A talk by Roland Allen, on naturalists’ notebooks that have proven themselves essential tools for thinkers such as Gessner, Linnaeus, and Darwin. An in person (only) event, March 7th, 6-8pm GMT, hosted the Linnean Society of London.
Linnean Society of London’s in person event
It will be made available on the Linnean Society’s YouTube Channel following the event.
https://www.youtube.com/linneansociety
Revealing the little-known origins of the notebook and its surprising impact on our shared history, Roland Allen will pay particular attention to the story of the naturalist’s notebook. Whether out in the field, or at the study desk, these have proven themselves essential tools for such great thinkers as Gessner, Linnaeus, and Darwin. The talk will outline the origins of the notebook, its early importance to medieval Italy, and its adoption by the thinkers of the renaissance, the scientific revolution and the enlightenment – with a particular focus on naturalists, and a look at some of the notebooks in the Society’s collection.
Roland Allen is the author of “The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper”, widely praised since its release in 2023. In it, he explores the surprisingly deep influence of this simple technology on everything from poetry to the growth of capitalism – and the many ways it can prove invaluable for us today. He also works for the publisher Thames & Hudson.