Enlightenment Sea Monsters: Language, Information and Truth

In this informal talk, Professor Raven shares his new historical work in progress - a ‘book biography’ that examines the global influence of a now-forgotten eighteenth-century best-seller. It is a story of an intellectual Scandinavian bishop, determined to explore, explain and write about the natural world, but, persuaded by the truth of sightings and myths about sea monsters, became embroiled in debates about fakery that consumed readers and influenced writers around the world. Current parallels might be entertained....