Alfred Russel Wallace (1823–1913) was perhaps the most famed naturalist of the Victorian age. His expeditions to remote Amazonia and southeast Asia were the stuff of legend. A collector of thousands of species new to science, he shared in the discovery of natural selection and founded the discipline of evolutionary biogeography.
Radical by Nature tells the story of Wallace’s epic life and achievements, from his stellar rise from humble origins to his complicated friendship with Charles Darwin and other leading scientific lights of Britain to his devotion to social causes and movements that threatened to alienate him from scientific society.
James Costa draws on letters, notebooks, and journals to provide a multifaceted account of a revolutionary life in science as well as Wallace’s family life. He shows how the self-taught Wallace doggedly pursued bold, even radical ideas that caused a seismic shift in the natural sciences, and how he also courted controversy with nonscientific pursuits such as spiritualism and socialism. Costa describes Wallace’s courageous social advocacy of women’s rights, labor reform, and other important issues. He also sheds light on Wallace’s complex relationship with Darwin, describing how Wallace graciously applauded his friend and rival, becoming one of his most ardent defenders.
Weaving a revelatory narrative with the latest scholarship, Radical by Nature paints a mesmerizing portrait of a multifaceted thinker driven by a singular passion for science, a commitment to social justice, and a lifelong sense of wonder.
Awards and Recognition
- A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year
- Winner of the PROSE Award in the History of Science, Medicine, and Technology, Association of American Publishers
"Outstanding. . . . A superb biographical rehabilitation of an indispensable natural scientist."—Kirkus Review starred review
"[Costa] gives naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace the biography he deserves in this definitive account. . . . Comprehensive and revelatory, this is a first-rate take on an overlooked figure in scientific history."—Publishers Weekly
"Radical by Nature uncovers fresh details about a remarkable, idiosyncratic scientist and social activist, showing how humans’ understanding of the world was fundamentally altered by his ideas."—Foreword Reviews, starred review
"Alfred Russel Wallace was perhaps the most famed naturalist of the Victorian age. . . . James T Costa’s hefty, in-depth account draws on letters, notebooks and journals to mark Wallace’s revolutionary life and achievements, on the 200th anniversary of his birth."—BBC Wildlife
"An expansive and insightful biography. . . . [Costa] offers a fine introduction to Wallace’s life and work for the uninitiated—and a revelatory portrait for those of us who thought we already knew him."—Jennie Erin Smith, Wall Street Journal
"Alfred Russel Wallace, the codiscoverer of evolution by natural selection so often overshadowed by Charles Darwin, gets his star turn in this richly textured biography. . . . Deep research grounds the book, but Costa's prose is nevertheless breezy and informal, driving an often-exciting narrative."—Choice Reviews
"[Radical by Nature] is well-documented using Wallace’s own publications. . . . Costa’s biography helps us to see that Wallace was not, in fact, a case of split personality: he was engaged in a lifelong effort to find a moral agenda underlying the activities of nature and the forces that drive human interactions."—Peter Bowler, Current Biology
"Costa’s stated aim of writing an updated biography has been more than realised; this book is a triumph! I tremendously enjoyed Radical by Nature and was very impressed with the depth of its scholarship. Next to an intimate portrait of this most fascinating scholar, Costa provides much detail on a critical period of scientific development and the social context in which it unfolded."—Leon Vlieger, The Inquisitive Biologist
"A must-read not only for biogeographers, evolutionary biologists and historians of science, but also for anyone who is interested in modern history and the origins of current societies during colonial times. Alfred Russel Wallace deserves many more homages, but this loving tribute from James Costa is a major step towards putting him into the place he deserves in history."—Joaquín Hortal, Nature Ecology & Evolution
"[Radical by Nature] earns its place alongside other Wallace biographies. . . . It is both a competent biography of an incredible scientist while also being a compelling narrative. . . . A new take on the life and accomplishments of Alfred Russel Wallace."—Jeremy B. Stout, Quarterly Review of Biology
“Few Victorians were as adventurous as Alfred Russel Wallace, who plunged into the tropics to collect thousands of uniquely fascinating natural history specimens and simultaneously pioneered the theory of evolution by natural selection. Yet Wallace’s story is frequently overshadowed by that of his more famous contemporary Charles Darwin. Here, in glorious detail, James Costa—a noted biologist-historian—captures Wallace’s life in all its brilliance, originality, and complexity, and shows how this unassuming naturalist with the daring mind changed the history of biology forever.”—Janet Browne, author of Charles Darwin: A Biography
“Alfred Russel Wallace is too often relegated to a footnote in the Charles Darwin story. James Costa’s masterful new biography puts Wallace back where he belongs, in the main text, bringing him triumphantly and precisely into focus as Darwin’s equal.”—Andrew Berry, editor of Infinite Tropics: An Alfred Russel Wallace Anthology
“James Costa’s life of Alfred Russel Wallace is comprehensive and detailed, scholarly and lively. Readers familiar with the author’s masterly historical and biological work over recent decades will have high expectations of this volume and they will not be disappointed. There is no better book on this remarkable man.”—M.J.S. Hodge, University of Leeds
