The Man Who Ate the Zoo: Frank Buckland: Forgotten Hero of Natural History

by Richard Girling

Frank Buckland was an extraordinary man—a surgeon, a natural historian, a sell-out lecturer, a bestselling writer, a museum curator, and a conservationist, before the concept even existed. Eccentric, revolutionary, popular, prolific, he was one of the 19th century’s authentic geniuses. He was obsessed by food security and finding ways to feed the hungry (the book recounts his many unusual experiments), and by protecting our fisheries (he can be credited with saving British fish from commercial extinction). He was one of the most original, far-sighted, and influential natural scientists of his time, held as high in public esteem as Charles Darwin.  The Man Who Ate the Zoo is no conventional biography, but rather a journey back into Buckland’s life, a hunt for this forgotten man. It sets Buckland’s thinking and achievements in a rounded historical context, but views this Victorian adventurer from a modern viewpoint. It is  a celebration of the great age of natural science, one man’s genius and what, even now, can be learned from him.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Natural History, Science, Nature

304 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2018

Reviews

[Dеnnis]

Somewhat awkward/amateurish rendering of a wonderful material. I'd give it 3 stars, but the life story is definitely worth getting acquainted with. So no grading.

[Alex Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a delightful account of a forgotten Victorian naturalist, Frank Buckland. The best word to describe him would probably be eccentric, which particularly comes to mind when reading about how many departed animals from the London Zoo ended up on his dinner table.

I really enjoyed this book. It's fascinating to see how ideas that are now so common place in zoology and ecology, began to formulate. Frank Buckland was a conservationist before it was fashionable, and a champion of sustainable fishing before the words were even invented.

A really interesting read about a little bit of forgotten history.

[Jazaza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Girling, in my opinion, has done a brilliant job at formulating the events and anecdotes of Frank Buckland's life in a way that balances both his stupidly eccentric and professionally technical sides of life. The biography details the heights of his witty approach to navigating the natural world in episodic order, awarding each of them its own endearing reflection on Frank's character. Girling details these events however while still encompassing the admirable degree of genuine interest and dedication that frank possessed for his craft.

'The Man Who Ate the Zoo' is a great resource for the remembrance of Frank Buckland as it gathers information, perspectives and accounts of Franks's life from both the other biographies about him that exist to this date. This makes for a judicious exploration of differing perspectives on his career and personality and paints a larger picture of the source material dedicated to him. Richard Girling corrects the falsification of the name of F. Buckland's wife through this as he comments on G.Bompas's ignorance of her existence and each author's bias towards particular aspects of his life. I personally would not have known this error if it wasn't for Girling's broad but relevant focus on Frank and the people around him.

The conversational style of writing and amusing authorial comments on Frank's peculiar antics make for an enjoyable and light-hearted read and makes the information encompassed within the biography more accessible to people like me with a shorter attention span. It reminds me of Burgess's description of Frank's writing style, being 'fresh, vigorous and direct without being inaccurate or condescending' and because of this, I believe that it's a great tribute to franks remembrance as a man who both cherished accessibility of knowledge and would benefit from the larger reading of his work.

[El-Jahiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The strange life of a 19th century eccentric naturalist, contemporary of Darwin, depicted with depth and humor.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply fascinating. A biography written about Frank Buckland, Victorian naturalist, menagerie collector, early ecologist, thinker, enquiring mind, Zoological Society surgeon etc. Probably most famous for his epicurean experiments, some of which would have felled those with weaker constitution, but should be remembered for his ecological observations about preserving wildlife especially elephants and fish stocks etc and being aware of issues we are dealing with in the 21st century. He really was ahead of his time

This is a crazy brilliant and fascinating read, but a little haphazardly written; perhaps mirroring the subject. It is generally linear in chronology but anecdotes are probably so prolific and abundant that to fit them all in a chapter the author just had to stuff them in, in as sensible an order as possible.

Girling writes engagingly, and almost conversationally, the book a record of his investigation as well as the outcome of it, and more approachable for that. Even a reader with a non-scientific background could enjoy this book for the fun stories, but there is also enough science-language to engage a more academic reader. Fascinating I am sure for both naturalists and ecologists but also those interested in the founding fathers of human surgery.

This is the sort of book you can put down but would really rather not. A book I am sure that will bear multiple readings, but best enjoyed comfortable with a good cup of tea or glass of wine and savoured, like Buckland at table!!

[Michael Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having written about Buckland myself, this book is a welcome addition to previous biographies, the first of which was fondly written by a relative and the second by a sympathetic fisheries scientist. This one is written by a 'Buckland fan', and as such dwells on the minutiae of his life while amplifying the least of his achievements, which were many. Girling gives due credit to Buckland's wife for her forbearance and rightly signposts the complexity of their mutually dependent relationship. I'd like to have seen more investigation into his dealings with the home office bureacracy and his colleagues on his fisheries work. Yet, as I have found, many revealing sources are yet to be found in his various publications and his herculean output for Land and Water. Girling also rather deliberately avoids looking too closely at Buckland's casual racism, which is hiding in plain sight in 'Curiosities of Natural History'. A man who is the subject of three biographies (four if you count my book), and has a continuing lecture series named for him is hardly 'forgotten', but I do consider that Frank Buckland is one of the last Victorians of note to have remained unexamined by documentary film makers.

[Genetic Cuckoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing book and a fascinating life. Frank Buckland led a fascinating life and his contributions to science are sadly mostly forgotten. From naming coprolites to revolutionising the commercial fishing industry, along with numerous scientific discoveries in multiple fields, his passion for science is clear from the first page. Frank clearly was a curious mind seeking answers to how the world works. I found this book fascinating, filled with quotes from his extensive writings, my only criticism would be that the second half was a little dry and repetitive, focusing mostly on salmon fisheries. However this is an biography of an incredible life and his later years were mostly focused on sustainable fisheries, where he was highly influential and created a lasting influence.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in eccentric Victorians, historic scientists or anyone working in the field of biology or life sciences.

[mantareads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Writing "popular history" is no excuse for shoddy editing and irrelevant, meaningless digressions.

Recommended for masochists whose lives are too long and can spend it reading bad writing, or would like to inflict needless pain on themselves reading unconnected, moralizing trivialities. (disclaimer: I read it because I was stubborn + research related)

Also highly recommended if you want to learn how an interesting historical character and topic can be poorly, haphazardly written up, complete with pointless personal asides from the Witty Author.

[Kimberly Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating man that I've never heard of, and no doubt that he was a genius...but man, was he ever weird! Sad, too, that this remarkable man has been lost to history.

[Rachael Belt · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is no doubt that Frank Buckland lead an extraordinary life but reading it in this book was pretty tedious

[Julie Hudson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have become a temporary expert on salmon. What an interesting and forgotten man.