The acclaimed biographer of Coleridge and Shelley here explores the scientific ferment that swept through the Romantic era, through the portraits of 3 remarkable scientific friendships: astronomers William and Caroline Herschel, chemists Humphry Davy and Michael Faraday, and the medical scientists John Abernethy and William Lawrence.

Richard Holmes is Professor of Biographical Studies at the University of East Anglia. His is a Fellow of the British Academy, has honorary doctorates from UEA and the Tavistock Institute, and was awarded an OBE in 1992. His first book, 'Shelley: The Pursuit', won the Somerset Maugham Prize in 1974. 'Coleridge: Early Visions' won the 1989 Whitbread Book of the Year, and 'Dr Johnson & Mr Savage' won the James Tait Black Prize. 'Coleridge: Darker Reflections' won the Duff Cooper Prize and the Heinemann Award. He has published two studies of European biography, 'Footsteps: Adventures of a Romantic Biographer' in 1985, and 'Sidetracks: Explorations of a Romantic Biographer' in 2000.

'Thrilling: a portrait of bold adventure among the stars, across the oceans, deep into matter, poetry and the human psyche.' Peter Forbes, Independent 'A glorious blend of the scientific and the literary that deserves to carry off armfuls of awards and confirms Holmes's reputation as one on the stellar biographers of the age.' Dominic Sandbrook, Daily Telegraph, Books of the Year 'No question -- the non-fiction book of the year is Richard Holmes's "The Age of Wonder", not only beautifully written, but also kicking open a new perspective on the Romantic age.' Andrew Marr, Observer, Books of the Year 'Itself a wonder -- a masterpiece of skilful and imaginative storytelling.' Michael Holroyd, Guardian, Books of the Year 'Rich, solid and sparkling, this is a wonderful book.' Claire Tomalin, Guardian, Books of the Year 'Dazzling and approachable. It's a brilliantly written account!original in its connections and very generous in its attention.' Andrew Motion, Guardian, Books of the Year 'Witty, intellectually dazzling and wholly gripping.' Richard Mabey, Guardian, Books of the Year Stephen Howe, Independent (Book of the Year) 'Glittering.' Christian Tyler, Financial Times (Book of the Year) 'A splendid plum pudding of a book.' Nigel Hawkes , The Times (Book of the Year) 'Holmes...brings the full force of his love and understanding of the Romantic Age to the lives of three pioneering figures...writing, like the figures he describes...driven by a common ideal of intense, even reckless personal commitment to discover, and this is what makes this book so wonderful.' The Times (Book of the Year) 'Exhilarating in its ambition.' Scotsman (Book of the Year) 'A dazzling cornucopia.' Economist (Book of the Year) 'No one could be better qualified for the task!Scientists, like poets, need a sense of wonder, a sense of humility and a sense of humour. Holmes has all three in abundance.' Sunday Telegraph 'Exuberant!Holmes suffuses his book with the joy, hope and wonder of the revolutionary era. Reading it is like a holiday in a sunny landscape, full of fascinating bypaths that lead to unexpected vistas!it succeeds inspiringly.' John Carey, Sunday Times 'Heartbreaking accounts of hopes and fears, ambitions and disappointments dance along the pages!There is no dry page in this visceral, spirited and sexy account.' The Times 'Richard Holmes's stellar collective biography!gives a gripping account of the scientific research that inspired a sense of wonder in poets and experimenters alike!fascinating!this beautifully crafted book deserves all the praise it will undoubtedly attract. Well-researched and vividly written "The Age of Wonder" will fascinate scientists and poets alike.' Literary Review 'A new model for scientific exploration and poetic expression in the Romantic period. Informative and invigorating, generous and beguiling, it is, indeed, wonderful.' Guardian 'Vividly conveys the compelling fusion of art and science in the 18th century!this is a book to linger over, to savour the tantalising details of the minor figures!"The Age of Wonder" allows readers to recapture the combined thrill of emerging scientific order and imaginative creativity.' Financial Times 'Wonderfully engaging!Holmes brilliantly illuminates the human and subjective aspects of science-making.' Scotsman 'Mesmerising!Holmes succeeds in bringing alive this period in all its complexities without ever losing the narrative pace!his writing itself proves that science and poetry can be united.' Mail on Sunday 'A seamless narrative that is laced, to good effect, with a great deal of titillating gossip. The end result is a masterpiece: informative, amusing, insightful -- and utterly compelling.' Observer 'Delicious!exuberant and thought-provoking.' New Statesman 'Fascinating in its own right; but more than that it serves as a model of how science should be taught!recovering and communicating the beauties and truths of modern science, uniting the two cultures, awaits its genius. This book provides the inspiration.' Spectator 'Compelling!a remarkable achievement. Romanticism in all of its multifaceted richness has had no guide more eloquent than Richard Holmes.' THES 'Vivid and finely constructed.' Miranda Seymour, Observer 'Magisterial!Holmes makes heavy use of personal diaries, journals, letters and notebooks!this confessional dimension!lends the book a wonderful intimacy!compelling.' Evening Standard Praise for Coleridge: Early Visions 'One of the greatest literary biographies ever written.' Daily Telegraph 'Dazzling. A biography like few I have ever read.' James Wood, Guardian Praise for Coleridge: Darker Reflections 'One of the greatest biographies of the century. Pure joy to read, it is a shimmering portrait of the mature artist veering between brilliance and despair.' Financial Times 'This -- and I can't remember ever thinking this before so strongly -- is a biography to grow old with.' Independent