Magpies, Squirrels and Thieves: How the Victorians Collected the World

Research output: Book/ReportBook

Abstract

During the Victorian age, British collectors were among the most active, passionate and eccentric in the world. Magpies, Squirrels and Thieves tells the stories of some of the nineteenth century's most intriguing collectors following their perilous journeys across the globe in the hunt for rare and beautiful objects. From the eccentric and obsessive to the scholarly and the professional, the book explores the invention and diversity of collections and the ways in which collecting evolved through the nineteenth century. It uses lively individual biographies to explore more general issues about collecting. What is a ‘collection’? What kind of cultural, social and political factors influence the life of a collection? What drives the collector? What is the relationship between the private collector and the public museum?
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationLondon
PublisherAtlantic Books
Number of pages428
ISBN (Print)9781843547518
Publication statusPublished - 01 May 2011

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