Heart And Science A Story Of The Present Time

By Wilkie Collins

Book Overview

"Heart and Science" through Wilkie Collins is a gripping novel that delves into the moral and ethical dilemmas bobbing up from medical improvements and the pursuit of know-how. First posted in 1883, Collins weaves a story that explores the consequences of playing with the forces of nature. The narrative revolves across the terrific however morally questionable scientist, Doctor Ovid Vere, who's committed to pushing the limits of scientific technology. As he conducts experiments inside the hopes of unlocking the secrets of life, the radical explores the anxiety among scientific ambition and ethical duty. The story takes a dramatic turn when Doctor Vere's experiments come to be entangled with the lives of his subjects, leading to unexpected effects. Collins skillfully integrates factors of thriller, romance, and social observation, making "Heart and Science" a multifaceted exploration of human nature and the consequences of unchecked scientific experimentation. The characters inside the novel represent a spectrum of attitudes towards technological know-how, from the enthusiastic pursuit of information to the cautious skepticism and ethical concerns.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9361152351
• ISBN13: 9789361152351
• Release Date: January 2024
• Publisher: Double 9 Books
• Length: 354 Pages
• Weight: 0.99 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A Great Read

Collins's book is very interesting--it's the story, by the inventor of the detective novel, of a tall, evil neurologist driven by the frantic pace of science to disect living, screaming animals in his search for a cure for brain disease. And the Broadview edition is excellent--it provides the primary texts of the vivisection debate of the 1870s and 80s, including Francis Power Cobbe's essay and documentation of the court case. Excellent scholarly work made available and accessible to beginners--I've used the novel in a course on Literature and Science with great success.

Steve Farmer presents a strong edition of Heart and Science

Heart and Science is a very interesting novel, both for it's historical connection to late-Victorian anti-vivisectionist movement and for Collins's interesting story. I won't say it is one of his strongest novels but it is quite readable and nicely intriguing.Farmer's edition is quite strong.His notes and appendicies are thorough and extremely useful, as are the introduction, the select bibliography,and the other accompanying material, of which there is plenty.