num_pages: 500
description: An heiress, an obligation and an unfortunate love for physics, fossils, dead fish and… ladies? A tale to shine a light on the overlooked female pioneers of eighteenth-century science. Penned by Dr Suzanne Moss – expert in historical collection, plants and gardens – this refreshing story is inspired by real events and formidable women who broke the mould. Chemistry, physics, botany, cabinets of curiosity and collections of natural philosophy become the theatre for intrigue and a romance nobody was expecting. Within a tender and unconventional love story, the passion and ambition of these perpetually curious women comes to life in an exploration of Enlightenment scholarship and sexuality.“At once the easiest truth to know, and the hardest to realise”Thea Morell, Georgian heiress and eligible lady, is not normal. At least, that’s what she has come to believe. She loves nothing more than spending hours at the study of natural history, collecting fossils, insects, dead fish, bones and even the odd spider. Up to now, she has held off her mother’s entreaties to marry, but this year may be her last chance to make a good match and the pressure is mounting.In her search for scientific truth, Thea also begins to acknowledge a truth about herself - a most inconvenient one which sparks at the lips of the ‘electrical venus’ and bursts into flame in the presence of the very proper Lady Eleanor Harrington. Despite her attempts to observe and understand, this particular truth defies all rationalisation. Has her obsession with the male-dominated world of natural history caused the unnatural tendencies she can’t seem to control? And more importantly, can she protect her family’s interests whilst reconciling the dual passions of her mind and her heart? “A beautiful essay on the Love of Nature and the Nature of Love.”“One of the most well written books of the year.”“This book is a love letter to women and science. An absolute brilliant debut!”“A ‘couldn’t stop reading but don’t want it to end’ type of book.”“It is so well versed and researched on the scientific discoveries, curiosities, and exotic fauna and flora species of the day, it almost didn’t seem like I was reading fiction.”“Reminiscent of Jane Austen’s novels, if they had a gay twist to them.”“This is a book that will stay with me for quite a time. It made me feel, it made me think and it made put off other stuff so I could keep reading.”“A romance for people that think.”“The quality of the writing is second to none. You feel as if you are England during these times with the different architecture, smells, horse and carriages, and the gentry in their fine regalia.”“This is not a book to inhale at speed, even though you'll probably want to. It is a book to sink into and savour, so you experience the world and the work that has gone into making it so seamless and real.”“I think this is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I can’t even begin to say how much I loved it, and what an inspiration it is, and how much it makes me proud. Proud of how many women, non-binary, queer, sapphic, straight humans are out there fighting for new generations.”“Quite simply put this book is outstanding.”
language: English
title: Observations on the Danger of Female Curiosity: Including an account of the unnatural tendencies arising on the over-stimulation of the mind of a lady