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The University of of Edinburgh: An Illustrated History
From a small city college in the sixteenth century the University of Edinburgh grew to be one of the world's greatest centers of scholarship, research and learning. Its history is told here by three of its leading historians with wit, verve and style. Copiously illustrated in colour and black and white, this is a book for everyone concerned with the university or the city of Edinburgh to read and enjoy.
The authors consider the impacts of Reformation, Union with England, Enlightenment, and scientific and industrial revolutions. They show the university rising to the challenge of competition from Europe, describe the great periods of expansion in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and chart the university's building from Old College to George Square. They explore its tense relationship with the city, explore the histories of student outrage and unrest, recall the days when blasphemy could be punished by death, and reveal that the university's department of anatomy once supported a thriving trade in body-snatching. Upheaval and crisis, triumph and achievement succeed each other by turns in a story that is entertaining, intriguing and surprising--and always interesting.
The authors consider the impacts of Reformation, Union with England, Enlightenment, and scientific and industrial revolutions. They show the university rising to the challenge of competition from Europe, describe the great periods of expansion in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and chart the university's building from Old College to George Square. They explore its tense relationship with the city, explore the histories of student outrage and unrest, recall the days when blasphemy could be punished by death, and reveal that the university's department of anatomy once supported a thriving trade in body-snatching. Upheaval and crisis, triumph and achievement succeed each other by turns in a story that is entertaining, intriguing and surprising--and always interesting.
- GenresHistory
216 pages, Paperback
First published July 15, 2003
About the author
Robert D. Anderson
21 booksRobert D. Anderson FRSE is Professor Emeritus of History at Edinburgh University. He has written extensively on the history of education in Scotland, Britain and Europe. His books include Education and the Scottish People 1750 - 1918 (1995), European Universities from the Enlightenment to 1914 (2004), and British Universities Past and Present (2006). He is joint editor of The Edinburgh History of Education in Scotland (2015).
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 18, 2016
My daughter will be enrolling as an undergraduate at the University of Edinburgh in September 2017 as an international student (United States of America). Thus, I read The University of Edinburgh: An Illustrated History with the intent of learning more about the institution and its development over the past 430+ years. The authors - Robert D. Anderson, Michael Lynch, and Nicholas Phillipson - provide an excellent synthesis of the university's history despite the amount of historical material they had to digest.
The book is written in three parts: creation of the college, the Enlightenment period, and the modern university (through year 2000). I noticed before reading the book that each section was written by a different author. As a result, I thought that the presentation of the material may be disjointed since it is being presented from the perspective of three individuals rather than a single author. I was wrong in my assumption; the book reads very easily and quickly and is extremely well edited.
As implied by its title, the book is profusely illustrated. Illustrations are of very good quality as well since the book was printed on high quality paper.
The only deficiency I found with the overview of the history of the university was how lightly the Enlightenment period was touched upon given the university's international role in that time period. Not only did this period have a hugely profound impact on how subjects were taught at the University of Edinburgh, but also impacted how many universities throughout the world, especially in Canada and the United States, structured their higher education programs.
Individuals wanting to learn more about the historical development of the University of Edinburgh will not be disappointed with the presentation provided for by Anderson et al. Selected references are provided at the end of the book, as well as a detailed index.
The book is written in three parts: creation of the college, the Enlightenment period, and the modern university (through year 2000). I noticed before reading the book that each section was written by a different author. As a result, I thought that the presentation of the material may be disjointed since it is being presented from the perspective of three individuals rather than a single author. I was wrong in my assumption; the book reads very easily and quickly and is extremely well edited.
As implied by its title, the book is profusely illustrated. Illustrations are of very good quality as well since the book was printed on high quality paper.
The only deficiency I found with the overview of the history of the university was how lightly the Enlightenment period was touched upon given the university's international role in that time period. Not only did this period have a hugely profound impact on how subjects were taught at the University of Edinburgh, but also impacted how many universities throughout the world, especially in Canada and the United States, structured their higher education programs.
Individuals wanting to learn more about the historical development of the University of Edinburgh will not be disappointed with the presentation provided for by Anderson et al. Selected references are provided at the end of the book, as well as a detailed index.
Displaying 1 of 1 review