Introduction

T is often observed that the Victorian era was one of increasing speI cialization and professionalism; yet it is also true that the outlines of disciplines, in the modern sense, were only beginning to emerge. The efforts of Victorian writers to preserve the generalist spirit of knowledge, seen against the powerful trend towards specialization, account in large part for the energy of the Victorian literary discussion of science and its cultural significance. Carried out in a variety of artistic and discursive forms by both artists and scientists, this discussion can be seen as an attempt to place the activities and results of science within the perspective of the traditional values and institutions of English culture. The bonds between science and literature forged by this discussion are the main concerns of our collection.