Thomas Browne and the Writing of Early Modern Science

Claire Preston argues that Thomas Browne's work can be fully understood only within the range of disciplines and practices associated with natural philosophy and early writing on subjects ranging from medicine and botany to archaeology and antiquarianism. Preston examines how the developing essay form, the discourse of scientific experiment, and, above all, Bacon's model of intellectual progress and cooperation determined the unique character of Browne's contributions to early modern literature, science and philosophy.