassiz's legacy. Fittingly, the book ends with the trip Agassiz and his second wife, Elizabeth, took to the Galapagos Islands, where the scientist remained adamantly opposed to natural selection. VERDICT Irmscher's portrait of Agassiz shows many facets of a man of science: curiosity, ego, discovery, failure, ideology, and obsession. Of particular interest is his partnership with Elizabeth and the importance of her support of Agassiz's science and writings. Recommended to readers interested in biography and natural history.-Scott Vieira, Sam Houston State Univ., Huntsville, TX (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A thoroughly satisfying biography of the almost but not quite forgotten Swiss-born Louis Agassiz (18071873), who moved to the United States in 1846 to become a combination of educator, media star and beloved science guru. Though Agassiz's genuine scientific contributions, such as the classification of extinct fish, had little popular appeal, his contemporaries thrilled at his assertion that great ice sheets had once covered the continents. Others had the idea earlier; the fiercely ambitious Agassiz took credit, but Irmscher (English/Indiana Univ.; Longfellow Redux, 2006) adds that his energetic research, writing and lectures won over the scientific community. Nowadays, Agassiz is mostly known for stubbornly opposing Darwinian evolution, preferring his version of a glorious nature filled with unchanging, divinely created species. This had no effect on his immense popularity but marginalized him among scientists. Sympathetic to his subject, Irmscher recounts the surprising amount of ridicule he received from evolutionists, including the usually benign Darwin. While admitting that Agassiz missed the boat, the author maintains that, for all his posturing and self-promotion and the offensive, pseudo-scientific racism fashionable at the time, he was an inspirational, insightful and unwearying scientific observer. His voluminous collection and publications remain impressive achievements. Irmscher makes a convincing case that this egotistical, often wrongheaded figure deserves his reputation as a founder and first great popularizer of American science.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

*Starred Review* A budding nineteenth-century zoologist, Addison Verrill worshipfully regarded his Harvard mentor, Louis Agassiz, as "the great leader of the scientific world." Aware of the low opinion scientists now hold of Agassiz, many twenty-first-century readers may find Verrill's veneration for the Swiss-born naturalist inexplicable. With this compelling biography, Irmscher dispels the mystery, showing both how Agassiz established himself as America's most prominent scientist and how he subsequently fell into professional ignominy. From a brisk yet detailed narrative, we learn of the intellectual gifts Agassiz deployed in explaining Ice Age glaciers, his theory finally overcoming Darwin's doubts. We also learn of Agassiz's indefatigable field research as a biologist and of his omnivorous commitment to collecting specimens for his Cambridge museum. But we soon realize how much Agassiz actually built his reputation on his prowess as a lecture-hall thespian and illustrator. Unfortunately, the talents that buoyed his popularity did not sustain his scientific credibility when he first attacked Darwin's theory of evolution and then promulgated pseudoscientific theories of white racial superiority. Even his handling of personal relationships told against Agassiz, as his arrogant heedlessness alienated his first wife and then turned his most promising graduate student into an adversary. A masterful portrait illuminating the tangled human dynamics of science. Copyright 2012 Booklist Reviews.

Irmscher (English, Indiana Univ.; Longfellow Redux) takes on another popular 19th-century American—Swiss-born scientist Louis Agassiz. During his stay at Harvard, Agassiz dominated American natural history and founded the Museum of Comparative Zoology. However, there were tragedies along his road to success. His first wife, Cecilie, left him with their children. (She would die a few years later.) Then there were conflicts with students, such as his favorite, Henry James Clark, who attempted to move out from under Agassiz's dominance. And for public scrutiny, there were the well-documented ideological differences with Darwin over natural selection that would define Agassiz's legacy. Fittingly, the book ends with the trip Agassiz and his second wife, Elizabeth, took to the Galápagos Islands, where the scientist remained adamantly opposed to natural selection. VERDICT Irmscher's portrait of Agassiz shows many facets of a man of science: curiosity, ego, discovery, failure, ideology, and obsession. Of particular interest is his partnership with Elizabeth and the importance of her support of Agassiz's science and writings. Recommended to readers interested in biography and natural history.—Scott Vieira, Sam Houston State Univ., Huntsville, TX

Agassiz (1807–1873), a defining force in American science in the 19th century, was a complex man, as Irmscher demonstrates in this new biography: he was a brilliant scientist who rejected evolution, a man who valued friendship but abandoned his first wife. In Irmscher's hands, Agassiz's life and passions are embedded in the major intellectual ideas of his time, not only evolution but also the fight over abolition (he was an "incorrigible racist"). But Agassiz, from his position at Harvard, helped move the scientific enterprise toward reliance upon data and empirical observation. The methods he espoused remain important today even though his theories were outdated in his own time. Irmscher, an English professor at Indiana University (Longfellow Redux), sees Agassiz's life as a cautionary tale: Agassiz lost objectivity as he permitted his own opinions to overshadow the data he loved so much. His attacks on Darwin and on racial equality often ran counter to basic scientific observations and led to his increasing marginalization later in life. The relationship between Agassiz and his second wife, Elizabeth Cabot Agassiz, the first president of Radcliffe College, is also fascinating and illuminates the strength of one woman and the expanding opportunities for women in general in American society. Illus. (Feb.)