Undiscovered Scotland

 

There is something immensely satisfying about a book written by an author who has set themselves a clear objective and then undertakes a huge amount of research to achieve that objective. When it's as thoughtfully organised and well-written as "Bones: The Life and Adventures of Doctor Archibald Menzies (1754-1842)" by Graeme Menzies, the result is a book that's a pleasure to read and a work of reference that will be of enduring value for anyone with an interest in botany, the history of medicine, world exploration or the Scottish Enlightenment. The book takes a generally chronological approach and includes a section of maps, drawing and photographs that help bring its subject to life.

In his preface, the author notes that: "In life it often occurs that a person becomes famous for one thing alone even though, like everyone else, their life and personality have multiple dimensions. With the passage of time, that one thing tends to dominate the memory of the person... This book reverses that phenomenon. It focuses on the aspects of a life which have been overlooked, or mentioned only in passing, and brings fresh perspectives and new dimensions to light... The result of this work is, I hope, a more complete and wholesome record of a man's life and a better understanding of who he was as a person - not just what he accomplished for botanical and medical science."

You get a good sense of the contents of the book from the publishers' description of it: "Archibald Menzies (1754–1842) is recognized as an accomplished botanist but, as author Graeme Menzies has discovered, that is only a part of his story. In this compelling new biography, the author reveals that Archibald Menzies was a remarkable product of the Scottish Enlightenment: a boy raised in the shadows of ancient Neolithic standing stones who was sponsored by his clan chief to study in Edinburgh and through talent, curiosity, perseverance, and circumstance became one of the top medical doctors and social raconteurs of Victorian London."

"Along the way readers learn of Archibald’s experience as a Royal Navy surgeon in the epic Caribbean Battle of The Saintes, his encounters with the Indigenous people of Pacific Northwest Coast and the islands of Hawaii, his near court-martial by Captain Vancouver, his life-threatening and little-known experiments in the nascent field of virology, and his post-navy life in London. The result of this work is not just a full accounting of the subject’s career but a work which also provides insights into his character and personality. His attitude toward issues such as slavery, human rights, religion, and the opportunities and dangers of European contact with Indigenous peoples are explored and show a man of intelligence, compassion, and wisdom."

"His personal relationships are also explored revealing new insights into the background of his wife Janet and their friendships with Linnean Society founder James Edward Smith and his wife Pleasance. His relationships with ‘the father of naval medical science’ Sir Gilbert Blaine, the renowned and influential Sir Joseph Banks, encounters with the ‘half-mad Lord’ Thomas Pitt, friendships with Hawaiian King Kamehameha and Nuu-cha-nulth Chief Maquinna, the influences of his early mentor, the King’s botanist in Scotland John Hope, and his professors are also revealed including many other characters whose work, ideas, and fates shaped much of the nineteenth century."