Book Reviews: Michael Foster and Thomas Henry Huxley, Correspondence, 1865–1895.

Victorian men of science were great correspondents. Many of them corresponded incessantly, leaving behind a remarkable testimony of academic, political and social networks in nineteenth-century science and medicine. But they were also great correspondents in another respect. They knew how to write a good letter. Allusions to art, history and literature were integral to their communications. More than exchanging news and queries, it was a way to display wit and cultural education. It is striking, reading the correspondence of, for example, Charles Darwin, James Clerk Maxwell, William Thomson and others, with what ease these Victorians mastered the combination of scientific discussions, philosophical arguments, contemporary commentary, personal involvement and family affairs with humour, excellent form and impeccable standards for letter writing, even in brief notes. The thirty years of correspondence between Michael Foster and Thomas Henry Huxley is no exception. This collection is a genuine pleasure to read in the old-fashioned way, for pleasure, with a cup of tea in front of the fire. It is a testament to a life-long friendship between two central characters in mid- and late Victorian science and medicine, and to what it meant to be a man of science on a daily basis. While Foster gradually emerges as a competent letter writer, Huxley is a natural. In itself, his sharp comments, irony, puns, playfulness, comprehensive scientific and classical knowledge, and wonderful dismantling way of puncturing his own public image, makes the reading worthwhile. Today, we remember Huxley, whereas Foster is less known. The latter’s importance for the success of the so-called Cambridge school of physiology, however, should not be underestimated. Foster and Huxley’s correspondence adds to the layers of this, demonstrating how much involved Foster was in the business at South Kensington where Huxley resided, and how close the links were between London and Cambridge. The new scientific elite emerging in London and, notably with the X-Club of which Huxley was one of the founding members, reacted strongly against the old Oxbridge power networks. Huxley himself, in his many addresses on universities and a liberal education, was instrumental in reinforcing this image of differences, opposition, tradition vs progress, connections vs meritocracy, and an old world and old knowledge vs a new world and new knowledge. The correspondence between Foster and Huxley reveals a much more nuanced picture, where Foster on occasion provides Huxley with details about Cambridge ways, and thus uses his friend and ally to criticise what is difficult for himself to do within the Cambridge system. It is good to be reminded that the world is always painted black and white for a reason and that we should always look behind and beyond rhetorical constructions. The correspondence between Foster and Huxley helps us to do just that. For the historian, this collection is also an excellent source of anything from scientific details, questions of education, politics, institutions, professionalisation, and personal and international relationships. We learn a lot about the politics and inner workings of the Royal Society. This includes details about the way to Huxley’s nomination as President of the Royal Society and how Foster proved invaluable to help pave the way, negotiating, smooth-talking reluctant Fellows and making sure that Huxley kept his position and control, even though he took a long leave of absence travelling to Italy because of his failing health. We learn about the care for family members and how that extended to friends and their children. One example is the care Foster and Huxley took in helping Horace Darwin, the ninth child of Emma and Charles Darwin, set up business in Cambridge. Then, of course, there are all the juicy bits of what they thought of their scientific peers, colleagues and fellow members of the Royal Society. Altogether, through two high-powered and prolific correspondents, this volume presents a fascinating look behind the curtains of everyday life, for better and worse, among Victorian men of science and medicine. The book comes with an introduction providing the necessary context, excellent scholarly footnotes and a first-rate index. Furthermore, through the generous courtesy of The Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL, the correspondence between Foster and Huxley is made available online at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/issues/180404, making this indispensable resource for anyone working on mid- and late Victorian science and medicine readily available and searchable. It would, of course, be whiggish for historians to talk about progress in science and medicine the way Foster and Huxley did: it is not, however, when it comes to online access of archival material. This is progress and we should be happy for it.