Darwins Footprint. Cultural Perspectives on Evolution in Greece (1880-1930's)
Author: Dr Maria Zarimis
When Published: 2015
Language: English
Publisher: Central European University Press. CEU Press. CEU Press Studies in the History of Medicine Vol. 6.
Publisher’s website: http://www.ceupress.com/
Description: 340 pages including 15 black-and-white, and color illustrations.
Cloth $60.00 / €45.00 / £38.00
Paperback $35.00/ €27.00 / £22.00
ISBN: 978-963-386-077-9 (Cloth)
978-963-386-100-4 (Paperback)
Available: All good bookshops
Darwin’s Footprint examines the impact of Darwinism in Greece, investigating how it has shaped Greece in terms of its cultural and intellectual history, and in particular its literature.
The book demonstrates that in the late 19th to early 20th centuries Darwinism and associated science strongly influenced celebrated Greek literary writers and other influential intellectuals, which fueled debate in various areas such as ‘man’s place in nature’, eugenics, the nature-nurture controversy, religion, as well as class, race and gender.
In addition, the study reveals that many of these individuals were also considering alternative approaches to these issues based on Darwinian and associated biological post-Darwinian ideas. Their concerns included the Greek “race” or nation, its culture, language and identity; also politics and gender equality.
Zarimis’s monograph devotes considerable space to Xenopoulos (1867-1951), notable novelist, journalist and playwright.
****Book Launch****
Darwin’s Footprint: Cultural Perspectives on Evolution in Greece (1880-1930's), a book by Maria Zarimis
Launched by Scientia Professor John Gascoigne (UNSW) and Dr Alfred Vincent
Synopsis: Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution revolutionised biology and deeply influenced modern thought. But how did Greeks react to it? Dr Zarimis discusses Darwin’s influence on concepts relating to the nation, language, culture and politics.
“The original and significant contribution [of] this book […] derives from the fact that so little has been written, so far, about the influence of Darwin’s writings and Darwinism on Greek literary and social culture” (Emeritus Professor Peter Bien). The event celebrates the centenary of the Greek translation of Darwin’s Origin of Species by Nikos Kazantzakis, one of the authors discussed in the book.
Date: Sunday 29 March
Time: 3.30pm
Venue: Gleebooks, 49 Glebe Point Road, Glebe
Cost: Free
Contact: (02) 9750 0440 or [email protected]
Festival website: http://www.greekfestivalofsydney.com.au
