Natural History: A Selection (Penguin Classics)

Mingling acute observation with often wild speculation, it offers a fascinating view of the world as it was understood in the first century AD, whether describing the danger of diving for sponges, the first water-clock, or the use of asses' milk to remove wrinkles. Pliny himself died while investigating the volcanic eruption that destroyed Pompeii in AD 79, and the natural curiosity that brought about his death is also very much evident in the Natural History - a book that proved highly influential right up until the Renaissance and that his nephew, Pliny the younger, described 'as full of variety as nature itself'.

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LibraryThing member datrappert

This review is specifically for the Penguin edition edited by John F. Healy. Pliny's writing is often fascinating, and his prejudices are clear. Italy is the most wonderful of all countries--a lot of modern day travelers would still agree with him, of course; things were much better in the old

days; people now are too greedy and ostentatious; and so on. The book is filled with pretty much anything Pliny could throw in, and this is just a severe abridgment! Healy lets us down as editor, however. His footnotes are often few and far between and most of them simply translate Pliny's dates to dates we can understand. Most of the inexplicable references or words Pliny uses aren't explained at all. More importantly, there is no insight provided as to how someone as seemingly intelligent as Pliny could also believe such ridiculous things. For instance, that a 2-inch long Goby fish could attach itself the rudder of a Roman warship and stop it from moving! There are lots of other similar things here that demand a lot more explanation--or maybe I just need a different book that provides an extended analysis of Pliny's Natural History without being an actual translation. With its short sections, I ended up leaving this book beside my bed and reading a few pages each night. It is not something you can just sit down and devour dozens of pages at a time. My recommendation for potential readers is to look for a more insightful, helpful version.

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LibraryThing member JVioland

Pliny was a "scientist" of his day. Although recording natural phenomena - he tied watching the destruction of Pompeii from a ship in its harbor - he also recorded the weird beliefs of the day, such as the weasel being the most destructive of all creatures, so horrific even alligators fear it.

(They have a penchant for rushing down the throat when the gator is yawning and eating its way out!) Novel information and an entertaining book.

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LibraryThing member starkravingmad

Entertaining - especially to think this was a scientific journal of its day.

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